Members

Members

Dana Leon-Henri

Maître de Conférences, Enseignant-Chercheur

Université de Franche-Comté
UFR SLHS
30-32 rue Mégevand
25030 Besançon Cedex

dana.leon-henri@umlp.fr

Orcid :

https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6196-6173

Dana Leon-Henri

Cnu section : 11°

Disciplinary department : Polyglotte (LANSAD)

Primary pole : Contexts, Languages, Didactics

Search fields

English for Specific and Academic Purposes (language didactics | diagnostic assessment of language skills | artificial intelligence and robotics for personalized language learning)

Projects

NameDatesELLIADD members
(AI-VT) Artificial Intelligence – Virtual Trainer 2017-2023 Françoise Greffier, Alain Lamboux-Durand, Dana Leon-Henri, Ioan Roxin

Responsabilities

Membre suppléante (élue) au Conseil de Laboratoire (17/02/2022-19/09/2024)

Membre Commission Internationale (29/09/2024-19/09/2024)

Head of the Polyglotte Department, UFR SLHS (10/04/2017-30/04/2019)

Coordinator for the Masters 1 et 2 graduate level at the Polyglotte Department (01/10/2015-...)

Coordinator of English transversal modules for Language Sciences and Information and Communication at the Bachelor's undergraduate level (01/09/2015-...)

Membre Commission Doctorante (13/11/2021-...)

Responsable Commission Internationale (19/09/2024-...)

Membre (élue) au Conseil de laboratoire (19/09/2024-...)

Expertises

Member of the Cambridge Higher Education Panel, Cambridge Higher Education Panel: Cambridge University Press, United Kingdom (08/07/2022-...)

Participating as a panel member in the development of Cambridge University Press services, online platforms, and sales models to help identify changing customer needs, as well as sharing insights with peers across the globe, building networking communities and recruiting individuals from a range of backgrounds and in a range of roles to stay informed on the varied opinions and priorities surrounding academic publishing.

Associate Editor, International Journal of English Linguistics, Canada (27/04/2020-...)

https://ccsenet.org/journal/index.php/ijel/editor

International Editorial Board Member and Reviewer, Journal of Teaching English for Specific and Academic Puposes, Serbia (26/09/2019-...)

https://espeap.junis.ni.ac.rs/index.php/espeap/about/editorialTeam

Non-Board Reviewer, TESL Canada Journal, Canada (27/11/2024-...)

https://teslcanadajournal.ca/index.php/tesl/about

Thesis

English as a Foreign Language for the European Citizen? From Educational Policy in France and Europe to the Development of a Diagnostic Assessment of Oral and Written Skills

University : University of Paris -Sorbonne (PARIS IV)

Defense date : 28/11/2008

Thesis directors


Under the supervision of Professor Liliane Gallet-Blanchard

Jury members:

Marie-Madeleine MARTINET (Professor, University of Paris-Sorbonne [Paris IV]),

Philip RILEY (Emeritus Professor, University of Lorraine, Nancy), and

Laurens (Larry) VANDERGRIFT, Official Languages and Bilingualism Institute (OLBI), University of Ottawa, Ontario, Canada.

Specialty : Foreign Applied Languages

Keywords : politique éducative, Europe, utilisation et perceptions de la langue anglaise en France, évaluation diagnostique, compétences linguistiques

Summary

As part of the Lisbon Strategy and the “Education and Training 2010” plan, the plurilingualism of European citizens is a top priority. Given its historical and cultural background, as well as the pace of its development, the European Union of 27 countries (EU-27) forms a mosaic of official languages where multilingualism is often encountered, particularly due to the small size of certain territories and the proliferation of linguistic borders. The stated goal—that every European citizen should have language skills in two European languages other than their mother tongue—is highly ambitious but undoubtedly a necessary condition for the generalization of exchanges among the 500 million Europeans.

