Symposium | Decolonial Language Pedagogies in Australian Higher Education

How might decolonial perspectives reshape language education in Australian universities? What does it mean to rethink the teaching of colonial languages within a settler-colonial context? How can language learning engage meaningfully with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander knowledges, languages, and perspectives while encouraging critical reflection on colonial histories, Indigenous struggles, and the power relations that continue to shape languages and cultures across diverse global contexts?
Join us for the first national one-day symposium exploring contemporary and emerging conversations at the intersection of languages education, decolonial thought, Indigenising curriculum, and socially responsive pedagogies in higher education.
Bringing together perspectives from Spanish, French, Italian, and German Studies, the symposium offers an opportunity to engage with innovative research, connect with colleagues across institutions, and contribute to a growing national conversation about the future of languages education in Australian universities.
Whether you teach, learn, research, lead, or work with languages in your community, we hope you’ll be part of the conversation.
Featured speakers:
- Dr Adriana Diaz, School of Languages and Cultures, The University of Queensland
- Dr Maureen Gallagher, School of Literature, Languages and Linguistics, Australian National University
- Dr Laura Lori, School of Languages and Linguistics, The University of Melbourne
- Dr Macarena Ortiz-Jimenez, School of Languages and Cultures, The University of Sydney
- Dr Clara Sitbon, School of Languages and Cultures, The University of Sydney
Lunch will be provided. Full program to be announced soon.
Organisers:
Dr Macarena Ortiz-Jimenez (The University of Sydney)
Dr Adriana Diaz (The University of Queensland)
This symposium is proudly supported and funded by The University of Sydney.