Highlights from the ELLRA 2026 Conference
Now organised for the second time, the ELLRA conference featured numerous insightful keynote speeches and presentations related to early language learning. One of the conference’s central themes was participatory approaches and ethical considerations in research involving children.
Storytelling connected two keynote speeches in particular. Dr. Sabine Little illustrated how stories and storytelling can help overcome linguistic barriers in early language education and how children themselves can be engaged as co-researchers in this process.
Dr. Mario E. López Gopar, in turn, reminded us of the role stories play in shaping and maintaining perceptions about children and demonstrated how children can be involved in research concerning them and how research can be conducted together with them.
During the conference, we also heard examples of studies in which children participated in data analysis, contributed to interview questions, and even acted as co-authors of research articles.
These discussions provided valuable perspectives for the IDEAL project as well. The project explores individual differences in early foreign language learning by following the same pupils over a three-year period. As we are currently planning our second grade data collection, we are also reflecting on how to make our research more participatory for the pupils and what kinds of visualisation tasks could best bring out children’s agency and experiences.
IDEAL’s research presented at an international conference for the first time
At the conference, we organised a thematic workshop on visual research methodologies in early language learning research together with the MultiELL project and Anna Marzà (Universitat Jaume I, Spain). MultiELL introduced the method of sketchnoting, while Anna presented visual diaries, both from the perspective of multiliteracies.
The workshop explored questions such as: What is the purpose of visualisations? Which types of visualisations work best in research on early language education? How can visual material be analysed? What challenges are related to the use of visualisations in early language education, and how can these challenges be addressed?
Our own presentation focused on the use of drawings as a research method with pupils who have language difficulties. We presented examples from our first year data by combining children’s drawings with excerpts from their interviews. We are currently preparing a publication on the topic.
The workshop attracted an engaged audience, and the presentations sparked lively discussion. Our heartfelt thanks to ELLRA and Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona for the excellent conference arrangements! And lastly, thank you to the Emil Aaltonen Foundation for funding this conference trip.
In line with the University of Jyväskylä’s sustainability strategy, Hanna travelled to the conference in Barcelona by train, via Basel on the way there and via Paris on the return journey. The trips went smoothly, and the train provided an excellent environment for working along the way. We are happy to share tips with anyone considering a similar journey!
