Talk
No Longer Optional: Technology and Pragmatics at the Heart of Language Teaching
Marta González-Lloret
University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa, Professor & Chair, Dept. of LLEA, Cooperative Graduate Faculty, Dept. of SLS
This talk highlights the importance of learning the pragmatics of a Second or Foreign language for successful interaction, particularly in digitized, global, and multicultural contexts, and especially at a time of sociocultural tensions and declining support for language education. Understanding the pragmatic norms of other languages promotes respect, empathy, and social integration, skills that are vital in today’s multicultural society. Moreover, it can help fight isolationist trends by promoting LL as a form of civic engagement and global connection. This presentation will explore existing research, materials, and practices that integrate technology and L2 pragmatics, suggesting how they can mutually influence each other, with technology fostering the growth of L2 pragmatics and pragmatics guiding technological developments, implementations, and research. Finally, I will underscore how the synergy between technology and L2 pragmatics can help cultivate empathy, intercultural awareness, and responsible citizenship.
Bio:
Marta González-Lloret is a Professor at the University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa where she has taught for three decades. She is ranked among the top 2% of the most cited researchers in the world and among the 400 most prominent linguists globally (Stanford University Ranking, 2023, Elsevier). Her research focuses on language acquisition through technology, task-based language teaching, and second language pragmatics. She has given multiple lectures, workshops, and keynote addresses around the world. She is co-editor of the Task-Based Language Teaching series (John Benjamins), editor of the Pragmatics & Language Learning series (NFLRC).
Friday, November 7, 2025
In-person & Zoom, 3-5 pm
This lecture is sponsored by the College of Letters and Science.
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