Plenary 1: Prof. Danuta Wiśniewska

 Language Learner Autonomy and Engagement in the Linguistic Landscape

In this talk I will explore the role of the linguistic landscape in fostering autonomous language use beyond the classroom. The linguistic landscape—comprising public signage, advertisements, graffiti, and other written language forms in the environment—serves as both an implicit and explicit learning resource. However, language learners are often unaware of its pedagogical potential, linguistic richness and the broader sociolinguistic functions embedded within it. I will try to show that language instruction and fostering learner autonomy can equip learners with the skills necessary to critically engage with the linguistic landscape, not only by comprehending its linguistic content but also by interpreting its sociocultural and pragmatic dimensions. This approach can foster a deeper understanding of language as a dynamic element of social life and increase students' willingness and ability to approach these multilingual as well as multimodal environments with a more reflective, critical mindset.