• ‘Languages for Jobs’
• ‘Languages for Science’
• ‘Languages for the Workplace’
• ‘Languages for Sport’
• ‘Languages for the Arts’
• ‘Languages for Education and Research’
• ‘Languages for Google’

The films do not focus on any language in particular but rather on the general value of learning any foreign language. They include serious talking heads, scientists, a concert pianist, Trappatoni’s interpreter, as well as young Irish people in the workplace who not only use foreign languages on a daily basis but have got to where they are because of their foreign language skills.

All videos can be viewed on at www.languagesinitiative.ie and you can ‘like’ them or comment on them at Youtube.

Schedule:
9.15 – 9.30 Welcome and Introduction: Tom Moylan

9.30 -11:00 Chair: Geoff Berry

Liam Leonard, Institute of Technology, Sligo “The Irish Environmental Movement from the Age of Aquarius to the Age of Austerity: Utopia or Dystopia?”

Rosemary Rowley, Independent Scholar “Some Perspectives on the History of Utopian Environmental Possibility and Activism”

11.00 – 11.15 Coffee/tea provided

11:15 – 12:45 Chair: Michael Kelly

Margaret Harper, University of Limerick “Inside/Outside: The Ecopoetics of Houses in Groarke and Morrissey”

Maureen O’Connor, University College Cork “The Utopian National Body and Irish Myth in the Plays of Eva Gore-Booth”

12:45 – 2:15 Lunch

2:15 – 3:45 Chair: Michael Griffin

John Gibbons, Environmental Writer “Media Representations of Environmental Conflict”

John Barry, Queen’s University, Belfast “The Topography of Green Thinking and Practice in Relation to Climate Change and Peak Oil: From Dark Mountains to Transition Towns”

3:45 – 4.00 Coffee/tea provided

4:00 – 5:30 Chair: Tina-Karen Pusse

Mark Garavan, Galway-Mayo Institute of Technology “Utopia – Not There But Here; Celts, Camus and Cohen”

Geoff Berry, Monash University (Australia) “Out of the Ruins and Into the Light? Irish and Australian Utopias and Environment”

5:30 Concluding Comment: Joachim Fischer

Full details: www.artsoc.ul.ie/new-scholarships-.php

Criteria & Eligibility

The scholarships will be awarded to applicants who have applied on-line to the University of Limerick for a full-time taught postgraduate programme for the 2012/13 academic year, by 17h00 on 15 June 2012. Applicants who have already applied for a programme on-line are eligible to apply for a scholarship.

Applicants must have or expect to attain a

- First class honours primary degree (1.1) (Level 8 – NQAI) or

- Second Class Honours Grade1 (2h1) primary degree (Level 8 – NQAI) who were in receipt of a County/City Higher Education grant for the final year of study of their primary/undergraduate degree.

Applicants must also

- Satisfy the entry requirements for the University of Limerick taught postgraduate programme they intend to undertake and have applied online for this programme at

www.graduatestudies.ul.ie by 17h00 on the 15 June 2012.

Ineligibility

The scholarships are not open to those who have already commenced a Master’s programme or those who have previously undertaken a postgraduate programme. Applicants for Research Masters programmes are not eligible.

Tuesday 17th April 15-17 Room S117 (Schuman Building)

Learner Autonomy (or Taking charge of your own learning).

This lecture will focus on the evolution of autonomy as a philosophical and practical approach in modern education. After looking at the derivation of the term and its application in successive educational contexts, we will see how the idea of the autonomous learner entered into the field of language learning, first as a concept of learning management and later as a more psychological construct. The last part of the lecture will focus on the problems of the researcher who wants to explore the development of autonomy in the learner. Finally, we will briefly look ahead to some possible future challenges and dangers associated with learner autonomy. There will be opportunities for discussion and questions both during and after the lecture.

