In addition to outstanding plenaries, symposia, papers, demos, WIPs, and posters, this LTRC will give us the opportunity to engage in a number of special sessions, most making their debut in NY. Also, all of the SIGs were invited to participate and they are each organizing sessions, meetings, and networking opportunities on Thursday from 5:30-6:30. Make sure you add these special sessions to your schedule!
Publishing in Language Assessment: Meeting with Journal Editors
Jason Fan
Wednesday, June 7, 5:30 pm - 6:30 pm
Location: Herald Square
Publishing in leading language assessment journals can be daunting, particularly for graduate and early career researchers or those new to academic publishing. This one-hour session will bring together editors from prominent journals in the field of language assessment, including Language Assessment Quarterly (represented by Antony Kunnan and Elvis Wagner), Language Testing (represented by Paula Winke and Talia Issacs), Language Testing in Asia (represented by Yan Jin), and Studies in Language Assessment (represented by Jason Fan and John Read).
During this session, the participating editors will introduce their respective journals and highlight their distinctive or attractive features. Furthermore, they will share their valuable experiences and insights on getting published in top-tier journals in the field. Attendees will have the chance to engage with the editors regarding publishing in these specific journals and participate in a Q&A session, where they can discuss with the editors various issues, practices, and challenges related to publishing in language assessment.
Jason Fan
Wednesday, June 7, 5:30 pm - 6:30 pm
Location: Herald Square
Publishing in leading language assessment journals can be daunting, particularly for graduate and early career researchers or those new to academic publishing. This one-hour session will bring together editors from prominent journals in the field of language assessment, including Language Assessment Quarterly (represented by Antony Kunnan and Elvis Wagner), Language Testing (represented by Paula Winke and Talia Issacs), Language Testing in Asia (represented by Yan Jin), and Studies in Language Assessment (represented by Jason Fan and John Read).
During this session, the participating editors will introduce their respective journals and highlight their distinctive or attractive features. Furthermore, they will share their valuable experiences and insights on getting published in top-tier journals in the field. Attendees will have the chance to engage with the editors regarding publishing in these specific journals and participate in a Q&A session, where they can discuss with the editors various issues, practices, and challenges related to publishing in language assessment.
Creatively Engaged and Recharged: A Session for Mid- and Senior-Career Professionals
Micheline Chalhoub-Deville, University of North Carolina, Greensboro & Mikyung Kim Wolf, Educational Testing Service (ETS)
Wednesday, June 7, 5:30 pm - 6:30 pm
Location: Gramercy Park
This special session aimed at mid and senior career professionals in the language testing field is designed to be a dynamic and reenergizing experience. The goal is to create an environment that sparks creative thinking and generates fresh ideas. The session will include a panel who will share their experiences and visions. The session will also feature interactive activities and thought-provoking discussions. Participants will have the opportunity to network with their peers and learn from each other. The session will challenge attendees to think beyond their normal boundaries, consider new perspectives, and rediscover their passion for language testing. By the end of the session, attendees will leave with a revitalized sense of energy, inspiration, and the insights they need to address the challenges of their field with innovation and determination.
Panel:
Micheline Chalhoub-Deville, University of North Carolina, Greensboro & Mikyung Kim Wolf, Educational Testing Service (ETS)
Wednesday, June 7, 5:30 pm - 6:30 pm
Location: Gramercy Park
This special session aimed at mid and senior career professionals in the language testing field is designed to be a dynamic and reenergizing experience. The goal is to create an environment that sparks creative thinking and generates fresh ideas. The session will include a panel who will share their experiences and visions. The session will also feature interactive activities and thought-provoking discussions. Participants will have the opportunity to network with their peers and learn from each other. The session will challenge attendees to think beyond their normal boundaries, consider new perspectives, and rediscover their passion for language testing. By the end of the session, attendees will leave with a revitalized sense of energy, inspiration, and the insights they need to address the challenges of their field with innovation and determination.