The first people targeted by this policy are those responsible for European trade. If the EU-27 wishes to become a zone of strong economic growth, all aspects that can enhance intra- and extra-community trade must be promoted. Plurilingualism is one of the key factors enabling this goal. Observation of the geographical distribution of Europeans’ plurilingual abilities reveals three areas: a “northern” zone with high levels of multilingualism, a “central” zone with moderate levels, and a “southern” zone with lower levels. Representatives of these three areas—the Netherlands for the first, France for the second, and Spain for the third—have been selected. The most effective tool to promote plurilingualism among certain categories of employees (sales administration, management, logistics purchasing, import/export, marketing) is the establishment of a foreign language education policy that effectively meets these needs.

Each EU-27 member state is responsible for its own educational policy, but it must strive to make it as effective as possible. Consequently, across Europe there are as many foreign language education policies as there are countries. Nevertheless, it is possible to compare them using well-defined criteria (the legal starting age for foreign language learning, the number of instructional hours, teacher training, etc.). The first part of this work focuses on developing indicators that make it possible to compare foreign language education policies among the EU-27 member states. The results for the three representative countries will be highlighted. Thus, the characteristics of these language education policies are the first elements that can help explain the varying degrees of plurilingualism observed across the three zones.

This study will also examine the learning of the English language across the EU-27. According to the 2006 Eurobarometer survey, English—known as a foreign language by a majority of Europeans—could serve as a tool for communication among different peoples. It should be noted, however, that this survey is based on self-assessment concerning oral comprehension and expression. Do the French belong to this majority—and if so, which groups in particular (depending on their exposure to English in professional contexts)? The second part of this study will therefore explore the relationship between the French and the English language, both in personal life and in professional contexts. The hypothesis that using English in one’s professional activity increases its use in everyday life will be tested. Still, which segments of the French population possess (even partial) command of English? Could this knowledge contribute to a social divide in France, or does the French language remain a strong symbol of national unity? In other words, will English remain merely a specialized tool for professionals, or could it become a language shared by a majority of French citizens?

Finally, a study of the languages actually used in French SMEs and large exporting companies, as well as an analysis of the structure of international trade in France and Europe, will help determine whether English has indeed become the presumed tool of professional communication, or whether other trends supporting plurilingualism are emerging within companies.

At the European level, the only available studies are based on self-assessments that provide no clear indication of individuals’ actual skills. The plurilingualism of European citizens must be evaluated according to strict and precise criteria. Furthermore, in order to enhance this plurilingualism, an evaluation system should enable individuals (employees or not) to know their level in relation to the four basic macro-skills. However, there is currently no standardized language proficiency assessment, let alone one of a diagnostic nature. Only such an evaluation can allow individuals to situate themselves in terms of a language’s macro-skills. A test designed for this purpose would be particularly useful when seeking employment or selecting a collaborator.

The third part of this work will focus on the development of a diagnostic tool for assessing the language skills of European citizens. Following an analysis of existing tests and currently unmet needs, a detailed set of specifications will be established. This framework will include clear objectives to ensure that the new assessment serves not only as a way to measure the effectiveness of a country’s language education policy (meaning that the test will be adaptable to all official EU-27 languages) but also as a way for European employees to assess their plurilingual skills within their specific professional field.

The existence of such an evaluation would be a necessary and effective mechanism to promote and achieve the goals of plurilingualism set by the “Education and Training 2010” program, thereby improving communication among European peoples. As a result, trade exchanges within the EU-27 would increase, facilitating the broader objectives of the Lisbon Strategy.

