Dr Irini Konta, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Greece
Dr. Irini Konta is a linguist specializing in bilingualism, second language acquisition, and morphology. She completed her PhD in Linguistics (2013) from Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, where she focused on Greek language acquisition by Turkish-speaking children. Currently, she is Laboratory Teaching Staff at the Department of Linguistics, Aristotle University, emphasizing applied linguistics. She has also served at the Greek Language Center and lectured on special education. Dr. Konta’s research, published in journals like Ampersand, explores language teaching, grammar acquisition, and language assessment. She has authored various papers and books on Greek language proficiency and morphology. šš§āš«š
Publication profile
Orcid
Education
Dr. Irini Konta is a linguist with a robust academic background from Aristotle University of Thessaloniki. She earned her PhD in Linguistics in 2013, focusing on The Acquisition of Greek by Children with a Turkish Mother Tongue: Evidence from Nominal Agreement and Morphology. This research sheds light on bilingual language acquisition and linguistic structure. She also holds an MA (2000) in Teaching Modern Greek as a Foreign/Second Language, showcasing her dedication to language education. Her academic journey began with a BA in Greek Philology in 1997, specializing in Linguistics. Dr. Kontaās expertise lies in bilingualism and language pedagogy. šš£ļøš
Experience
Dr. Irini Konta is an accomplished educator and linguist with extensive experience in teaching and promoting the Greek language. š She served as a Laboratory Teaching Staff member in the Department of Linguistics at Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, specializing in General and Applied Linguistics. š£ļø From 2013 to 2020, she was a Scientific Staff member at the Greek Language Center in Thessaloniki, focusing on the support and promotion of Greek language initiatives. š Dr. Konta also lectured part-time on a postgraduate program in Special Education, addressing language challenges, at Hellenic Open University in collaboration with the University of Thessaly. āļø Her teaching journey began in secondary education and included roles teaching Greek as a foreign language at Aristotle University and the Black Seaās Center for Greek Cultural Development. šļø
Research Interests
Dr. Irini Konta specializes in linguistics, focusing on bilingualism and foreign/second language acquisition. She is particularly adept in teaching methodologies for foreign languages, with a strong emphasis on grammar instruction š. Dr. Konta’s research also covers the nuances of language assessment and how individuals acquire a second language, exploring both theoretical and practical aspects š. Additionally, her expertise includes inflectional and derivational morphology, examining how words are formed and modified within languages š. Through her work, Dr. Konta contributes to enhancing language learning and assessment practices, supporting more effective and inclusive educational experiences. š
Research focus
Irini Konta’s research primarily focuses on language acquisition, with a particular interest in Greek as a second language (L2) for children and heritage learners. Her work explores how young learners acquire grammatical structures, such as past tense and gender, and how they develop skills in derivational morphology. By comparing different instructional methods, like Processing Instruction and Production-Based Instruction, Konta aims to improve understanding of effective strategies for language teaching in Greek. Her research is valuable for linguists, educators, and language acquisition specialists who focus on bilingual education and heritage language preservation. šš£ļøš§š¦
Publication top notes
The effectiveness of Processing Instruction and Production-Based Instruction on the acquisition of the past tense in Greek by child heritage learners: A preliminary study
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ConclusionĀ
Dr. Irini Konta’s expertise in language acquisition, bilingualism, and applied linguistics positions her as a strong candidate for the Research for Best Researcher Award. Her research addresses critical aspects of language learning and teaching, especially for bilingual and heritage speakers, making significant contributions to linguistics and language education.Ā