Conference Theme
Multilingualism and Migrant Integration in Adult Language Education: Practices, Challenges and Opportunities
Thematic Areas for Discussion
Inclusion, Integration and Participation
- Language education and professional integration for migrants and refugees
- Practical cases and lessons learned from integration programmes
- Barriers and limits in multilingual provision and professional integration
- Pedagogies fostering belonging and participation
Innovation, Teacher Development and Policy
- AI and digital tools for multilingual education
- Teacher training, professional development and practitioner perspectives
- Assessment in multilingual adult education
- Comparative and international policy frameworks
Intercultural Communication and Mediation
- Developing intercultural competence in language learners
- Challenges and opportunities in cross-cultural communication
- Mediation as a tool for fostering inclusion in multilingual and multicultural settings
- Technology-supported mediation practices in professional and educational contexts
Adult Learning in Multilingual Contexts
- Classroom practices and strategies
- Literacy and lifelong learning opportunities
- Linguistic and cultural practices in heritage language contexts
- Workplace language learning and professional communication
Opening Address
Regula Mader
Vice Director, State Secretariat for Migration (SEM), Switzerland
Regula Mader is the Vice Director of the Swiss State Secretariat for Migration (SEM), where she heads the Immigration and Integration Division. A lawyer by training with advanced degrees in General Management and Applied Ethics, she has a distinguished background in public service and social cohesion. Her previous leadership roles include serving as elected Prefect in the district of Berne, President of the National Commission for the Prevention of Torture and Director of the “House of Religions – Dialogue of Cultures” in Bern.
Integration Policy in Context: Swiss Perspectives on Migration, Education and Multilingualism
In her opening address, Regula Mader will officially welcome conference delegates on behalf of Switzerland. She will offer insights into Switzerland’s institutional approach to integration, highlighting how migration policy, education and integration strategies are closely interconnected. Her contribution sets the framework for the conference by illustrating how coherent policy structures can support multilingualism, participation and social cohesion in increasingly diverse societies.
Keynote Speaker
Terry Lamb
Professor of Languages and Interdisciplinary Pedagogy
University of Westminster, UK
President, FIPLV (Fédération Internationale des Professeurs de Langues Vivantes)
Chevalier dans l’Ordre des Palmes Académiques
Terry Lamb is Full Professor of Languages and Interdisciplinary Pedagogy at the University of Westminster, London, based in the Centre for Education and Teaching Innovation and the School of Humanities, and he is Co-Director of HOMELandS, the cross- and inter-disciplinary University Research Centre on Migration. He has published widely in areas such as pedagogy, motivation, multilingual education, multilingual cities, language teacher associations, and activist research that challenges social, cultural and linguistic injustices. His projects have included several at the European Centre for Modern Languages of the Council of Europe, e.g. Supporting Multilingual Classrooms. In 2023, he was appointed to the Language Policy Advisory Group of the Council of Europe. Terry has worked closely on languages strategy and curriculum with the UK and other Governments and is founder editor of Innovation in Language Learning and Teaching. He is President of FIPLV (Fédération Internationale des Professeurs de Langues Vivantes), an NGO of UNESCO and the Council of Europe. In recognition of his services to languages and culture, he has been awarded the honour of Chevalier dans l’Ordre des Palmes Académiques by the French government. He is also a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts.
Shifting societal attitudes towards multilingualism and plurilingualism
Opportunities for inclusive lifelong language education for democratic culture
This presentation will explore a major shift in language education in Europe, arguing for the crucial role language educators play in developing and maintaining democracy and what this means in practice. This shift is endorsed by the Council of Europe’s Recommendation on the importance of plurilingual and intercultural education for democratic culture, the first holistic recommendation on language education to be published by the Council of Europe. Of relevance to the conference theme, the Recommendation’s scope extends beyond formal education, recognising that successful implementation requires a shift in societal attitudes to language and culture, embracing and valuing our multilingualism through inclusive lifelong language education, both formal and non-formal. The presentation will also present ways in which a wide range of stakeholder groups and partners in civil society can work with educational institutions, including adult and vocational education, to contribute to this broad and ambitious agenda for change.
Christiane Hohenstein
Professor of Intercultural Studies and Linguistic Diversity
ZHAW Zurich University of Applied Sciences
Christiane Hohenstein, Prof. Dr., has been Full Professor of Intercultural Studies and Linguistic Diversity at the Zurich University of Applied Sciences (ZHAW), School of Applied Linguistics, since 2007. She holds a Dr. phil. and an MA in Linguistics from the University of Hamburg, specialising in German and Japanese linguistics and contrastive pragmatics. Her doctoral thesis (2006), supervised by Jochen Rehbein, examined explanatory practices in German and Japanese spoken academic discourse using Functional Pragmatics.
