Seminar by Prof. Michał B. Paradowski in collaboration with LEARN!

Michal B. Paradowski, from the Institute of Applied Linguistics (University of Warsaw) is presenting the seminar:  “Computational Social Network Analysis meets linguistics: From the diffusion of lexical innovation to second language acquisition” in collaboration with LEARN! 

  • When: October 26th 10:30-12:00
  • Where: NU Building- Room NU6A25

The last decades have seen a surge of applications of the theoretical apparatus and analytical tools of complex dynamic systems to analyses of real-life social phenomena. One realisation has concerned the vital role in the attainment of individuals that is played by social networks. The talk will demonstrate how computational social network analysis (SNA) can shed light on linguistic phenomena from the social spread of neologisms online to the influence of peer interactions on second language learners’ attainment, basing on current examples from international student exchange programs to courses for Ukrainian refugees. Unlike most of the existing second language acquisition research that only tended to identify the micro-level of individual interactants’ egocentric networks, thus presenting an emic view only, we show how and why learner networks can be examined in their entirety, complementing an etic perspective. We will also illustrate the benefits of combining computational (quantitative) and anthropological (qualitative) SNA for mutually complementary perspectives

About the speaker

Michał B. Paradowski is a professor and teacher trainer at the Institute of Applied Linguistics, University of Warsaw and a research and language teaching consultant. His interests include second language acquisition and instruction, complexity science, social and psychological network analysis, psycholinguistics, bi- and multilingualism, and educational psychology. He gave over 230 invited lectures, seminars and workshops in Europe, America, Asia, Oceania and Africa. Michał is PI in projects: PEERLANG and Schoolclosure

Some references to introduce Michal B. Paradowski’s work

  • Paradowski, M.B., Jarynowski, A., Czopek, K. & Jelińska, M. (2021). Peer interactions and second language learning: The contributions of Social Network Analysis in Study Abroad vs At-Home environments. In: R. Mitchell & H. Tyne (Eds.), Language, Mobility and Study Abroad in the Contemporary European Context (pp. 99–116). Routledge. 10.4324/9781003087953-10
  • Paradowski, M.B., Jarynowski, A., Jelińska, M. & Czopek, K. (2021). Out-of-class peer
    interactions matter for second language acquisition during short-term overseas sojourns: The contributions of Social Network Analysis. Language Teaching, 54(1), 139–143. 10.1017/S0261444820000580 (includes the poster in the supplementary materials tab!)
  • Paradowski, M.B., Cierpich-Kozieł, A., Chen, C.-C., & Ochab, J.K. (2022). How output outweighs input and interlocutors matter for study-abroad SLA: Computational Social Network Analysis of learner interactions. The Modern Language Journal, 106(4), 694–725. 10.1111/modl.12811