Abstract

Internationalisation policies, as well as economic and forced migration, have led to changes in the linguistic make up of universities. How can practitioners with an interest in language enhance their teaching so that it is more inclusive for students from diverse racial, language and socio-economic backgrounds? This panel may be of interest to tutors who teach multilingual students, or student who speak a variety of English that may be considered ‘non-standard’ or ‘low status’.

Session and activities

Linguistic justice is concerned with anti-discriminatory approaches to language in education. Speakers will share research-informed insights on language in the university and offer recommendations and guidance for practice which will serve as a point of reflection.

Part 1 presentations (6-7mins)
VO will focus on why it is relevant to think about linguistic inclusion in English universities in conjunction with top-down policies and legislation including: the Equality Act (2010), legislation from other UK regions such as The Welsh Language Measure (2011) and Office for Students (2021) requirements to assess in English only.
Accents are part of a person’s identity and in some cases can enable us to recognise their home and their culture. However, unlike many other characteristics, accent is something that is seen as acceptable to judge, mock and discriminate against. LG discusses classroom observations, sharing how language discrimination and accentism can impact on our students through the experiences of a UAL home student.
EL explores the transformative journey of a Mandarin-speaking student relocating to life and BA study in the United Kingdom. The narrative unpacks the complexities of cultural integration and identity transformation within an informal educational setting. This autoethnography not only reveals the personal impact of cross-cultural transitions but also contributes to a deeper understanding of the ongoing dialogue around linguistic justice in global education settings.
DF reflects on what we mean by academic language and how ideas about it are presented and taken up by students. The talk focuses on how students understand and navigate the challenges involved when using English for Academic Purposes (EAP) and how this shapes and impacts their development of disciplinary knowledge, as well as their sense of self and identity.
Part 2 Discussion with audience – 15 mins