Wednesday 18th April 10-11 Room CG058

Eastern Europe in the media

This seminar critically examines the way groups and identities are represented in the media using the topic of how Eastern Europe is depicted in the British media. We will begin by considering the connotations of the phrase ‘Eastern Europe’ and how it has been constructed. We will also look at alternative terms such as Central Europe and consider wider notions of European identity. In this seminar we will also examine how the media in Hungary represent issues of national identity with regard to certain key events. An overall aim of the seminar is to encourage a critical distancing to enable us to look at issues of identity, culture and nationality with ‘fresh eyes’.

Thursday 19th April 11-13 Room CG059

Semiotics and Advertising

In this seminar we’ll look at the basic ideas of the science of semiotics and see how they can be used to analyse the way adverts are constructed in order to suggest particular meanings to the viewer which implicitly favour an ideology of consumerism. We will pay particular attention to Roland Barthes’ concept of cultural myth building through the use of connotation. By the end of the seminar the aim is to have everybody engage in some semiotic analysis of the signs around us.

Feel free to contact me freda.mishan@ul.ie for further information.

Dr. Katarzyna Jędrzejewska-Pyszczak, Department of Celtic Languages and Literatures, Adam Mickiewicz University, Poznań, Poland, will give a talk entitled ‘Dimensions of Welsh nicknaming – past and present’ on Tuesday 16 April at 10.00 in FB028, during her visit to the Irish Section of the School of Languages, Literature, Culture and Communication this week. The talk will be in English, and everybody is welcome to attend.

Bilingualism in Malta
Thursday 29 March, 1-2 pm
Venue: SG205

Malta is a de facto bilingual nation with Maltese as the national language sharing co-official status with English. I will describe the sociolinguistic background to show how the two languages are current in everyday life, and I will then evaluate the pedagogical value of using both languages in the education system.

Dr Antoinette Camilleri-Grima lectures at the University of Malta and is a leading European expert on minority languages and bilingualism.

Language Policy in Europe
Wednesday 28 March, 2-3 pm
Venue: B1023

In this presentation I will talk about (a) Council of Europe policies of plurilingualism, and (b) European Union policy and practice of multilingualism.I start by drawing a distinction between plurilingualism and multilingualism as these two terms represent somewhat different concepts applied by the two institutions. I will give examples of what the Council of Europe means in practice as illustrated with international projects hosted by the European Centre for Modern Languages. I will then refer to EU policy and give examples on how it impinges on languages like Maltese.

Dr Antoinette Camilleri-Grima lectures at the University of Malta and is a leading European expert on minority languages and bilingualism.

Thomas Cousineau is Professor of English at Washington College (Maryland, USA) and a specialist in the field of international modernist writing. A graduate of Boston College, he received his PhD from the University of California at Davis before beginning his teaching career in French universities, to which he has frequently returned. Along with editing a volume entitled Beckett in France, he has written four books, including two on Samuel Beckett, one on modernist fiction, and one on the novels of the Austrian writer Thomas Bernhard. He is now completing a book on the Portuguese writer Fernando Pessoa.

DATE: THURSDAY MARCH 29
TIME: 12 NOON
LOCATION: ERB001

‘What’s the point of university assignments?’

Guest speaker: Professor Hilary Nesi, University of Coventry. External Examiner, MA English Language Teaching, School of Languages, Literature, Culture and Communication

Tuesday 27th March 2012 at 9.00 – 10.00 Room S117 (Schuman Building 1st floor)

Abstract: Traditionally students acquire knowledge of academic writing practices implicitly, over time, through a process described by Turner (2011) as ‘the pedagogy of osmosis’. This process favours students of the more established disciplines, especially those who begin to specialise early. It disadvantages university entrants who embark on a new discipline, or arrive via a less standard route (from another country, perhaps, or from the workplace). The genre categorisation system used in the BAWE corpus is an attempt to make academic writing conventions more explicit to both students and their subject tutors. It tries to explain why different writing tasks require different types of response, across disciplines, across levels of study, and with a view to different social outcomes. The system groups assignments within 13 broad categories, in terms of five broad social functions. This talk will explain the system, and consider how well it covers all the many different types of writing students may produce.

