Biography
Born Dublin 11/11/1939 of parents who were both teachers, third of four sons. Married to Ann Downer August 1966. Three children, Séamus (born Paris, May 1968), Marie (born Dublin November 1970), Ann (born Dublin February 1974). Interests: opera, golf, bridge. Lived for two years in Paris, 1966 to 1968, including the period of les évènements de soixante-huit. Favourite city: Paris.
Publications and Further Research Outputs
Peer-Reviewed Publications
Ann Devitt, Sean Devitt, Marita Kerin and Elizabeth Oldham, Back to school: how becoming a reflective learner impacts on practice, European Conference on Educational Research 2011, Berlin, Germany, 13-16 September 2011, 2011
Devitt, Seán , TCD.zip (Longitudinal data from five children learning French as a second language in France) on CHILDES website http://talkbank.org/data/SLA/ (ISBN 1596422629) , 2005, -
Le Cadre européen commun de référence pour les langues et les recherches sur l'acquisition des langues L1+n in, editor(s)J-C. Beacco, S. Bouquet, R. Porquier , Niveaux B2 pour le Français : Textes et références , Paris, Didier, 2004, pp9 - 16, [Devitt, Seán ]
Devitt, Seán , Content and reading in the CLIL classroom, 2003, -
Teacher development in the light of SLA research in, editor(s)D. Little, J. Ridley, & E. Ushioda , Learner autonomy in the foreign language classroom: Learner, teacher, curriculum, and assessment , Dublin, Authentik Language Learning Resources Ltd, 2003, pp107 - 121, [ Devitt, Seán]
Guidance to teachers and learners in, editor(s)J.L.M.Trim , The Common European Framework of reference for language learning and teaching: A Guide for Users, Strasbourg, Council of Europe, 2002, pp73 - 100, [Devitt, Seán ]
Devitt, Seán , Review of Language processing and second language development: processability theory, by M. Pienemann, Amsterdam / Philadelphia: John Benjamins, Review of Language processing and second language development: processability theory, by M. Pienemann , System, 28, 2000, p455-460
Using pedagogical texts as sources of linguistic input: the practical implementation of a cultural component in the language classroom in, editor(s)D.Ó Baoill & A. Chambers , Intercultural Communication and Language Learning, Dublin, IRAAL / Royal Irish Academy, 1999, pp201 - 217, [Devitt, Seán ]
L'acquisition précoce du français par deux filles anglophones in, editor(s)M.Souchon , Pratiques discursives et acquisition des langues étrangères: Actes du Xe Colloque International "Acquisition d'une langue étrangère: Perspectives et Recherches, Besançon, France, 19-21 September 1996, Besançon, Presses universitaires franc-comtoises, 1998, pp239 - 250, [Devitt, Seán ]
Devitt, Seán , Review of Language and Development: Teachers in a changing world, Review of Language and Development: Teachers in a changing world, by B. Kenny and W. Savage , System, , 26, 1998, p261-264
Devitt, Seán , Reading and writing one's way into language awareness, Language Awareness, 6, 1997, p119 - 135
Devitt, Seán , Interacting with authentic texts: multilayered processes, Modern Language Journal, 81, 1997, p457 - 469
Media, technology, resources centres and language learning. in, editor(s)Kieffer, C. , Modern language learning in the new Europe: The role of the European Centre for Modern Langauges in Graz, Austria. Proceedings of the First Annual Colloquy of the European Centre for Modern Languages of the Council of Europe, 8-9 December 1995, Graz, Austria, Graz, European Centre for Modern Languages, 1996, pp26 - 30, [Devitt, Seán ]
Devitt, Seán , Review of Talking about people: A multiple case study on adult language acquisition, by Peter Broeder, Amsterdam: Swets & Zeitlinger B.V., Review of Talking about people: A multiple case study on adult language acquisition , by Peter Broeder , Language, Culture, and Curriculum, 5, (3), 1992, p227-229
