The CILC National Dialogue on Literacies-Oriented Language Education (NDLLE) project provides a space for a national discussion on the opportunities afforded by focusing language education on the development of “literacies”: meaning-making abilities in which learners interact with texts in all modalities, in a way that is cognitively demanding and socio-culturally informed (for more details, see Paesani, 2018). Such approaches include genre-based, text-based, and multiliteracies-based, all of which focus on incorporating texts that were created for language users, not language learners. 

This project is hosting a Summer Institute in 2025 and a National Forum in 2026. 

The future of modern language programs is at a critical turning point. As educational landscapes evolve—marked by declining course enrollment in advanced-level languages other than English (LOTE) (MLA, 2023); shrinking funds; the rise of AI as a perceived substitute for language learning; and shifting student interests—many modern language programs are facing mounting challenges. The NDLLE project makes the case that a literacies-oriented approach to curricula can be a solution to tackling some (if not all) of these challenges. 

Research indicates that when LOTE programs incorporate literacies-oriented practices, the outcomes for learners include not only an improvement in their academic performance but also a positive shift in their attitudes toward language learning (Rossomondo & Lord, 2023). By engaging with these approaches, learners have been shown to develop a growth mindset (Amgott, 2023); gain intercultural competence (Porto, 2018); enhance their cultural understanding (Kucer & Silva, 2012); and hone their critical thinking and cross-cultural communication skills (Paesani, 2018)—goals that align with the mission of higher education institutions. For both programs and their learners, it addresses the urgent need for curricula to align with the realities of 21st-century learners, institutions, and societies (Paesani, 2018; Paesani, Allen & Dupuy, 2016).

Mission

This project aims to build community across educators both new to and familiar with literacies-oriented pedagogies, and includes the following components:

1. The CILC Forum on Literacies-Oriented Language Education: A space for showcasing and discussing such practices.
2. The CILC Summer Institute on Literacies-Oriented Language Education: A professional development opportunity for language educators and administrators.
3. A collection of literacies-oriented resources: free and open to the public.

For more information, contact the team using this form.

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