Laboratory Teaching Staff at Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Greece
Dr. Irini Konta is a linguist and educator specializing in applied linguistics, bilingualism, and foreign language acquisition. She teaches at Aristotle University of Thessaloniki and has contributed to numerous Greek language promotion initiatives. Her research on bilingualism and morphology enhances understanding of linguistic acquisition among multilingual populations. Dr. Konta’s expertise and research output make her a respected figure in applied linguistics, particularly in the context of Greek language education.
Professional Profile
Education
Dr. Irini Konta received her Ph.D. in Linguistics from Aristotle University of Thessaloniki in 2013. Her doctoral research focused on The Acquisition of Greek by Children with a Turkish Mother Tongue: Evidence from Nominal Agreement and Morphology. She also holds an M.A. in Teaching Modern Greek as a Foreign/Second Language (2000) and a B.A. in Greek Philology with a specialization in Linguistics (1997), both from Aristotle University of Thessaloniki.
Experience
Dr. Konta has been a Laboratory Teaching Staff member in the Department of Linguistics, School of Philosophy at Aristotle University of Thessaloniki since August 2020, where she teaches General Linguistics with an emphasis on Applied Linguistics. Previously, she served as Scientific Staff at the Greek Language Center in Thessaloniki from 2013 to 2020, promoting Greek language education on secondment from her role in Secondary Education, where she taught from 2003 to 2013. Additionally, she lectured part-time in 2018 at a postgraduate program in Special Education at Hellenic Open University and University of Thessaly. Earlier in her career, she taught Greek as a foreign/second language in summer programs hosted by Aristotle University and the Center for the Study and Development of Greek Culture of the Black Sea.
Research Focus
Dr. Konta’s research interests include bilingualism, foreign/second language teaching, grammar instruction, language acquisition, language assessment, and morphological studies (inflectional and derivational). Her work often emphasizes practical approaches to language teaching and assessment within bilingual and multilingual educational contexts.
Author Metrics
Dr. Konta has published research on bilingualism, language acquisition, and morphology, contributing to scholarly discussions in applied linguistics. Her publications and conference presentations reflect her dedication to advancing methodologies in foreign language education, with citations in both linguistic and educational journals.
Conclusion
Dr. Konta’s expertise in bilingualism, applied linguistics, and her dedication to advancing Greek language education establish her as a highly suitable candidate for the Best Researcher Award in Arts and Humanities. Her diverse teaching experience, innovative research on Greek language acquisition, and involvement in language assessment initiatives underscore her impact on Greek linguistics and applied language studies. While expanding her international reach and integrating more technology-driven research could enhance her profile, her current accomplishments and contributions make her a strong contender for this award.
Publications Top Noted
- Konta, I. & Ouli, P.-A. (2024). 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. Ampersand, 100207.
DOI: 10.1016/j.amper.2024.100207
- This journal article examines the impact of two instructional approaches on the acquisition of Greek past tense by child heritage learners, providing insights into effective pedagogical practices for heritage language instruction.
- Konta, I., Daggopoulos, P., & Paparseni-Papaefstathiou, A. (2019). Εξεταστικά θέματα πιστοποίησης επάρκειας της Ελληνομάθειας 2015-2018. Κέντρο Ελληνικής Γλώσσας.
ISBN: 978-960-7779-87-8
- This book presents a detailed analysis of topics included in the Greek language proficiency certification exams from 2015 to 2018, serving as a resource for Greek language educators and learners.
- Konta, I. (2017). The acquisition of gender and the development of derivational morphology in child L2 Greek. In Selected papers on theoretical and applied linguistics.
- This conference paper investigates the process of gender acquisition and the development of derivational morphology in children learning Greek as a second language, contributing to the field of language acquisition and morphology.
- Konta, I., & Papadopoulou, D. (2017). Η κατάκτηση της παραγωγικής μορφολογίας στην ελληνική ως Γ2. In Studies in Greek Linguistics 37.
- This conference paper explores the acquisition of productive morphology in Greek as a second language, focusing on the challenges and stages of morphological development in L2 learners.
- Konta, I. (2013). Η Κατάκτηση της Ελληνικής από Παιδιά με Μητρική Γλώσσα την Τουρκική (The Acquisition of Greek by Children with a Turkish Mother Tongue). Doctoral Dissertation, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki.
- Dr. Konta’s dissertation analyzes Greek language acquisition in children with Turkish as their first language, examining linguistic patterns and developmental processes in bilingualism.