Publications

Significant publications

  • 2025
  • 2023
    • Journal articles

      • Floran Carvalho, Julien Henriet, Francoise Greffier, Marie-Laure Betbeder, Dana Di Pardo Leon-Henri. Deep learning for the detection of acquired and non-acquired skills in students' algorithmic assessments. Journal of Education and e-Learning Research, 2023, 10 (2), pp.111-118. ⟨10.20448/jeelr.v10i2.4449⟩. ⟨hal-03973526⟩ - Bibtex

  • 2020
    • Book sections

      • Dana Di Pardo Léon-Henri. Teaching Communication Skills through Literature: Encouraging Master’s Level ESP Students to Speak Up and Move. Di Pardo Léon-Henri, Dana; Bhawana Jain, PhD. Contemporary Research in Foreign Language Teaching and Learning, Cambridge Scholars Publishing, p. 80 - 105, 2020, 978-1-5275-4937-1. ⟨hal-03580605⟩ - Bibtex

    • Proceedings/Recueil des communications

      • Dana Di Pardo Léon-Henri. Contemporary Research in Foreign Language Teaching and Learning, 244 pages.. Di Pardo Léon-Henri, Dana et Jain, Bhawana PhD. Teaching / Learning of specialized, professional or general language: Which needs, objectives and approaches?, Dec 2018, Paris, France. Cambridge Scholars Publishing, 2020. ⟨hal-03581419⟩ - Bibtex

  • 2017
    • Journal articles

      • Dana Di Pardo Léon-Henri, Bhawana Jain. Role Play: A Practical Way to Teach Intercultural Communication. Recherche et Pratiques Pédagogiques en Langues de Spécialité. Cahiers de l'APLIUT, 2017, Jeux et langues dans l’enseignement supérieur, 36 (2), ⟨10.4000/apliut.5746⟩. ⟨hal-03904703⟩ - Bibtex

Other publications

  • 2025
    • Journal articles

      • Dana Di Pardo Léon-Henri. AI and Fan Fiction Creative Writing: Cross-Disciplinary Perspectives. Journal of Studies in Language, Culture, and Society (JSLCS), 2025, 8 (1), pp.175-187. ⟨hal-05083603⟩ - Bibtex

    • Conference papers

      • Dana Di Pardo Léon-Henri. Beyond Assistance: AI as a Catalyst for Co-Creation in L2 Writing. Sixth Symposium of Southern Ontario Universities on “From Silos to Solidarity: Rethinking Languages and Literacies in Education through collaboration and care, Centre for Research in Education at Niagara College; Centre for Educational Research in Languages and Literacies (CERLL); Ontario Institute for Studies in Education (OISE), University of Toronto, Oct 2025, Niagara on the Lake, Ontario, Canada. ⟨hal-05331075⟩ - Bibtex

      • Dana Di Pardo Léon-Henri. From Quill to Quantum: A Comparative Study of AI Integration in Non-Specialist Literature Courses. NéALA "Naturel et Artificiel en Linguistique Appliquée : une époque de paradoxes" 02 - 04 July 2025 Nancy, University of Lorraine, ATILF (UMR7118 - CNRS - Université de Lorraine), Jul 2025, Nancy, France. ⟨hal-05331952⟩ - Bibtex

  • 2024
    • Books

      • Kaouthar Ben Abdallah, Dana Di Pardo Léon-Henri (Dir.). De l’appropriation langagière en contextes plurilingues et pluriculturels. Quelles approches, quels outils et quels enjeux pour la didactique du FLE / FLS ?. Peter Lang Verlag, 2024, Champs didactiques plurilingues Vol. 18, ⟨10.3726/b21333⟩. ⟨hal-04518929⟩ - Bibtex

    • Book sections

      • Dana Di Pardo Léon-Henri. Multimodal Reflective Journals and Life Writing: A Didactic Approach to Enhanced Learning. Innovative Language Teaching Practices in Higher Education in a Post-COVID Era, Ubiquity Press, pp.49-71, 2024, 978-1-914481-65-9. ⟨10.5334/bdd.d⟩. ⟨hal-04847631⟩ - Bibtex