All welcome!

For further information please contact: freda.mishan@ul.ie

Monday 26th March 2012 at 6pm

Dr Anne Mulhall (UCD)

‘This Feeling Called Love: Affect, Biopower and the Regulation of Intimacy’

Main Building CG057

Wednesday 11th April 2012 at 6pm

Dr Michael Griffin (UL)

‘Limerick’s first printed poem?: The mysterious world of Robert Buggin’s The Enchanted Garden (1716)’

Followed by a demonstration of the completed ebooks of Limerick’s first magazine: The Magazines of Magazines (1751–69)

Main Building D1050

Everyone is very welcome to attend these seminars, which will take the form of a lecture of approximately 40 minutes and an opportunity for questions and discussion afterwards. There is no requirement to RSVP, but all questions should be directed to Dr Caroline Magennis at caroline.magennis@ul.ie

Further information, including speaker biographies, may be found at our section Facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/EnglishAtUL

We gratefully acknowledge the support of the AHSS Faculty Teaching Board.

An tUasal Roibeard Ó Cathasaigh MA (Coláiste Mhuire gan Smál, Luimneach).

Beidh an Seimineár dírithe ar obair an chainteora i ngort an Bhéaloidis i gCorca Dhuibhne

Dé hAoine, 23 Márta 12.00-13.00

B1005

Fáilte Roimh Chách!

le tacaíocht Bhord Theagasc na Dáimhe/with the support of the Faculty Teaching Board

Venue : LCO017 (Languages Building, Ground Floor)
Time : Wednesday 21 March, 9.30-11.00 a.m.

Professor Duprat has published widely on topics in modern and contemporary iconographical history, on the history of the relations between political power and public opinion, and on the history of the French Revolution. Her major books include Le roi décapité. Essai sur les imaginaires politiques (Éditions du Cerf, 1992), Histoire de la France par la caricature (Larousse, 1999) Les rois de papier. La caricature de Henri III à Louis XVI (Belin, 2002) and Marie Antoinette. Une reine brisée (Perrin, 2006).

The support of the Service Culturel de l’Ambassade de France in the facilitation of Professor Duprat’s visit is acknowledged.

All welcome

Tuesday 27th March

Wednesday 28th March

Monday, 12 March 2012, 9-10 am, C1060

and

Monday, 12 March 2012, 2-3 pm, Glucksman Library Boardroom

Ruadhán Mac Cormaic’s lectures will deal with the 2012 French presidential election and Franco-Irish relations. The 9am lecture will focus on issues that are uppermost in people’s minds as the election approaches. The 2pm lecture will be oriented slightly more towards the process of covering the French presidential campaign and at the impact the election could have on Ireland and Europe in general.

An tOllamh Emeritus Gearóid Ó Crualaoich (Coláiste na hOllscoile, Corcaigh)

Cáipéisí ag Caint: gnéithe de léann na hinsinte béil sa Léann Éireannach

Dé hAoine, 9 Márta 12.00-13.00 -B1005

Fáilte Roimh Chách!

The line-up includes:

• Michael O’Kane, editor, the Irish Daily Star
• Susan Daly, editor, thejournal.ie
• Hugh Linehan, editor, The Irish Times online
• Malachy Browne, editor, politico.ie and Storyful.com

The event forms part of the ‘Issues in Irish Journalism’ seminar series and is co-organised by 4th year BA Journalism and New Media students Jason Kennedy and Rachael Power. The debate will take place at 2pm at the University of Limerick. Venue Millstream Common Room

Places are extremely limited, to book please email journalism@ul.ie with subject line ‘qticket’

RTE Journalist, Charlie Bird recently addressed journalism students as part of the ‘Issues in Irish Journalism’ seminar series held at the University of Limerick. ‘I believe in Public Service Journalism’ was the title of Charlie Bird’s talk which was attended by students and staff of the BA in Journalism and New Media programme.