Her research covers German–Japanese contrastive pragmatics, Lingua Franca communication in German-speaking contexts, societal integration, multilingual healthcare, intercultural and inclusive communication, the role of Swiss German Sign Language in higher education, gender-inclusive language, and assistive and augmentative communication (AAC) from a linguistic diversity perspective. She has published widely in German and English and co-edited several volumes, including Connectivity in Grammar and Discourse (2007, John Benjamins; with Jochen Rehbein and Lukas Pietsch), Multilingual Healthcare (2020, Springer-Gabler; with Magdalène Lévy-Tödter), works on language in institutions and multilingual societies (2022, Waxmann; with Antonie Hornung), and inclusive written language acquisition (2023, OBST 101; with Manuela Böhm). A co-authored chapter on higher education perspectives involving Sign Language and AAC was published in 2025.
Alongside her academic work, she has taught in higher and continuing education for 18 years and developed two programmes on intercultural communication across professional fields. She also served as Equity and Diversity Officer at ZHAW for ten years until 2018.
Hidden Complexities of Inclusive Multilingual Education for Adults
Fostering InterculturalCommunication and Participation
This talk examines the hidden complexities of inclusive multilingual education for adults in the German-speaking part of Switzerland, where diglossia between spoken Swiss German and written Standard German intersects with extensive migrant multilingualism, English as a Lingua Franca, and a multilingual national language policy. While four official languages coexist with significant dialectal variation, almost 30% of households use other home languages (bfs 2026). Despite this seemingly fertile ground for inclusive multilingual pedagogy, adult learners face a far more complex reality.
Navigating dialect comprehension alongside literacy in Standard German is challenging, particularly as speaking dialect signals social belonging. For adult learners, language learning is closely tied to identity positioning and to professional integration into an unfamiliar social context. Intersecting diversity markers—gender, age, class, linguistic heritage, ethnicity, and dis/ability—shape these experiences, while textbooks often present stereotyped representations of Swiss life that diverge from learners’ lived contexts.
The talk departs from the concept of ‘Inclusive Multilingualism’ (Backus et al., 2013), drawing on the notion of Inclusive Multilingual Education. It explores how diversity-oriented teaching materials for adult language education (cf. Hohenstein/Konstantinidou/Opacic, 2021) can foster inclusion, intercultural communication, and participation. Finally, drawing on critical intercultural communication approaches that support polycentric perspectives, discursive dissent, and translanguaging (cf. Dervin/Jacobsson, 2022), it discusses the educator’s role and options for virtual reality training in enabling adult learners’ participation.
References:
Backus, Ad et al. (2013). Inclusive Multilingualism: Concept, Modes and Implications. EuJAL 2013; 1(2): 179–215. DOI 10.1515/eujal-2013-0010
bfs (2026). Swiss Federal Statistics of Languages. Main languages spoken at home or at work. LinkDervin, Fred / Jacobsson, Andreas (2022). Intercultural Communication Education. Broken Realities and Rebellious Dreams. Springer Briefs in Education.
Hohenstein, Christiane / Konstantinidou, Liana / Opacic, Aleksandra (2021). Rethinking Intercultural Competence in Foreign and Second Language Classrooms for Adult Migrant Learners. In: Witte, A./Harden, T. (eds.) Rethinking Intercultural Competence (pp. 179-195). Peter Lang.
Key Dates
Supporting Organisation
Flying Teachers is a co-organiser and main sponsor of the event in Zurich, in collaboration with ICC – The International Language Association
Multilingualism and Migrant Integration in Adult Language Education: Practices Challenges Opportunities
Call for Proposals
Update (11 February)
While our conference is committed to broad inclusion and participation, the oral presentation schedule allows for a limited number of speakers, making the selection process for these specific slots rigorous. We are currently exploring diverse ways to honour the high caliber of work submitted.
Submission Guidelines
- Proposals should be submitted online via the abstract submission form by 27 February 2026.
- Proposals will be peer-reviewed by the conference review committee based on the following criteria: relevance, practicality, engagement, originality, and significance.
- Notification of acceptance will be sent by 13 March 2026.
- Accepted presenters will be required to register for the conference by 20 March 2026.