      • Dana Di Pardo Léon-Henri, Kaouthar Ben Abdallah. Propos conclusifs. Entre théorie et pratiques: des questions qui nourrissent le débat. De l’appropriation langagière en contextes plurilingues et pluriculturels. Quelles approches, quels outils et quels enjeux pour la didactique du FLE / FLS ?, Peter Lang Verlag, pp.267-275, 2024, 978-2-87574-772-3. ⟨10.3726/b21333⟩. ⟨hal-04518939⟩ - Bibtex

      • Kaouthar Ben Abdallah, Dana Di Pardo Léon-Henri. Préambule Langues, cultures et contextes : enjeux éducatifs, institutionnels et didactiques. De l’appropriation langagière en contextes plurilingues et pluriculturels Quelles approches, quels outils et quels enjeux pour la didactique du FLE / FLS ?, Peter Lang Verlag, pp.17-28, 2024, 978-2-87574-772-3. ⟨10.3726/b21333⟩. ⟨hal-04518937⟩ - Bibtex

  • 2023
    • Conference papers

      • Dana Di Pardo Léon-Henri. AI-VT: A tool to enhance motivation in English language teaching and learning environments. Québec Conference on Language Learning and Teaching (QLLT 2023), Université Téluq; Institut Jacques Couture, Aug 2023, Québec (Québec), Canada. ⟨hal-04368679⟩ - Bibtex

    • Book sections

      • Kaouthar Ben Abdallah, Dana Di Pardo Léon-Henri. Pluralingualism in French Schools of the 21st Century: The Valorization of Linguistic and Cultural Diversity. EDUCAÇÃO EM PERSPECTIVA: contextos políticos, linguísticos e culturais, Appris Editora, pp.27-52, 2023, ISBN: 978-65-250-5758-3. ⟨hal-04495141⟩ - Bibtex

  • 2022
    • Book sections

      • Dana Di Pardo Léon-Henri. 3. Valorizing cultural and linguistic capital through assessment practices in tertiary transnational contexts. Barnawi Z. Osman; Mohammed S. Alharbi; Ayman Alzaharani. Transnational English Language Assessment Practices in the Age of Metrics, 1, Routledge, pp.25-40, 2022, 9781032169385. ⟨10.4324/9781003252382-4⟩. ⟨hal-03711690⟩ - Bibtex

    • Proceedings/Recueil des communications

      • Mariane Gazaille, Dana Di Pardo Léon-Henri, Andréanne L. Nolin, Noémie Gendron Perrault. Artificial Intelligence: The Views of Tertiary-Level Foreign Language Learners. Atlantis Press (Springer Nature), pp.338-348, 2022, Advances in Social Science, Education and Humanities Research, 978-2-494069-25-1. ⟨10.2991/978-2-494069-25-1_32⟩. ⟨hal-03904727⟩ - Bibtex

  • 2021
    • Conference papers

      • Dana Di Pardo Léon-Henri. To boldly go… from a dictogloss study to a machine learning project for language teaching and learning.. The European Society for the Study of English (ESSE) 15th Annual International Conference, The European Society for the Study of English (ESSE), Aug 2021, Lyon, France. ⟨hal-04368687⟩ - Bibtex

    • Book sections

      • Dana Di Pardo Léon-Henri, Mammadova Tamilla. The Faux Pas: A Practical Tool for Teaching Intercultural Communication.. Cultural Diversity in Cross-cultural settings: A Global Approach, Cambridge Scholars Publishing., Cambridge Scholars Publishing, pp.219 - 242, 2021, ISBN (13): 978-1-5275-7374-1. ⟨hal-03579768⟩ - Bibtex

      • Dana Di Pardo Léon-Henri, Anwar Ahmed, Osman Barnawi. The Reflective Journal: A Transnational Networking Instrument for (TESOL) Teachers. Mobility of Knowledge, Practice and Pedagogy in TESOL Teacher Education: Implications for Transnational Contexts, Palgrave Macmillan, pp.287-309, 2021, 978-3-030-64139-9. ⟨hal-03579986⟩ - Bibtex

