A linguistic risk is an authentic, every-day communication task that some language learners may shy away from and may need special encouragement to engage in. Research has shown that some learners hesitate to take risks and do not always benefit from extra opportunities to practice their second or additional language outside of the language classroom. Real-life communication is not stress free. It may involve "risk factors" such as making mistakes, being misunderstood, misunderstanding others, taking on a different identity, changing language use habits, and so on. That is why some learners tend to stay within the comfort zone of their preferred language when going about their daily business on campus and thus miss out on opportunities to "live" bilingually or multilingually.
Linguistic Risk-Taking Initiative
Welcome
Welcome to the Linguistic Risk-Taking Initiative launched at the Official Languages and Bilingualism Institute (OLBI). This initiative will help you discover new and creative ways of using the University of Ottawa’s unique bilingual campus as a resource in your language-learning journey. On behalf of our team of professors, staff members and students, I wish you happy linguistic risk-taking!
Full Professor, Official Languages and Bilingualism Institute (OLBI)
Research Chair in Language Policy, OLBI, Faculty of Arts
What is a linguistic risk?
Why the Linguistic Risk-Taking Passport and Digital App?
The Linguistic Risk-Taking Passport and Digital App will encourage you to take various linguistic risks that will boost your confidence in your second or additional language. These tools will guide you in turning your daily routines into linguistic risks and in using your bilingual campus and multilingual community as real-life language learning resources. The passport and the app are designed for French or English as target languages. However, in many cases you can extend the activities to other languages that you may be learning.
How to participate
The Linguistic Risk-Taking Research Group (LingRisk)
The goals of the Linguistic Risk-Taking Research Group (LingRisk) are as follows:
- Support innovative pedagogical approaches to authentic and autonomous language learning;
- Generate and analyze research data related to linguistic risk-taking;
- Engage in various training and knowledge dissemination activities;
- Establish national and international partnerships with like-minded researchers and institutions who seek to promote bilingualism and multilingualism in various contexts;
- Integrate interdisciplinary perspectives from applied linguistics, education, psychology, health sciences, and beyond.
Research and publication highlights
Below is a selection of research publications that showcase ongoing work in linguistic risk-taking and language learning.
The list starts with the most recent publications.
Slavkov, N. (2026). The linguistic risk-taking initiative: Conception and validation of a digital tool. Cologne Online Journal for Teacher Education (k:ON).
Cajka, S., Griffiths, E., Slavkov, N., & Vetter, E. (2023). Linguistic risk-taking and informal language learning: From Canada to Austria. In D. Toffoli, G. Sockett, & M. Kusyk (Eds.), Language learning and leisure: Informal second language learning in the 21st century. De Gruyter Mouton.
Slavkov, N. (2023). Linguistic risk-taking: A new pedagogical approach and a research program. Canadian Journal of Applied Linguistics, 26(2), 32–59. https://doi.org/10.37213/cjal.2023.33038
Roodi, F., & Slavkov, N. (2022). Gamification in L2 teaching and learning: Linguistic risk-taking at play. OLBI Journal, 12(1), 185–205. https://doi.org/10.18192/olbij.v12i1.6000
Griffiths, E., & Slavkov, N. (2021). Linguistic risk-taking: A bridge between classroom and outside world. Canadian Journal of Applied Linguistics, 24(2), 127–158. https://doi.org/10.37213/cjal.2021.31308
Rhéaume, M., Slavkov, N., & Séror, J. (2021). Linguistic risk-taking in second language learning: The case of French at a Canadian bilingual institution. Foreign Language Annals, 54(4), 1214–1237. https://doi.org/10.1111/flan.12561
Slavkov, N. (2020). Where the magic happens: Fostering language learning, bilingualism and multilingualism through linguistic risk-taking. In T. Tinnefeld, M. East, & R. Kresta (Eds.), The magic of language: Productivity in linguistics and language teaching (pp. 47–69). Saarland University of Applied Sciences Press. https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.14917490
Séror, J., & Slavkov, N. (2019). Soutenir la prise de risques linguistiques chez l’apprenant langagier. Journal de l’immersion / Immersion Journal, 41(1), 9–13.
Slavkov, N., & Séror, J. (2019). The development of the linguistic risk-taking initiative at the University of Ottawa. The Canadian Modern Language Review, 75(3), 254–271. https://doi.org/10.3138/cmlr.2018-0202
Keep exploring
Contact us
Linguistic Risk-Taking Initiative
70 Laurier Avenue East
Room 130
Ottawa ON K1N 6N5
Canada
Telephone: 613-562-5743
Fax: 613-562-5126
[email protected]
For more information
Not registered to an ESL, or FLS course?
- Request access to the app by contacting [email protected]
- Visit the Julien-Couture Resource Centre to obtain a copy of the Linguistic-Risk Taking Passport (paper version) or download it here.
- For more information about this research group, please email Prof. Nikolay Slavkov at [email protected].