Connecting and Learning at EUROCALL 2026 (Dongixa Pan PhD Research Programme in Education)
From 8 to 11 September 2026, I had the valuable opportunity to attend the EUROCALL Conference at Ulster University in Belfast, with support from the Department of Education. Under the theme Promoting Linguistic Diversity through CALL, the conference brought together students, researchers, and language educators from around the world to explore current developments in computer-assisted language learning.
Connecting and Learning at EUROCALL 2026
My poster, entitled Beyond Access: Socioeconomic Differences in Chinese EFL Learners’ Informal Digital Learning Engagement, explored patterns of university students’ informal digital English learning and how socioeconomic background might shape their engagement. The poster session provided an excellent opportunity to discuss the findings with other attendees and receive constructive feedback. The questions and suggestions raised during these conversations offered useful perspectives for interpreting and communicating the findings as the study develops.
Beyond presenting my own research, attending EUROCALL provided a broader understanding of ongoing work in the field. Presentations addressed topics including generative AI, learner autonomy, digital feedback, and emerging technologies in language education. Together, they offered valuable insights into current research trends and highlighted connections across different areas of technology-enhanced language learning.
The conference also created valuable opportunities to meet students, researchers at different career stages, and professionals working in the sector. Conversations during and between sessions allowed participants to exchange ideas, compare research experiences, and reflect on shared challenges. These interactions helped build new academic connections and opened up possibilities for future exchanges and collaboration. It was particularly rewarding to meet researchers whose work I had previously encountered only through journal articles.
Overall, EUROCALL 2026 demonstrated the importance of conferences for both the development of a PhD project and the wider growth of a doctoral researcher. Feedback from others can refine an ongoing study, while exposure to new research and engagement with the wider academic community can generate ideas, broaden perspectives, and develop a stronger sense of connection to the field. I returned from Belfast with helpful comments on my research, a clearer understanding of current developments in technology-enhanced language learning, and new connections with people in the field. I am very grateful to the Department of Education for supporting my attendance.
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