Presentation at the ARLE SIG-ROLE Seminar (Radboud University, Nijmegen)

With fellow literature education scholars (Rose from the UK, Andressa from Portugal, and Christian from Denmark)

It was a most insightful experience presenting my research on poetry memorisation and its impact on student learning at the ARLE SIG-ROLE 2025 Seminar, hosted by Radboud University in Nijmegen, in the Netherlands. Based on the theme of “Legitimising Literature in an Evolving Media Landscape”, this global conference provided a specialised platform to connect with renowned scholars and practitioners of literature education from around the world.

Our discussions highlighted the enduring value of literature in developing empathy, cultural understanding, and moral reasoning — knowledge and skills that remain essential in our increasingly digital world. Our current media landscape offers exciting opportunities to reimagine how we approach literary texts and reading practices for current (and future) generations of students.

With colleagues Farah (NIE, Singapore), Christian (Denmark), Sotiria (Greece), Merja (Finland), and conference organiser Jeroen (Radboud University, Nijmegen)

I was particularly impressed by the conference organising committee, who (despite the small size of their team) managed to plan and coordinate such a well-organised seminar. The conference dinner and evening receptions were especially enjoyable — with so many rich conversations over hearty meals (interestingly, the lunches provided were all vegetarian by default — falafel sandwiches galore — I’m deeply appreciating these sustainable meal options!).

Strolling along the river Waal over long chats about life and literature, all while gazing at the magnificent sunset over the bridge — these are memories that I’ll always cherish. One thing I appreciate about these smaller conferences is that they offer the time, space, and opportunity to make genuine connections with like-minded individuals. Over the past few days of the conference, engaging with international scholars—particularly from Europe, Australia, and the Americas—has surfaced valuable insights and feedback on my findings. (Thank you as well to my fellow Airbnb housemates from NIE!) I’m grateful for the diverse perspectives shared by all these leading researchers and practitioners — they’ve made this conference a key highlight of my academic journey. 🌟

#ARLE #SIGROLE2025 #LiteratureEducation

Sunset along the river Waal in Nijmegen