From Language Hierarchisations to Multilingualism and Foreign Language Education

To announce the appointment of Petra Daryai-Hansen as Professor of Multilingualism and Foreign Language Education as of 1 February 2026, the Department of English, Germanic and Romance Studies invites you to attend Petra's Inaugural Lecture in Danish.

In my PhD thesis, which I defended in 2010, I analysed – drawing on theoretical perspectives from sociolinguistics, language policy, and the sociology of language – the language hierarchisations that manifest themselves in education-policy texts in Denmark and Germany. The study focused on language representations: Which languages are constructed as natural and legitimate in the Danish and German contexts, and which are positioned as peripheral and excluded – either implicitly or explicitly? The analysis pointed to significant language hierarchisations, particularly in Denmark, and in the final, perspective‑oriented chapter I raised the question of how to work towards language dehierarchisations.

In my inaugural lecture, I will zoom in on language awareness, language recognition, and language enjoyment, drawing on the broad range of research and development projects I have since coordinated and contributed to in Danish, Nordic, and European contexts. These projects share the aim of strengthening linguistic and cultural diversity through cross-disciplinary approaches to language education – particularly plurilingual education, but also Content and Language Integrated Learning (CLIL) and intercultural education. The lecture offers insight into work that spans all educational levels, from primary to tertiary education, in which I have explored both learners’ and teachers’ perspectives while also contributing to development at the meso-, macro-, and supra-levels, most recently through my contributions to educational development at the Department of English, Germanic and Romance Studies, through my role as a resource person for the language subjects in the national curriculum reform (Fagfornyelsen), and through my membership of the Council of Europe’s Language Policy Expert Group.

Registration

Everyone is welcome but registration is required no later than 20 May 2026.

Program