Welcome to the IH Celebration of Diversity: Global voices on nurturing inclusive practice. This is a space to champion Equity, Diversity, Inclusion and Belonging (EDIB) in our classrooms, staffrooms, and throughout the International Education industry.
Our mission is to foster an environment where EDIB principles are not just embraced but integral to the very fabric of what it means to be part of a worldwide community.
Join us for a series of engaging and educational events, featuring presentations and interactive seminars. These sessions are thoughtfully crafted to equip you with the tools and confidence to apply EDIB principles in your role, whether you're a teacher, administrator, or industry professional.
We recognise that EDIB is an ongoing conversation and we invite you to be an active part of this transformative journey. You can get involved by joining our webinars and sharing your thoughts, questions and ideas. Your contributions are invaluable and together we can create a more inclusive future. Our ears are always open, and we look forward to your collaboration in building a community where everyone truly belongs.
Details
- Monthly events are open to anyone who wants to participate.
- Scheduled interactive discussions/workshop sessions for IH affiliates.
- Webinars will be streamed live and available to watch afterwards.
Series Two 2024 - 2025
November 2024
Session Title: SLDs and Mental Health in the Language Classroom
Speaker: Boelo Van der Pool
Session Abstract: SLDs (or specific learning differences*) unfortunately go hand-in-hand with mental health issues. Most of all for those students who are undiagnosed and/or not accommodated.
Self-esteem, bullying, anxiety, you name it. It’s all there. And, even worse, it’ll stick with your student for the rest of their lives.
During this workshop, we will look at the role of the teacher and how YOU can become your student’s CHAMP. We will look at SLDs, their signs, their influence on language learning, and how you (their future champ) can create an empathetic and effective learning environment and experience for them.
*I know that the “D” usually stands for “difficulties”, but I believe that they are differences...
Speaker Bio: Boelo has been active in the language teaching industry since 1994. He’s a language coach and dyslexia expert. In that role, he has participated in various international projects on dyslexia in education. He specialises in dyslexic language learning and trains teachers around the world in that field.
October 2024
Session Title: Kinder Classrooms: How to Respond to Insensitive Language with Confidence and Calm
Speakers: Hannah Youell
Session Abstract: This webinar aims to equip you with the tools to address insensitive or inappropriate language and comments as they arise, creating conversations that foster collective learning and building relationships rather than ‘calling out’ or ostracising. Not only does this lead to happier and more inclusive classrooms, but it also provides our learners with the real-life skills they need to become compassionate world citizens.
Speaker Bios: Hannah is IH World's Diversity and Inclusion Coordinator. With a career spanning teaching, international student welfare, therapy and digital mental health provision, Hannah is chair of IHWO’s EDIB Working Group. Her down-to-earth and compassionate approach creates a supportive environment for colleagues to learn, grow and develop. She is passionate about education and making it a more welcoming and inclusive space for all.
Series One 2023 -2024
November 2023
Session Title: Deconstructing EDIB: What, why, and how?
Speaker: Dr. Amina Douidi
Bio: Dr Douidi is a Diversity Equity and Inclusion consult and DEI reviewer for publishers and a pre-sessional EAP tutor in UK Higher Education. She speaks about accessibility and diversity in language learning, helping every learner thrive, and promoting interculturality in ELT. Amina is Co-Chair Elect of TESOL ICIS championing contributions from teachers and researchers from the Global Majority. Amina has delivered talks and webinars for Pearson, MacMillan, British Council, Braz-TESOL, IATEFL and more.
December 2023
Session Title: How to Handle Hot Moments in (and out) of the Classroom
Speakers: Verónica Higareda and Reena Mistry
Bio: Reena Mistry, DEIB CoCoordinator at IH Lacunza, San Sebastián, and an EFL teacher for five years, having pivoted from a career in pharmacy: “I believe it is our duty as teachers to guide our young learners into becoming responsible Global Citizens”.
