Reflections on the symposium ‘tracing the L2 gains of LESLLA learners in adult L2 literacy classes’

Abstract

In this contribution, we reflect on the topics discussed during the symposium we organized at the LESLLA conference 2023 in Barcelona. The goal of the symposium was to discuss (conditions for) gains in LESLLA learners participating in L2 literacy courses, and how to accurately measure them. The symposium focused (i) on the instruments needed to measure gains in different languages, and (ii) on the outcomes of the measurements, and the variables that might help to explain any gains measured, or not measured. A common thread throughout the symposium was the empirical and conceptual gap between mainstream SLA research and LESLLA-focused research, and how to bridge it.