Breaking down barriers – mini-event

Breaking down barriers

Here you will find videos of three practical webinars and a panel discussion from specialists in equality, diversity and inclusion. The webinars give you insights into the experiences of teachers and learners who face unjustified discrimination, and suggest ways you can reduce barriers through your teaching. The webinars focus on disability, LGBTQIA+ issues and race, and will help you promote tolerance, respect and anti-racism in your classroom. There is also a panel of expert teachers from around the world sharing activity ideas for fostering safe, respectful and inclusive learning environments. These sessions are for teachers of primary, secondary and adult English language learners. The live event took place on 19 June 2024.

The sessions

Session 1: Being a teacher with disabilities: perspectives, practices and opportunities

Speaker:

Nidhi Singal (UK)

Session information:

This webinar presents the findings of a new British Council publication that aims to support teachers with disabilities. The lead researcher of the project, Nidhi Singal, provides an insight into the challenges, opportunities, policies and current practices that teachers with disabilities encounter. The research is based on the lived experience of English language and other subject teachers with disabilities in national education systems in Brazil, Jordan, Rwanda, Spain and Sri Lanka. 

Session 2: Raising awareness of LGBTQIA+ issues in the classroom

Speaker:

Katherine Reilly (Greece)

Session information:

This webinar explores why English language teachers committed to diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) must engage all learners, regardless of gender or sexual orientation. Teachers will learn how to identify and enhance teaching materials to foster inclusive practices and promote a safe, respectful and welcoming learning environment. Katherine, the first open trans educator in Greece, will also discuss real-life case studies where disrespect was shown in the classroom and will give practical approaches to dealing with such incidents.

Session 3: Localising anti-racism: what you can do in the classroom

Speaker:

Dr Amina Douidi (UK)

Session information:

This session is about anti-racism as a proactive approach, with a focus on anti-Black racism. It will help teachers be more prepared to handle difficult discussions and situations involving discrimination. Amina gives practical ideas for you to foster open dialogue throughout the year, not only limiting these discussions to Black History Month, in your own local setting. By exploring this in the language classroom, you will promote inclusivity and cultivate a respectful learning environment for all learners.  

Session 4: How can you break down barriers in your classrooms? (panel discussion)

Speakers:

Ana Lucia Castells Ruiz (Argentina), Verónica Higareda (Spain) and Khouloud Attaya (Tunisia)

Session information:

Three teachers from around the world discuss issues and activities related to breaking down barriers. Learn about inclusion and disability in the ELT classroom, how to deal with inappropriate behaviour and uncovering gender bias.

About the speakers

Nidhi Singal is Professor of Disability and Inclusive Education at the Faculty of Education of the University of Cambridge. She has worked extensively with children and young people with disabilities in South Asia and sub-Saharan Africa. Her research examines the educational experiences of children with disabilities, the quality of teaching and learning in mainstream classrooms and the impact of schooling.

Katherine Reilly specialises in training teachers in inclusive teaching methodology and adaptation of diverse educational materials. She lives in Greece, where she teaches and works on teaching methodology and materials development courses for teachers. She has published extensively on ELT, and her articles can be found each month in the magazine ELT NEWS. 

Dr Amina Douidi is a specialist in diversity, equity, inclusion, and intercultural communication in ELT. She works with publishers to enhance the inclusivity of their materials. She also works as an EAP teacher and as an EMI trainer. Amina is Co-Chair Elect of TESOL ICIS, advocating for contributions from teachers and researchers from the Global Majority.   

Ana Lucía Castells Ruiz lives in Buenos Aires. She has been teaching in primary and secondary school for twelve years. She often connects with other classes around the globe synchronously or asynchronously to use language for real purposes.  

Verónica Higareda is a social-justice informed EFL educator with twenty years of classroom experience teaching young learners, teenagers, and adults. She currently works as a DEIB (Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Belonging) coordinator at her school. 

Khouloud Attaya teaches in a state school in Tunisia. She completed a two-year training program on the importance of promoting Gender Equality in ELT in Tunisia and is currently finishing her MA thesis on Interdisciplinary Studies.