Verónica Higareda, DEIB CoCoordinator at IH Lacunza, San Sebastián-Donostia, and an EFL teacher with 20 years of classroom experience: “From day one, I have provided students with a safe space for exploration and encouraged dialogue on real life challenges and social justice issues”.
Session Abstract: A student uses inappropriate or offensive language or behaviour in the classroom. It’s awkward and uncomfortable. Dread sets in. The teacher panics. What to do? We’ve all been there.
In this hands-on session, we explore how to handle these “hot moments” in the classroom. We will provide you with some practical tools and reflections to take back to your classrooms.
February 2024
Session Title: The Unpublished: Are We Editing LGBTQ+ Identities out of the Classroom?
Speakers: Giovanni Licata
Session Abstract: Giovanni Licata is an English language lecturer at the University of Florence and a Cambridge CELTA and Delta trainer at IH Rome. Having worked in schools across Europe, Asia and the US, he has developed an interest in sociolinguistics as well as teacher and learner identities in the ELT classroom. He is joint coordinator of the IATEFL IP&SEN special interest group.
Speaker Bio: Giovanni Licata is an English language lecturer at the University of Florence and a Cambridge CELTA and Delta trainer at IH Rome. Having worked in schools across Europe, Asia and the US, he has developed an interest in sociolinguistics as well as teacher and learner identities in the ELT classroom. He is joint coordinator of the IATEFL IP&SEN special interest group.
March 2024
Session Title: Busting Myths of Autism in the EFL Classroom
Speaker: Sisi Rabenstein
Bio: Sisi manages a team of coordinators for extracurricular YL classes at IH Madrid, with 12 years of EFL experience and first-hand knowledge of the learning experience of people with autism. She is also a Cambridge speaking examiner Team Leader for YLE & Main Suite and a conference speaker.
Session Abstract: The discussion of learning differences has taken a slant towards positive language and representation, but often the perception is still that students are disadvantaged - both those with learning differences and sometimes their peers. This talk aims to raise awareness of the experience of EFL students with autism, what that can look like and how a different way of thinking and seeing the world can have a positive effect on the learning experience.
April 2024
Session Title: Dyslexia in Language Learning
Speaker: Boelo Van der Pool
Bio: Boelo has been active in the language teaching industry since 1994. He’s a language coach and dyslexia expert. In that role, he has participated in various international projects on dyslexia in education. He specializes in dyslexic language learning and trains teachers around the world in that field.
Session Abstract: Between 10% and 20% of the population has dyslexia, and many of us don’t even know it. Dyslexia is a different way of processing the information in our brains. It’s, thus, also a different way of learning.
Therefore, teachers need to be aware of what dyslexia is, how to recognize it
and, most of all, how to adapt their classes to make them dyslexia friendly. The good news is that this is all possible. The even better news is that whatever we do for our dyslexic students also works for the neurotypical ones.
July 2024
Session Title: Diversity in Marketing for Language Schools - Representation vs. Tokenism
Speaker: Hannah Youell
Bio: Hannah is IH World's Diversity and Inclusion Coordinator. With a career spanning teaching, international student welfare, therapy and digital mental health provision, Hannah is chair of IHWO’s EDIB Working Group. Her down-to-earth and compassionate approach creates a supportive environment for colleagues to learn, grow and develop. She is passionate about education and making it a more welcoming and inclusive space for all.
Session Abstract:
It’s no secret that the diversity of our schools has a big impact on whether students decide to book with us, and also on how they feel when they arrive. That all-important first impression comes from our websites, brochures and social media channels, so it’s now essential that we harness every opportunity for students to have that ‘I can see myself here’ moment. If not, we lose out.
But it can feel like a bit of a minefield. We want to show diversity, yet we are afraid of getting it wrong, or worse still, being called out for tokenism.
Together, we will reflect on all we’ve learnt so far in this series to understand what it really means to be a champion of diversity and inclusive practice. We’ll also discuss how to present our schools as somewhere that everyone can belong, with a toolkit of good practice for marketing materials.