International multidisciplinary workshop
25-26 November 2013, Stockholm University

The international workshop Methods, materials and analyses for research on multilingual youth – qualitative perspectives was held at Stockholm Univer­sity, Sweden, November 25 and 26, 2013. This multi­disciplinary workshop was organized within the framework of project DIMUL (Doing Identity in and through Multilingual Literacy Practices) and the national research school LIMCUL (Young People’s Literacies, Multilingualism and Cultural Practices in Everyday Society). The workshop was a collaboration between Stockholm University, Mälardalen University and Örebro University.

The main objective of this international workshop was to, within the framework of project DIMUL, establish a forum for dialogue concerning different methodological and analytical approaches in research that focuses on phenomena such as multilingualism, cultural practices, language learning and identity formation in different environments.

The shared aim of the workshop was thus to contribute towards an understanding of the complexity of human beings’ – and in particular young people’s – languaging practices in different environments. Focusing mundane everyday interactions and social practices in ethnographically framed research, this critical multidisciplinary research arena had an important bearing on potential future collaboration.

The participants met in Stockholm during two days. The workshop was realized in terms of a paper presentation-based discussion forum that stimulated an exchange of ideas and experiences from previous and ongoing research. Apart from three presentations from invited international speakers, nationally based scholars were invited to participate in the workshop. The presentations comprised of 1-hour slots, where 30 minutes were reserved for presentation and 30 minutes for discussion. The workshop hosted ca 25 participants and was held in English.

International featured speakers and participants:

Angela Creese, University of Birmingham, UK

Marilyn Martin-Jones, University of Birmingham, UK

Sari Pietikäinen, University of Jyväskylä, Finland

Organization committee: Jarmo Lainio, Annaliina Gynne, Sangeeta Bagga-Gupta, Marja-Terttu Tryggvason, Milja Ahtosalo