Thomas Davis Theatre, Arts Building

Friday, April 17, 2026 from 11:30 am to 12:30 pm

ISL interpretation provided.

 

Join us for an in-person conversation with Prof. David Little about his career and current work.

Professor David Little is a distinguished and internationally renowned scholar in applied linguistics and language education, whose work has had a profound and lasting impact on language teaching, educational policy, and the inclusion of linguistically diverse learners across Ireland, Europe and beyond.

David Little began working in Trinity as a Junior Lecturer in the Department of German in 1970. In 1979, he founded the Centre for Language and Communication Studies (CLCS) at Trinity College, establishing what would become one of Europe’s leading centres for research and innovation in applied linguistics. He served as Director of CLCS and later as the founding Head of the School of Linguistic, Speech and Communication Sciences, guiding the School’s academic development until his retirement in 2008. He was elected a Fellow of Trinity College Dublin in 1995.

He is internationally recognised for his pioneering work on learner autonomy, and played a decisive role in shaping the conceptual foundations of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR), one of the most influential tools in language education worldwide.

A lifelong champion of social inclusion, he directed Integrate Ireland Language and Training, providing English language education for adult refugees, and was instrumental in establishing the Centre for Deaf Studies at Trinity in 2002. His leadership continues through his role as Academic Coordinator of the Council of Europe's Romani–Plurilingual Policy Experimentation. In recognition of his exceptional contributions to our field, he was awarded an Honorary Doctorate by NUI Maynooth in 2011 and the British Council's International Assessment Award in 2024.

It is a particular honour to welcome Professor Little back to the School to reflect on his career and his research. The talk will be hosted by Professor Lorna Carson, one of Professor Little's former Ph.D. students.

Please register in advance via this link.