Panel:
- Beverly Baker, University of Ottawa, Canada
- Luke Harding, Lancaster University, UK
- Claudia Harsch, University of Bremen, Germany
- Alistair Van Moere, MetaMetrics, Inc., University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, USA
- Jin Yan, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, China
Rainbow Connections
James Purpura and Niles Zhao
Wednesday, June 7, 6:30 pm - 7:00 pm
Location: Herald Square
This special networking session is for conference attendees who self-identify as outside cis heteronormativity and/ or LGBTQIA+ individuals. Here in New York City, a centre of the historic LGBTQIA+ movement, we hope to create a safe and welcoming environment where we can meet, connect with, and support each other informally. Our only agenda is to foster engagement amongst our community members and to provide a space for networking.
Please note that this session is intended for those who self-identify as LGBTQIA+.
James Purpura and Niles Zhao
Wednesday, June 7, 6:30 pm - 7:00 pm
Location: Herald Square
This special networking session is for conference attendees who self-identify as outside cis heteronormativity and/ or LGBTQIA+ individuals. Here in New York City, a centre of the historic LGBTQIA+ movement, we hope to create a safe and welcoming environment where we can meet, connect with, and support each other informally. Our only agenda is to foster engagement amongst our community members and to provide a space for networking.
Please note that this session is intended for those who self-identify as LGBTQIA+.
Voices of Minority Researchers in Language Assessment
Organizers: Antony Kunnan and Constant Leung
Thursday, June 8, 5:30 pm - 6:30 pm
Location: Grand Ballroom
This session will focus on hearing from and discussing the voices of minority scholars (from graduate students to senior scholars) on a variety of topics including research focus and support, journal publications, conference presentations, fellowships and awards, authorship and editorship, and leadership positions.
Organizers: Antony Kunnan and Constant Leung
Thursday, June 8, 5:30 pm - 6:30 pm
Location: Grand Ballroom
This session will focus on hearing from and discussing the voices of minority scholars (from graduate students to senior scholars) on a variety of topics including research focus and support, journal publications, conference presentations, fellowships and awards, authorship and editorship, and leadership positions.
Language Tester Mentoring Program (LTMP)
Organizers: Andy Liu, Gordon West, Monique Yoder, Niles Zhao, and Liberato Silva dos Santos
Wednesday to Friday, June 7-9, 7:00 am - 8:15 am
Location: Herald Square
This one-off mentoring opportunity aims to bring together a variety of professionals—from novice to experienced—within the field of language testing and assessment to share information, tips, suggestions, and practical wisdom on topics related to, but not limited to:
This one-time mentoring experience is unique in that we do not limit graduate students or novice professionals to mentee roles. Those who have expertise in an area can sign up to be a mentor, regardless of where they are in their career. For example, if a graduate student has expertise in using particular statistical analyses or data analysis software, they can sign up to be a mentor to others on this topic. Conversely, experienced language testing professionals and scholars can be mentees on topics in which they are looking to learn more about. LTMP will match participants based on their expertise (mentors) and interests in learning (mentees).
Mentoring sessions last about 60 minutes and will take place over the breakfast hour (7:00AM–8:15AM) during the conference. Paired mentors/mentees will be able to choose on which of the three days (June 7, 8, & 9) they’d like to meet.
Organizers: Andy Liu, Gordon West, Monique Yoder, Niles Zhao, and Liberato Silva dos Santos
Wednesday to Friday, June 7-9, 7:00 am - 8:15 am
Location: Herald Square
This one-off mentoring opportunity aims to bring together a variety of professionals—from novice to experienced—within the field of language testing and assessment to share information, tips, suggestions, and practical wisdom on topics related to, but not limited to:
- Graduate school
- Job-seeking
- Professionalization
- Conducting research
- Developing assessments
- Work-life balance
This one-time mentoring experience is unique in that we do not limit graduate students or novice professionals to mentee roles. Those who have expertise in an area can sign up to be a mentor, regardless of where they are in their career. For example, if a graduate student has expertise in using particular statistical analyses or data analysis software, they can sign up to be a mentor to others on this topic. Conversely, experienced language testing professionals and scholars can be mentees on topics in which they are looking to learn more about. LTMP will match participants based on their expertise (mentors) and interests in learning (mentees).
Mentoring sessions last about 60 minutes and will take place over the breakfast hour (7:00AM–8:15AM) during the conference. Paired mentors/mentees will be able to choose on which of the three days (June 7, 8, & 9) they’d like to meet.
