My Biography

My work in language learning and teaching is motivated by two key issues: the immediate relevance of language learning to the individual as well as the development of his/her plurilingual/cultural awareness within society. With this in mind, my research interests focus on creating learning relevance through the teaching of subjects through other languages - Content and Language Integrated Learning or CLIL -, while integrating plurilingual elements to the learning of these subjects. This interdisciplinary and plurilingual mindset has led me to investigate the relation of creativity to plurilingualism. 

A more recent aspect of my work focuses on language and interface design as learning as well as communication tools in the digital world.

Research

The publications below are an indication of my research interests which include CLIL, plurilingualism, the relation of creativity to plurilingualism and more recently digital learning. 

For more information on my work in digital learning, consult my blog entry entitled: Not just a pretty Moodle [inter]face: a brief explanation. http://elearning.wit.ie/blog/not-just-a-pretty-moodle-interface-a-brief-explanation#.VzdF3qu9jzI

Publications:

Furlong, Á. and Bernaus, M. (forthcoming - 2017) ‘Language use: CLIL as a plurilingual approach’ in N. Sifakis, E. Griva and A. Deligianni (Eds) CLIL implementation in foreign language contexts: exploring challenges and  perspectives. Research Papers in Language Teaching and Learning. Greece: Hellenic Open University.

Furlong, Á. (2016)  ‘Language use = Language as communication + language as carrier of culture’ in T.J. Ó Ceallaigh, & M. Ó Laoire, (Eag/Eds.) An Tumoideachas: Bua nó Dua? Baile Átha Cliath: COGG 

Kennedy, F. and Furlong, Á.   (2014) ‘Face-to-Face Tandem Language Learning: Evidence of               Intercultural Learning in a Zone of Proximal Development for Intercultural Competence’ in B. Geraghty and J.E. Conacher (Eds) Intercultural Contact, Language Learning and Migration. London: Bloomsbury Academic, pp.131-149

Furlong, Á., MacMahon, B. and Ni Ghuidhir, S. (2012)  ‘Irish and modern languages: collaboration in Initial  teacher education’ in F. Waldron, J. Smith, M. Fitzpatrick and T. Dooley (Eds.)  Re-imagining Initial Teacher Education: Perspectives  on Transformation. Drumcondra, Dublin: Liffey Press, pp.285-306.

Bernaus, M., Furlong, Á., Kervran, M. and Joncheere, S. (2012) ‘ConBaT+ : Adding a plurilingual/cultural dimension to content-based teaching’ in T. Lamb (Ed.) Innovation  in Language Learning and Teaching , Volume 6, Issue 3, 2012 , Special Issue: The European Centre for Modern Languages: empowering language professionals. Abingdon: Taylor and Francis Journals.

Furlong, Á. and  Kennedy, F.  (2011)  ‘Towards the Development of Awareness in Intercultural Communicative Competence: A Tandem Exchange Experience’ in A. Witte and T. Harden (Eds), Intercultural Competence Concepts, Challenges, Evaluations. Frankfurt am Main: Peter Lang, pp. 325-40.

Bernaus, M., Furlong, Á., Kervran, M. and Jonckheere, S. (2011)  Plurilingualism and pluriculturalism incontent teaching. Graz: European Centre for Modern Languages.

Furlong, Á., Barbero, T. & Jarvinen, H. (2010) ‘Teaching reading’ in H. Jarvinen (Ed.) Language in Content Instruction, available at http://lici.utu.fi  pp.52-62

Furlong, Á, Fraioli, P., Molloy, R.,Cisneros, A.,  Cummins, U., O’Neill, D., (2009) ‘Challenging assumptions in language learning and teaching: a content and language integrated learning (CLIL) experience at W.I.T.’ in J. Murphy and B. Higgs (Eds)Teaching and learning in Higher Education, Challenging Assumptions. Proceedings of the national academy’s second annual conference, pp. 143-52. Cork: NAIRTL. 

Furlong, Á. (2009)  ‘The relation of plurilingualism/culturalism to creativity: a matter of perception’. International Journal of Plurilingualism, Vol 6:4, pp.343-68

Kervran M., Furlong , Á,  and Jonckheere S., (2008)   ‘Langues et éducation au plurilinguisme: principes et activités pour la formation des enseignants in M. Candelier, G.   Loannitou’, D. Omer and M-T Vasseur (Eds) Conscience du  plurilinguisme. Rennes: PUR

Furlong, Á. (2007) ‘The relationship between creativity and plurilingualism/culturalism in Language Educator Awareness’. Graz: ECML.

Furlong, Á. ( 2007)   ‘L’Enseignement d’une Matière par l’Intégration d’une Langue Etrangère/Content and Language Integrated Learning. De quoi s’agit-il? Pour quelles raisons et comment s’y prendre?’ Proceedings of Le Français en Irlande: Vers un Nouveau Dynamisme, Dublin: D.I.T.

Furlong ,Á. ( 2005)   ‘The Central Role of Language Learning/Teaching Methodologies in CLIL’ in CLILMatrix report, November 2005. Graz: ECML.

