Conference 2025

Exploring Chinese Heritage Language Maintenance in the UK: A Conference for Doctoral Students and Early Career Researchers (23 May 2025, University of Sheffield)

This one-day conference provides a platform for doctoral students and early career researchers to exchange ideas, share findings, and collaborate on current research focused on Chinese heritage language learning and maintenance in the UK. The event aims to foster dialogue, highlight the significance of this field, and encourage connections among researchers exploring multilingualism and heritage language development. Through presentations, discussions, and networking opportunities, the conference invites participants to collaboratively explore key questions, such as:

What does it mean to grow up multilingual with Chinese heritage in the UK today?
How do families and communities navigate multilingualism and heritage language learning?
What roles do complementary schools play in supporting Chinese heritage language maintenance?
What tools, strategies, and support mechanisms are being used to sustain heritage languages?

Call for Papers

We invite submissions from current doctoral students and early career researchers (up to 5 years post-degree). Sessions will have a traditional format of 20 minutes + 10 minute questions. Topics may include (but are not limited to):

Family language policy
Heritage language education (e.g. complementary schooling)
Technology for heritage language maintenance
Links between heritage language and identity
Emotional and psychological aspects of heritage language development
Heritage language teacher development

The day will conclude with a panel discussion to explore the status of Chinese heritage language learning in the UK today.

Abstract Submission Guidelines

Abstracts must be submitted in English and limited to a maximum of 300 words (excluding references). It should demonstrate a clear connection to the conference theme, articulate the research question(s), describe the methodology, and outline anticipated results or key findings.

Abstracts must be submitted using this link by 12 pm (noon) on Friday, 14 March.

Important Dates

20 January: Open Calls
14 March: Abstract Submission Deadline
30 March: Notification of Acceptance
23 May: Conference

Venue

Lecture Theatre 7, Diamond Library, University of Sheffield, UK

Organising Committee

Dr. Sabine Little, University of Sheffield, Prof. Xiao Lan Curdt-Christiansen, University of Bath, Dr. Yue Zhou, University of Sheffield

For further inquiries, feel free to contact the organising team at s.little@sheffield.ac.uk, yue.zhou@sheffield.ac.uk.

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