Presentation Types:
- Talk: Presentation, speaker-led, informative, includes Q&A
- Workshop: Interactive, hands-on, participatory, collaborative, skill-building
Duration: 30 minutes, including a 10-minute Q&A session
Abstract Requirements:
- Title
- Length: 200–300 words (A minimum length of 200 words is required.)
- Keywords: 3-5
Bio:
- Length: 75–100 words
- Include: Name, qualifications, current position, expertise, research focus
- Optional: links to your website or relevant webpages
Abstract Review Criteria:
- Relevance to the conference theme and key topics: the extent to which the abstract aligns with and contributes to the overarching theme and key topics of the conference
- Practicality: the feasibility and practical applicability of the abstract’s content
- Engagement: the level of audience engagement that the abstract is likely to generate during a presentation
- Originality: the degree of novelty and uniqueness demonstrated in the content of the abstract
- Significance: the importance and impact of the proposed work or ideas
Important Notice:
The ICC does not provide travel funding or support for visa applications. Participants are responsible for arranging their own travel, visas and accommodations in accordance with local regulations. Invitation letters will be issued only to individuals whose abstracts have been formally accepted for presentation. Acceptance notifications and invitation letters will be distributed according to the conference schedule.
Conference Timetable
Note: This timetable follows the Central European Summer Time (CEST)
Language Policy:
Presenters may speak in English, German or French. To foster multilingual exchange:
- PowerPoint presentations should be prepared in English or bilingually
- A short English summary is recommended
- Session chairs and presenters are encouraged to use translanguaging practices
Conference Presentation Policy:
To guarantee a fair and respectful environment for all attendees, presenters are strongly encouraged to review the ICC’s conference presentation policy. This document provides essential guidelines on authorship, copyright, presentation eligibility, and certification
Conference Fees & Registration
The conference fee includes: e-certificate, welcome reception on 8 May, refreshments during coffee breaks and lunch on 9 May, refreshments during coffee break on 10 May.
Conference Venue
Landesmuseum Zürich
The Swiss National Museum, located next to the main station, resembles a fairy-tale castle. It provides a stunning historical backdrop for our forward-looking conference.
Address: Museumstrasse 2, 8001 Zürich
Public Transport in Zurich
The Zurich Card is the most cost-effective option for 1–3 days (CHF 56.00). It is valid for all city zones as well as the location of the Saturday dinner, including the additional zone from Zurich Airport to Zurich Main Station, which is right next to the conference venue (National Museum).
Explore Zurich
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More Information
© Swiss National Museum
© Swiss National Museum
© Swiss National Museum
© Swiss National Museum
© Swiss National Museum
© Swiss National Museum
Accommodation
The local organiser suggests the following hotels for access to the conference venue (Swiss National Museum) and the Saturday evening dinner location.
Standard & Convenient Options
Ibis Styles Zürich City Center
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Address: Stampfenbachstrasse 60, 8006 Zürich
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Location: Located right next to the conference venue (approx. 5-minute walk)
Mercure Zürich City
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Address: Vulkanstrasse 108B, 8048 Zürich
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Location: Located in the outer quarter with a direct train connection to the main station and convention center. It is also ideally situated for the Saturday evening dinner (approx. 12-minute walk)
25hours Hotel Zürich Langstrasse
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Address: Langstrasse 150, 8004 Zürich
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Location: A stylish option located within a 15-minute walk or a short tram ride to the conference venue
Budget-Friendly Options
Zürich Tourismus Budget Accommodation
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For a wider list of budget accommodations, including hostels, please visit the official tourism board guide.
Easy Hotel.com
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For a lower price point, the easyHotel chain offers basic but modern rooms. All listed locations are nearby or easily accessible by public transport to the convention center.
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easyHotel Zürich City Centre (Zwinglistrasse 14, 8004 Zürich)
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easyHotel Zürich Main Station (Klingenstrasse 33, 8005 Zürich)
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easyHotel Zürich Limmatplatz (Heinrichstrasse 122, 8005 Zürich)
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Other Accommodation Options
Additionally, you will find on this hotel booking platform, recommended by our local co-organiser, a list of other available hotels in various categories near the conference venue.
Please note: Zurich is an international city and major financial hub. Accommodation prices are generally high compared to many other destinations. During conference periods, availability can be limited, and budget hotels in particular tend to sell out quickly.
The conference organising committee strongly encourages participants to:
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Book accommodation as early as possible, as many hotels may be fully booked well in advance.
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Search independently for additional options, including private accommodation platforms.
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Consider alternative budget accommodation (e.g., hostels, simple guesthouses, or private rooms), where more attractive offers may sometimes be available.
