Embracing linguistic diversity
- Date
- Friday 23 April 2021, 11:00-13:30
- Location
- Microsoft Teams
Linguistic diversity can be the source of implicit bias: often without realising it, we judge others based on how we interpret their accent, their use of regional language traits, their choice of vocabulary.
On Friday 23rd of April (11:00-13:30), CELT and Language@Leeds are hosting an event to shed light on linguistic diversity from multiple points of view. It will take place online via Microsoft Teams. If you haven't received a calendar invitation but would like to attend, please register for the event here by 22 April.
The aims of this event are
- To foster a better understanding of linguistic diversity
- To raise awareness of implicit biases rooted in linguistic differences
- To report on students' experience of linguistic bias
- To discuss the implications for the language classroom and equality and diversity policy and practice
- To showcase examples of good practice in integrating linguistic diversity in language teaching.
PROGRAMME
|
Welcome |
11:00 – 11:05 |
Rasha Soliman |
|
Insights from research |
11:05 – 11:35
|
What is accent variation and why does it matter? Gise Tome Lourido (Lecturer in Sociophonetics) |
|
Practitioners voices |
11:35 – 12:05 |
Cultivating advanced Chinese learners’ awareness of linguistic (and cultural) diversity – Ya-chun Liu (Lecturer in Chinese) “Quasi-diglossia” and language learning: dealing with variation on Beginners’ Czech – James Wilson (Lecturer in Russian and Language Studies) |
|
12:05 – 12:10 |
BREAK |
|
|
12:10 – 12:55 |
Accent Bias: Rethinking How to Develop Effective Listeners - Niamh Mullen - Senior Teaching Fellow/ Lecturer in EAP & Peter Matthews (Lecturer in EAP) Enhancing EAP students' participation in the local community: an approach to teaching a local accent – Deak Kirkham (Lecturer in EAP) ‘Teaching' Unconscious Bias to Foundation Year Healthcare Students – Nancy Woods (Lecturer in EAP) |
|
|
Roundtable |
12:55 – 13:25 |
Invited staff (Fozia Bora LCS & Julia Snell - School of English) & students (Roza Szemis – BA in French, Mariam Fargin – MA researcher in LCS, Rayyan Uddin, BA in Arabic & Islamic Studies and Cerys Hodson, BA in Arabic & French) - Discussion led by Hanem El-Farahaty & Milena Marinkova |
|
Closing remarks |
13:25 – 13:30 |
Cecile De Cat |
Organising committee (in alphabetical order)
- Cecile De Cat (Professor of Linguistic and Director of Language@Leeds)
- Hanem El-Farahaty (LCS Academic Lead for Inclusive Practice)
- Milena Marinkova (Language Centre Academic Lead for Inclusive Practice)
- Helen Sadig (Language Centre Director of Student Education)
- Rasha Soliman (Director of Leeds Centre for Excellence in Language Teaching)
- Gise Tome Lourido (Lecturer in Sociophonetics)