  • 2020
    • Journal articles

      • Dana Di Pardo Léon-Henri. Nurturing Reflection and Networking: The Reflective Teaching Journal. Contact Magazine (TESL Ontario, Canada), 2020, pp.5-13. ⟨hal-03904711⟩ - Bibtex

    • Conference papers

      • Dana Di Pardo Léon-Henri. An Action-Oriented Hybrid Approach to Teaching and Encouraging Life Writing. Teaching Life Writing Conference: A Virtual Conference on Nonfiction and Pedagogy, University of Alberta, Canada, Dec 2020, Alberta (virtual), Canada. ⟨hal-04368700⟩ - Bibtex

      • Dana Di Pardo Léon-Henri. Diagnostic Language Assessment and Evaluation with an Artificial Intelligence Virtual Trainer. Association Internationale de Linguistique Appliquée (AILA) International Congress, AILA 2021, Aug 2020, Groningen, The Netherlands, Netherlands. ⟨hal-04368692⟩ - Bibtex

  • 2019
    • Conference papers

      • Dana Di Pardo Léon-Henri. Nurturing Reflection and Networking: The Reflective Teaching Journal. Cultivating Innovation and Inclusion, 2019, Toronto, Canada. ⟨hal-03176113⟩ - Bibtex

    • Book sections

      • Dana Di Pardo Léon-Henri. Going beyond words and actions: teaching metacognitive and soft skills to ESP communication students at the dawn of the fourth industrial revolution. ESP teaching and teacher education: current theories and practices, 1, Research-publishing.net, pp.147-161, 2019, ⟨10.14705/rpnet.2019.33.931⟩. ⟨hal-03174981⟩ - Bibtex

    • Poster communications

      • Dana Di Pardo Léon-Henri. Nurturing Reflection and Networking: The Reflective Teaching Journal. 47th Annual TESL Ontario Conference « Cultivating Innovation and Inclusion », 2019, Toronto, Canada. ⟨hal-03175053⟩ - Bibtex

  • 2018
  • 2017
    • Conference papers

      • Dana Di Pardo Léon-Henri, Emilie Saunier. Les mises en scène cinématographiques du corps en didactique des langues : une approche interdisciplinaire. journée d’études « Didactiques en contextes », Mar 2017, Université de Franche-Comté, France. ⟨hal-03557373⟩ - Bibtex

  • 2016
    • Journal articles

      • Dana Di Pardo Léon-Henri. A Review: Adrian Wallwork's English for Presentations at International Conferences. Revue de l'Anglais de Spécialité (ASp), 2016, Incursions littéraires en anglais de spécialité, 70, pp.146-150. ⟨10.4000/asp.4861⟩. ⟨hal-03904694⟩ - Bibtex

      • Dana Di Pardo Léon-Henri. Pedagogical Engineering and ESP: The ICD and Active Approach. The Journal of Teaching English For Specific and Academic Purposes, 2016, 4 (2), pp.241-252. ⟨hal-03904697⟩ - Bibtex

    • Conference papers

      • Dana Di Pardo Léon-Henri, Bhawana Jain. Role play: The Best Way to Teach Intercultural Communication?. 38e Congrès de l'APLIUT : Jeux en jeu dans l’enseignement/apprentissage des langues en LANSAD, l'Association des Professeurs de Langue des IUT (APLIUT); Université de Lyon 1, Jun 2016, Lyon, France. ⟨hal-04372586⟩ - Bibtex

  • 2015
    • Journal articles

      • Dana Di Pardo Léon-Henri. CLIL in the Business English Classroom: From Language Learning to the Development of Professional Communication and Metacognitive Skills.. ELT World Online, 2015, Special Issue on CLIL, April, pp.1-26. ⟨hal-03904689⟩ - Bibtex

