Association for Language Awareness (ALA)

The Association for Language Awareness (ALA), a leading international organization dedicated to advancing the understanding of language in education and society, will hold its 2026 biennial conference June 22–25, 2026, at the Middlebury Institute of International Studies (MIIS) in Monterey, California. This marks the first time in the organization’s history that the conference will be hosted in the United States.

The conference honors the legacy of the late Professor Leo van Lier (1944–2012), a founding member of ALA and internationally recognized scholar whose work helped shape the field of Language Awareness. Professor van Lier taught at the Middlebury Institute from 1986 until 2012 and was known for his groundbreaking contributions to language education, classroom interaction, learner autonomy, and ecological approaches to language learning.

For conference information, registration details, and the full program, visit the Association for Language Awareness conference website at: ALA 2026 Conference.

Location: McCone Building, 499 Pierce Street, Monterey, CA