Research Chair in Technology-Mediated Language Learning and Artificial Intelligence

In an era where technology is reshaping education, Jérémie Séror is leading the way as the newly appointed Research Chair in Technology-Mediated Language Learning and Artificial Intelligence. His research delves into the transformative capabilities of generative AI for language education, notably its ability to provide personalized, adaptive learning experiences and its affordances for educators seeking to analyze and clarify for learners the unique linguistic patterns central to the texts they work with.

By integrating quantitative and qualitative data, the chair’s activities aim to document the real-world applications of these emerging technologies. Jérémie Séror is particularly interested in AI’s capacity to offer language-specific insights that can forge connections between students’ home languages and the new languages they are acquiring. This cross-linguistic approach enhances understanding while fostering plurilingual skills by prompting learners to draw on their full linguistic repertoire. A key objective will be to identify the competencies educators require to effectively integrate AI-driven tools into their teaching, while also mitigating potential risks.

In partnership with colleagues, research centres, and external partners, this research chair will not only further the strategic goals of OLBI but also contribute to broader policy development, enrich language education practises, and ensure the ethical and inclusive deployment of AI in language classrooms.

OLBI Faculty of Arts research chair in language assessment literacy

Beverly Baker is Associate Professor and Director of Language Assessment at OLBI.  She works and publishes widely in the areas of second language writing, language test validation, language teacher development, multilingual assessment and language assessment competency development. She also consults widely with professional organisations and governments and has offered workshops on language assessment topics to more than 1000 teachers worldwide. In 2018, she was named Young Researcher of the Year from uOttawa's Office of the Vice President, and in 2019 received the Emerging Researcher Award from uOttawa's Faculty of Arts and the International Assessment Award from the British Council. She is currently Treasurer of the International Language Testing Association and a founding member of its Language Assessment Literacy Special Interest Group.

Research Chair in Language Policy

Nikolay Slavkov is a full professor at the Official Languages and Bilingualism Institute (OLBI). From 2017 to 2024, he also served as director of OLBI’s CCERBAL Research Centre. Professor Slavkov’s research on language policy revolves around family language policy and its intersections with language ideologies and the educational system. As famously noted by Bernard Spolsky, Family Language Policy (FLP) is a critical domain within the field of language policy, which has traditionally focused on nation-state or institutional policies. As such, there is agreement among researchers that more research is needed to enhance our understanding of language-related family dynamics, stances, and practices.

Professor Slavkov’s research emphasizes linguistic harmony and inclusion and explores official languages as well as heritage or minority languages in Canada. Through case studies, questionnaires, and interviews with families, he has examined the following: 1) how young children learn, forget (lose), and relearn (re-activate) languages; 2) what educational pathways and home language use strategies can be pursued by families in order to optimize children’s bilingual and multilingual outcomes; and 3) how individual language constellations are formed in children’s repertoires, depending on their unique migration, family, and educational trajectories. Prof. Slavkov’s research has also recently focused on language decolonization, taking a critical stance towards epistemologies of the Global North and shifting the gaze towards linguistic inclusion, acceptance, and social justice. 

OLBI Mobility Research Chair in Bilingualism

Professor Zaidi’s research highlights the power of diversity in advancing social justice, equity and inclusion, particularly within immigrant and transcultural contexts. Her work addresses the urgent need for more inclusive literacy and language learning in Canada’s multilingual, multi-ethnic classrooms, which have been significantly affected by the global refugee crises.

Her efforts have led to province-wide recommendations to better support refugee and immigrant families navigating the education system. Through her latest literary works, including Transcultural Pedagogies for Multilingual Classrooms: Responding to Changing Realities in Theory & Practice & Literacy Lives in Transcultural Times, Professor Zaidi continues to influence educational practices and policies.