      • Dana Di Pardo Léon-Henri. L’apprentissage de l'anglais de spécialité: De l'authenticité au développement d'une identité authentique. Journal of Languages for Specific Purposes, 2015, 1 (2), pp.61-74. ⟨hal-03904682⟩ - Bibtex

    • Conference papers

      • Dana Di Pardo Léon-Henri. Business English Language Teaching: The "Learning By doing" Approach to Integration. 36e Colloque International du GERAS : L'intégration en anglais de spécialité : ferment d'intellection et d'innovation pour la recherche, la didactique et la pédagogie, Group d'Etude et de Recherche en Anglais de Spécialité (GERAS); Université de Bordeaux, Mar 2015, Bordeaux, France. ⟨hal-04372659⟩ - Bibtex

      • Dana Di Pardo Léon-Henri. Metacognition and Learner Autonomy: The “Learning by Doing” Approach to Higher Education Language Teaching. World Congress of Modern Languages (WCML, 2015), International Federation of Language Teacher Associations (IFLTA); Canadian Association of Second Language Teachers (CASLT); Ontario Modern Language Teachers' Association (OMLTA), Mar 2015, Niagara Falls, Ontario, Canada. pp.23-24. ⟨hal-04370171⟩ - Bibtex

    • Book sections

      • Dana Di Pardo Léon-Henri. Inviting Mad Men into the Business English Classroom. Lucky Strikes and a Three-Martini Lunch: Thinking about Television's Mad Men. 2nd edition., Cambridge Scholars Publishing, p. 313 - 344, 2015, 978-1-4438-5625-6. ⟨hal-03581412⟩ - Bibtex

      • Dana Di Pardo Léon-Henri. Transgressive Women From Shakespeare to Shaw and Bryans. Women on Trial: Gender Construction in Dramas about Accused Women, Teneo Press, p. 113 - 135, 2015, 978-1-934844-59-5. ⟨hal-03581416⟩ - Bibtex

  • 2014
    • Journal articles

      • Dana Di Pardo Léon-Henri. Breaking the Ice with Business English. The Journal of Teaching English For Specific and Academic Purposes, 2014, 2 (3), pp.345-358. ⟨hal-03904679⟩ - Bibtex

  • 2013
    • Conference papers

      • Dana Di Pardo Léon-Henri. Defining and Crossing Disciplines: A Collaborative Approach to Research. Colloque International du CRELA (Cultures de recherche en linguistique appliquée), Université de Lorraine (Nancy), Nov 2013, Nancy, France. ⟨hal-04372731⟩ - Bibtex

  • 2012
    • Journal articles

      • Dana Di Pardo Léon-Henri. Teaching Foreign Languages through the Analysis of Film and Television Series: English for Legal Purposes. Recherche et Pratiques Pédagogiques en Langues de Spécialité. Cahiers de l'APLIUT, 2012, Les supports filmiques au service de l'enseignement des langues étrangères, VOL. XXXI (2), pp.126-139. ⟨10.4000/apliut.2732⟩. ⟨hal-03904675⟩ - Bibtex

  • 2011
    • Conference papers

      • Dana Di Pardo Léon-Henri. The Impact of Language Frameworks on Assessment, Learning, and Teaching in Canada and Europe.. Association of Language Testers in Europe (ALTE) 4th International Conference: The Impact of Language Frameworks on Assessment, Learning and Teaching: policies, procedures and challenges, Association of Language Testers in Europe (ALTE), Jul 2011, Krakow, Poland, Poland. ⟨hal-04370179⟩ - Bibtex

  • 2008
    • Theses

      • Dana Di Pardo Léon-Henri. L’anglais, langue étrangère du citoyen européen ? De la politique éducative en France et en Europe à l’élaboration d’une évaluation diagnostique des compétences orales et écrites.. Sciences de l'Homme et Société. Université de Paris 4 - Paris Sorbonne, 2008. Français. ⟨NNT : ⟩. ⟨tel-04518920⟩ - Bibtex