Tom Felle, Course Director of the BA in Journalism and New Media and moderator of the seminar said; “Charlie Bird is one of Ireland’s best recognised journalists. In his career he was one of the most important RTE journalists covering the Northern Ireland conflict and the subsequent Provisional IRA ceasefires. He covered both Gulf Wars, conflicts in Africa, swam in the Artic and canoed in the Amazon: he has literally done it all. We are delighted that he is at the University of Limerick to share some of his experiences, and indeed offer to advice, to the next generation of Irish journalists.”

UL regularly invites leading industry figures to speak at the ‘Issues in Irish Journalism’ seminar series, among the speakers to date include Robert Fisk, The Independent’s world renowned Middle East Correspondent, Irish Daily Star managing director Gerard Colleran, the late Dr Garret FitzGerald, former The Irish Times editor Geraldine Kennedy and most recently Minister for Education, Ruairí Quinn.

Upcoming ‘Issues in Irish Journalism’ speakers include; former kidnap victim and Concern aid worker Sharon Commins (13th February 13), former Irish Independent farming editor and MEP Mairead McGuinness (27th February).

To Listen to the Charlie Bird interview on podcast, Click here.

Venue: The Engineering Research Building, ERB001, 09:30 – 18:30.

This one-day Conference is aimed specifically at Researchers and Teachers of Modern Languages who are interested in evaluating Web 2.0 tools for teaching and research purposes.

The seemingly ubiquitous elements of Web2.0 are currently invading many aspects of our professional lives. From learning to teaching (and back again), mobile computing artefacts are defining the Digital Native, redefining the Digital Immigrant and confounding the digitally inexperienced. This one-day Conference, featuring a line-up of national and international speakers, intends to explore many of the major issues surrounding the employment of these artefacts in the teaching and learning of Modern Languages.  In this respect, the Conference will attempt to define the boundaries, if any, around the Cathedral and the Bazaar, whilst offering examples of the potential exploitation of digital artefacts in Second Language Acquisition.

For full details on Abstracts and Registration, please click here.

For full details on Abstracts and Registration, please click here.

Organising Committee: Professor Angela Chambers, Dr Liam Murray, Florence LeBaron-Earle.

Belltable Arts Centre, 69 O’Connell Street, Limerick & the Lime Tree Theatre, Mary Immaculate College

Theme : Tell It Slant

The Kate O’Brien Weekend will take place in Limerick from 24th – 26th February 2012. The theme for the 2012 weekend is ‘Tell it slant’ a quote from an Emily Dickinson poem about telling the truth;

Tell all the truth but tell it slant,
Success in circuit lies,
Too bright for our infirm delight
The truth’s superb surprise;

As lightning to the children eased
With explanation kind,
The truth must dazzle gradually
Or every man be blind.

The Kate O’Brien Weekend brings together readers and contemporary writers in a relaxed environment to discuss ideas, styles and topics that make up the work of today’s writers. It is an invaluable opportunity for the solitary reader to meet and discuss current writing and to interact directly with writers they may or may not have read.

Thursday 23rd February 2012 at 15h00-16h00 [Room TBA]

Abstract: What is fluency in speaking? What does it mean to say someone speaks a language fluently? Traditional accounts of fluency fail to take into account the interactive dimension and the need to maintain a smooth flow of talk across a conversation. Using corpus evidence, we look at how native speakers and learners achieve conversational ‘flow’.

All are welcome!

