Konferencja naukowa 4th International Conference on Early Language Learning and Multilingualism in Early Childhood Education
(ELLME'26)
Gdańsk, 8-9 September 2026/ Gdańsk, 8-9 września 2026
Instytut Lingwistyki Stosowanej , Instytut Amerykanistyki i Amerykanistyki na Wydziale Filologicznym Uniwersytetu Gdańskiego oraz Instytut Pedagogiki Wydziału Nauk Społecznych UG we współpracy z ELLMEnet (Siecią Wczesnej Nauki Języków i Edukacji Wielojęzycznej), z radością zapraszają badaczy z całego świata do udziału w 4. Międzynarodowej Konferencji na temat Wczesnej nauki języków i edukacji wielojęzycznej we wczesnym dzieciństwie.
Department of Applied Linguistics, and Department of English and American Studies on Faculty of Languages and Department of Pedagogy on Faculty of Social Science of University of Gdańsk, Poland, in cooperation with ELLMEnet (Early Language Learning and Multilingual Education Network) are proud to welcome researchers from all over the world to contribute to our 4th International Conference on Early Language Learning and Multilingual Education in Early Childhood.
In an increasingly interconnected and globalized world, the significance of multilingualism in the very early years of a child’s development cannot be overlooked. The acquisition of multiple languages during the educational stages of life not only enriches cognitive and linguistic abilities, but also fosters a deep appreciation for diverse cultures and perspectives. This burgeoning area of research has garnered substantial attention from scholars, educators, and policymakers alike, as the advantages of early multilingual exposure extend beyond linguistic prowess to encompass broader cognitive, socio-cultural, and educational dimensions. This 4th ELLME Conference will serve a pivotal platform to delve into the intricate interplay between language acquisition, cognitive development, and social and family engagement.
Promoted by ELLMEnet, this international conference aims at analysing and discussing issues related to multilingualism, in its broadest sense, from birth until the beginning of the compulsory education stage, usually 6/7 years old, as well as early grades of primary education (grades 1-3, approx. till the 9th year).
Researchers, PhD students and practitioners are welcome to present research- or pedagogical-oriented communications related to children from 0 up to 9 years old approximately, contextualised in any multilingual context (second language, foreign language, additional language, minority language, heritage language, sign language, etc.).
Possible topics of interest are:
1. Early language learning
2. Early bi-/multilingual education
3. Early multilingual acquisition
4. Early multilingual identity
5. Multilingual families
6. Second or foreign (L2/F2) language teaching/learning at preschool
7. Classroom practices in early multilingual education
8. Methodological and ethical issues on early multilingual research
9. Teacher education on multilingualism
10. Multilingual policies for early years
Keynote speakers
So as to encourage discussions, the following international keynotes have been invited to contribute to the conference:
Prof. Thomai Alexiou, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Greece
Prof. Mila Schwartz, Oranim College Education, Israel
Prof. Joanna Rokita-Jaśkow, University of the National Education Commission, Poland
Types of speakers’ contributions
As a speaker you can present up to two contributions of the following modalities:
- Presentation: 15-min communication + 5 min discussion.
- Workshop: 60-min, hands-on session on any of the conference topics, either research- or pedagogy-oriented.
- Poster: Dedicated poster sessions will be scheduled during the conference, providing participants with the opportunity to discuss the work directly with the authors. Posters should be research-oriented. Instructions on poster specifications will be provided upon acceptance.
- Language: English but some sessions could be in Polish.
Conference email address: ellme26@ug.edu.pl
Post conference publication options
Selected papers will be published in Glottodidactica, a peer-reviewed journal, indexed in Scopus (Glottodidactica)
A post-conference thematic volume or a special issue of another indexed journal (in the process of settling) will be published.