Furlong Á. (2004)  ‘Culture across the primary school curriculum… en français’ in M. Smith (Ed.) Readings in the Teaching of Culture. Dublin: Institiuíd Teangeolaíochta Éireann/ The Linguistics institute of Ireland.

Furlong Á. (2004)  ‘The role of research in the development of teacher training programmes’ in B.Beaven and S. Borg (Eds.). The role of research in Teacher Education, IATEFL 2003 Nottingham Conference proceedings. Whitstable: Oyster Press.

Furlong Á., Kennedy F., O’Byrne C., O’Connell M. (2003)  ‘ICT in the language classroom’ in EdTech 2003. proceedings of the fourth annual Irish Educational Technology Users’ Conference. http://www.ilta.net/EdTech2003/index.html: Irish Learning Technology Association.

Furlong Á. and Singleton D. (1998) ‘L’approche communicative et “ l’éveil au langage”: des frères ennemis? Quelques aperçus apportés par une expérience de l’enseignement précoce du Français Langue Etrangère’ in J. Billiez (ed.) De la Didactique des Langues à la Didactique du Plurilinguisme. Grenoble: CDL – LIDILEM, pp. 285 – 290.

Co-author of  Teaching and Learning materials - French.National Initiative for Modern Languages in Primary Schools

Member of the Editorial Board  of Studies about Languages: Applied Linguistics, Sociolinguistics, Computational Linguistics, Studies of Foreign languages, Kaunas University of Technology Journal, Lithuania (2010 – to date).

Teaching

Since joining WIT, I have taught French in the School of Business at all levels and lecture in intercultural communication.

I became course leader for the MA in Second Language Learning and Teaching  and have worked in teacher education in Ireland, Europe and the Middle-East. I co-founded the CLIL@WIT research and development group and am involved in  *content-based teaching at European level. I was also a member of the coordinating team of the ConBaT+ project at the European Centre for Modern Languages (2008-11) where plurilingualism is integrated into content-based teaching. I also supervise students at Masters and Ph.D. levels.

More recently, I have delivered workshops exploring the mediating function of both language and interface design for digital education and 21st century pedagogies. 

* Content-based teaching or CLIL: teaching and learning a subject through a language other than the dominant language of the Institute or school, e.g. geography through German or marketing through French.

Professional

Before joining WIT,  I was Project Leader with the  Modern Languages Initiative in Primary Schools in Ireland (1998 - 2002). I was also lecturer in French at the Open University (1998-2000) and Director of the Alliance Française, Waterford ( 1983-1998).

I have been a yearly contributor to NUI Galway’s School of Education: An Máistir Gairmiúil san Oideachas, N.U.I. Galway, (September 2009-2014). I deliver workshops for teachers and lecturers on CLIL , language education and digital learning regularly.

Projects

European projects

CONBAT+ (Content Based Teaching with a plurilingual dimension):  European Centre for Modern Languages, Graz, Austria, third medium term programme (2008-2011).Member of the coordinating team led by Mercè Bernaus - http://conbat.ecml.at/

CLIL Cascade Network: Lifelong learning Programme 2007 - 2011. Partner institution involved in HUB 2 for CLIL material development and exchange between European countries.

http://www.openeducationeuropa.eu/en/project/ccn

LICI (Language in Content Instruction):  Lingua 2 European project 2006-2009/10. Development of CLIL teaching strategies and CLIL learning materials for the primary, post-primary and third level. Partner institutions were in Finland, Lithuania, France, Italy, Austria and Hungary.

https://www.yumpu.com/en/document/view/17817415/language-in-content-instruction-lici-project

LEA (Language Educator Awareness):  European Centre for Modern languages, Graz, Austria. Second Medium Term programme (2005 - 2007). Plurilingualism and pluriculturalism in teacher education. Materials development for the teacher training kit: The relationship between creativity andplurilingualism/culturalism. Available at http://archive.ecml.at/mtp2/lea/results/Activities/aine.pdf

The CLIL Matrix: European Centre for Modern languages, Graz, Austria 2005.Best practice in Content and Language Integrated Learning across Europe. http://archive.ecml.at/mtp2/CLILmatrix/pdf/wsrepD3E2005_6.pdf

Awards

Digital Champion (2016). Transformation through Collaboration. Funding awarded by the National Forum of the Southern Cluster of Higher Education Institutes. Project title: Two (or three) cards for learning: a Moodle interface for 21st century pedagogies.

NDLR funding (2010). Open learning resources on CLIL teacher training.

European Language Label Award for Innovative Teaching and Learning Award:

2008 - Tandem Language Learning for Intercultural Communication (TaLLICo).

2006 - A CLIL experience at W.I.T.

2004 - OILTE (Organising In-Service Training for Languages and Technology in Education).

2004 – Multilingual aural and written computer instructions for the language learner.

2001 – National Initiative for Modern Languages in Primary Schools.

 

2008 - Nomination for the Excellence in Teaching Award, National Academy for the Integration of Research & Teaching & Learning (NAIRTL) by the students of the MA in Second Language Learning and Teaching at W.I.T. as well as the colleagues involved in the research and development CLIL@WIT group.