For further information please contact: freda.mishan@ul.ie

Following the seminar, Dr Liam Chambers (MIC) will launch Michael Brown and Sean Donlan, eds., The Laws and Other Legalities of Ireland, 1689-1850 (Ashgate)

Venue: Wood Room, Plassey House, UL
Seminars begin at 5.15 p.m.
ALL WELCOME

Monday 5th March 2012 at 6pm

Dr Tom Walker (TCD)

‘MacNeice’s Irish Poetry’

Main building CG057

Monday 26th March 2012 at 6pm

Dr Anne Mulhall (UCD)

‘This Feeling Called Love: Affect, Biopower and the Regulation of Intimacy’

Main Building CG057

Wednesday 11th April 2012 at 6pm

Dr Michael Griffin (UL)

‘Limerick’s first printed poem?: The mysterious world of Robert Buggin’s The Enchanted Garden (1716)’

Followed by a demonstration of the completed ebooks of Limerick’s first magazine: The Magazines of Magazines (1751–69)

Venue TBC

Everyone is very welcome to attend these seminars, which will take the form of a lecture of approximately 40 minutes and an opportunity for questions and discussion afterwards. There is no requirement to RSVP, but all questions should be directed to Dr Caroline Magennis at caroline.magennis@ul.ie

Further information, including speaker biographies, may be found at our section Facebook page: www.facebook.com/EnglishAtUL

We gratefully acknowledge the support of the AHSS Faculty Teaching Board.

“Why €urope is good for us”

Dr. Eckhard Lübkemeier has been Ambassador to Ireland of the Federal Republic of Germany since August 2011, having previously served as Deputy Head of Mission at the German Embassy in London. He was a Senior Research Fellow at the German Institute for International and Security Affairs in Berlin (2006-7). Dr Lübkemeier was Deputy Director General for European Affairs at the Federal Chancellery in Berlin (2003-6) and Special Commissioner for Conflict Prevention and Crisis Management as well as Head of Section for European Security and Defence Policy in the Federal Foreign Office in Berlin from 2000 to 2003.

The Ambassador will be introduced by Professor Don Barry, President of the University of Limerick. The lecture will be followed by a Q&A session and a short reception.

DATE: TUESDAY FEBRUARY 14TH 2012
TIME: 17H45
VENUE: EAST ROOM, PLASSEY HOUSE

The event will be held in the Atrium of the Foundation Building (Concert Hall area). This is your chance to find out all you need to know about studying at UL. No booking required. All prospective students are welcome!

For more information, contact the Mature Student Office 061-202735 or mso@ul.ie      www.ul.ie/mso       www.ul.ie/courses

Minister for Education, Ruairí Quinn T.D. addressed journalism students at the inaugural 2012 ‘Issues in Irish Journalism’ seminar series held at the University of Limerick. Minister Quinn congratulated the organisers of the series and answered a number of questions put by the students. He said that the internet and on-line media were one threat to the print media, especially newspapers. The other main threat was the possible collapse of the traditional economic model of newspapers. Such a collapse, were it to occur, should be of concern, not just to journalism students, but to all citizens, he added.

Tom Felle, Course Director of the BA in Journalism and New Media and moderator of the seminar said; “Journalists ask the tough questions and hold those in power to account, and today the Minister for Education was held to account by the future journalists of this country. These are difficult times, but even more so for Ireland’s third level students. A strong democracy, and a strong and independent media are just as important as securing the economy.”

Tom Felle added; “The journalism seminar series has attracted some of the most influential people in Ireland, giving UL’s journalism students unprecedented access to discuss important matters with the very people people who make the decisions. We’re delighted the Minister for Education took time out of his busy schedule and agreed to launch the 2012 series.”

The talk covered issues relating to Freedom of Information, media and privacy and education issues.

UL regularly invites leading industry figures to speak at the ‘Issues in Irish Journalism’ seminar series, among the speakers to date include Robert Fisk, The Independent’s world renowned Middle East Correspondent, Irish Daily Star managing director Gerard Colleran, the late Dr Garret FitzGerald and former The Irish Times editor Geraldine Kennedy.

Upcoming ‘Issues in Irish Journalism’ speakers include;RTE chief news correspondent Charlie Bird (6^th February), former kidnap victim and Concern aid worker Sharon Commins (13^th February 13), Former Irish Independent farming editor and MEP Mairead McGuinness (27^th February).