Empowering Asian Language Speakers Symposium

2026 theme: Language and history: Reintegrating history with the teaching and learning of Asian languages in Australia

We are pleased to announce the call for proposals for the 4th Empowering Asian Language Speakers Symposium, supported by the Campbell Bequest and the School of Languages and Cultures at The University of Queensland.

This annual event invites academics, researchers, policymakers, practitioners, and community members to share insights and propose solutions to the challenges faced by Asian language speakers in Australia. The symposium promotes linguistic diversity and multiculturalism in Australian society.

In Australia, Asian languages tend to be validated for their economic and strategic utility, rather than as culture bearers. Similarly, Asian history, which used to be central to Australia’s understanding of Asia, has given way to an ahistorical concept of Asian culture within Australian education. As Indigenous languages and histories are intrinsic to Indigenous cultural identity, Asian languages should be taught and learned alongside their histories to provide a more holistic understanding of Asia and Australia.

We invite submission of individual papers and panels on, but not limited to, the following topics:

• Histories of Asian languages and communities in Australia
• Cross-curriculum priorities in the Australian Curriculum
• The role of language in researching historical events
• Historical and linguistic relationships between Asian countries

Please submit a 200-word abstract by Friday, May 29 2026, 5pm (AEST). In-person presentations will be given priority.

Submit a proposal

Selected proceedings from the symposium may be considered for publication as an edited book or a journal special issue. Our past symposiums have generated an edited book (Rethinking the Asian Language Learning Paradigm in Australia, 2024, Palgrave Macmillan, Kayoko Hashimoto editor) and a journal special issue (“Empowering Asian Heritage Language Communities: Education, Identity, and Belonging in Australia and New Zealand”, Australian Review of Applied Linguistics, in 2027, Min Jung Jee guest editor).

Travel scholarship

We are offering three travel scholarships to PhD student presenters who live outside the Greater Brisbane region. Each successful applicant will receive $1,000 towards their travel and accommodation costs.

The symposium will be held at UQ St. Lucia Campus (Building 14, Room132 & Zoom) on Friday, July 10th, 9:00am – 5:30pm.

This is a free in-person and online event. Registration will open in early June.