Organizing Committee
Prof. Hadrian Aleksander Lankiewicz, chair
Prof. Beata Karpińska-Musiał, member
Dr. Michał Daszkiewicz, member
Dr. Magdalena Grabowska, conference secretary
Dr. Maciej Pławski, member (website info)
Student assistants:
Julita Tomalak
Martyna Sieńko
Julia Kaczorek
Natalia Krawczyk
Scientific Committee
Prof. Thomai Alexiou, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Greece
Prof. Ana Andugar Soto, University of Alicante, Spain
Prof. Beatriz Cortina-Pérez, University of Granada, Spain
Prof. Cristina Corcoll López, Ramon Llull University, Spain
Prof. Dolores Fernández Martínez, University of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Spain
Prof. Przemysław Gębal, University of Gdańsk, Poland
Prof. Saeed Karimi Aghdam Ordaklou, Nord University, Norway
Prof. Aneta Lewińska, University of Gdańsk, Poland
Prof. Natalia Martínez León, University of Granada, Spain
Prof. Gina Oxbrow, University of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Spain
Prof. Ekaterina Protassowa, University of Helsinki, Finland
Prof. Natasha Ringblom, Umeå University, Sweden
Prof. Joanna Rokita Jaśków, University of the National Education Commission, Poland
Prof. Piotr Romanowski, University of Warsaw, Poland
Prof. Zhailagul Sagyndykova, Ualikhanov University, Kokshetau, Kazakhstan
Prof. Mila Schwartz, Oranim College of Education, Israel
Prof. Anna Szczepaniak-Kozak, Adam Mickiewicz University in Poznań, Poland
Prof. Emilia Wąsikiewicz-Firlej, Adam Mickiewicz University in Poznań, Poland
Prof. Aigul Zhakupova, Ualikhanov University, Kokshetau, Kazakhstan
Registration:
We now have all the information for conference presentation proposals. Registration involves paying the conference fee individually for each participant.
Conference participants pay the fee to the dedicated UG account number:
Bank Pekao S.A. Oddział w Gdańsku IV, ul. Kołobrzeska 43, with the payment title (KI1Ł-26)+ your full name.
Bank account for fees in PLN: 45 1240 1271 1111 0011 6182 8667
For foreign payments, please provide the following details: Swift: PKOPPLPW, IBAN: PL 45 1240 1271 1111 0011 6182 8667
Important: Please make sure that all banking charges are to be borne by you.
After payment, e-mail the bank receipt to ellme26@ug.edu.pl
We are looking forward to seeing you in Gdańsk. Save the date!
Info on Gdańsk and conference venue
Gdańsk is part of , a polycentric metropolis in northern Poland comprising also and . The area is home to over 1 million people and covers 1,102 km². It is situated on , the agglomeration is one of the country’s key economic, cultural and scientific hubs the TricitySopotGdyniathe Bay of Gdańsk
The city of Gdańsk is inhabited by about 500.000 people, it is best known for its architecture of the Old Town, which forms a Gothic-Renaissance ensemble with a character unique in Europe. Shaped over centuries by the influence of Hanseatic merchant culture, it is distinguished by Gothic brick churches (such as St. Mary’s Basilica) and richly decorated, narrow townhouses featuring their famous entrance terraces along prestigious streets like Długa and Mariacka.
University of Gdańsk is a state university created in 1970, and despite its young history its is one of the leading universities in Poland.
The conference venue is in the main campus, in the university building dubbed (the three-story building in the forefront of the picture.
The Faculty of Languages (Wydział Filologiczny) Neofilologia
The Conference registration desk will be in the main hall.
Address: Wydział Filologiczny (Faculty of Languages) Wita Stwosza Street 51, 80-308 Gdańsk
The conference programme and the book of abstracts:
The program includes only those individuals who have registered and paid the conference fee.
We announced it earlier that registration involves paying the conference fee individually for each participant.
We hope that we have already managed to resolve most of the doubts in our correspondence. Nonetheless, the names of co-presenters will be added once registration formalities have been completed.
We apologize for the slight delay in releasing it, but you kept us busy with mailing, questions and clarifications till the last moment.
Please see the conference program and check whether you are chairing any of the sessions. Thank you for your cooperation and see you in Gdańsk.