Devitt, Seán , Classroom discourse: its nature and its potential for language learning. CLCS Occasional Paper no. 21., Dublin, Trinity College, CLCS, 1989
Frameworks for reading in, editor(s)D.G.Little, B. O Meadhra, & D. M. Singleton , New approaches in the language classroom: Coping with change. Proceedings of the second National Modern Languages Convention, Trinity College, Dublin, January 1986 , Dublin, Trinity College, CLCS, 1986, pp78 - 85, [Devitt, Seán]
Devitt, Seán , Learning a foreign language through the media. CLCS Occasional Paper No. 18, Dublin, Trinity College, CLCS, 1986
Devitt, S., Little, D.G., Ó Conchúir, S., Singleton, D.M. , Learning Irish with "Anois is Arís". CLCS Occasional Paper no. 6, Dublin, Centre for Language and Communication, 1982
Devitt, Seán, New developments in the teaching of languages as they might affect the teaching of Irish, Compass, 11, 1982, p23 - 32
Devitt, Seán, Czak, Ian V. , Apprendre à enseigner en apprenant, Le Français dans le Monde, 162, 1981, p63 - 68
Devitt, Seán, Czak, Ian V. , Une expérience d'apprentissage du Russe par de futurs professeurs de langues vivantes, Champs Educatifs, 3, 1981, p12 - 26
Devitt, Seán , Simplification Procedures in the Input and Output of Second Language Acquisition/Learning, Teanga: Journal of the Irish Association of Applied Linguistics, 2, 1981, p76 - 78
Mac Dáibhéid (Devitt), Seán & O Conchúir, Seán , Múineadh an dara teanga: Athbreithniú, Irish Educational Studies, 1, 1981, p87 - 102
Devitt, Seán; Czak, Ian V. , An experiment in the teaching of Russian to future language teachers, Canadian Modern Language Review / La Revue canadienne des langues vivantes, 38, 1981, p43 - 57
Devitt, Seán , The late acquisition of English past and 3rd person singular -s by L2 learners: A new perspective, TESOL Quarterly
Non-Peer-Reviewed Publications
Devitt, Seán , French: its acquisition as a second language, Dublin, Authentik Language Learning Resources Ltd, 1993
Little, D. & Devitt, S. , Authentik: The User's Guide: Revised Edition, Dublin, Authentik Language Learning Resources Ltd, 1991
Devitt, Seán , Authentik: The User's Guide, Dublin, Authentik Language Learning Resources Ltd, 1990
Little, D.G., Devitt, S., & Singleton, D.M., Learning foreign languages from authentic texts: Theory and practice, Dublin, Authentik Language Learning Resources Ltd, 1989
Little, D.G., Devitt, S., & Singleton, D.M., Authentic texts in foreign language teaching: Theory and practice, Dublin, Authentik Language Learning Resources Ltd, 1988
Research Expertise
Description
- Language acquisition (First and Second), with special emphasis on temporality, particularly in narrative. Languages being focused on: French and English. - Reading and writing processes, specifically in a second or foreign language context, specifically the development of a model for reading and writing in a second language that creates optimal conditions for the language to develop. - Learning a content subject (specifically Science) through a new language. - The value of learning a foreign language (e.g. Italian) for adults with literacy problems. - The role of a language learning experience (e.g. Russian, Japanese) as part of the initial programme of training of language teachersRecognition
Representations
Member of the Board of Directors of Integrate Ireland Language and Learning
Trinity College representative on European Language Council
Awards and Honours
Fellow of Trinity College, Dublin
Officier l'Ordre des Palmes Académiques awarded by French Government
Chevalier dans l'Ordre des Palmes Académiques awarded by French Government
Memberships
Member of Transnational Project no. 6 (Bilingual Education and Teacher Training) of the European Language Council
Member of the Academic Committee of the Advisory Council for English Language Schools
Member of the Executive Committee of the Irish Association for Applied Linguistics
Secretary of the Irish Association for Applied Linguistics (IRAAL)