Announcement for Gwangju-Jeonnam Chapter KOTESOL's July Workshop Event
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Event Title:
On the ground activities for cultural awareness
Date: Saturday, July 13, 2024 - 14:00 to 17:00
Dinner after: Mexican Food. Restaurant TBA.
Location: Gwangju National University of Education, Creativity Convergence Building (창의융합관), 3rd Floor, English Cafe. Map Link.
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Welcome!
In an increasingly interconnected world, culturally responsive teaching and cosmopolitan literacies are essential components of effective English language education. South Korean classrooms are experiencing significant multicultural changes due to increased immigration and the growing presence of multicultural families. These changes necessitate a shift towards more inclusive educational practices that recognize and value diverse cultural backgrounds (Jang & Kim, 2020).
Culturally responsive teaching involves recognizing the cultural backgrounds of students and using this knowledge to create more inclusive and effective learning environments. It helps in building bridges between students’ home cultures and the academic culture, fostering respect, understanding, and engagement (Gay, 2010).
Cosmopolitan literacies, on the other hand, emphasize the ability to navigate and appreciate multiple cultures, perspectives, and global contexts. Developing these literacies enables students to become empathetic, critical global citizens who can thoughtfully engage with diverse viewpoints and cultures (Hansen, 2011). This workshop aims to equip educators with practical strategies and activities to enhance cultural awareness and cosmopolitan literacies in their classrooms.
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Workshop 1: New Perspectives, New Possibilities: Class Activities to Encourage Cosmopolitan Awareness
Abstract:
Increasing students’ cultural awareness is a critical step toward crafting a more open, responsive, empathetic world. Encouraging this kind of openness might seem difficult in a largely monocultural classroom; however, there are a variety of activities and techniques teachers can incorporate to help cultivate compassionate, critical global citizens. This presentation will explore how teachers can develop students’ cosmopolitan potential by piquing their interest and curiosity, opening new paths and possibilities, prompting perspective-taking, and encouraging students to rethink taken-for-granted norms. The activities and suggestions presented are likely to be familiar but are reframed here to emphasize their cosmopolitan potential, offering teachers theoretical justifications they can present to stakeholders. The activities are engaging, easy to implement, and can be adapted for a variety of ages and ability levels.
Biographical Profile:
Lindsay Herron has been a visiting professor at Gwangju National University of Education in Korea since 2008. Currently a doctoral candidate in literacy, culture, and language education at Indiana University (USA), she also has a master’s in language education; a master’s in cinema studies; bachelor’s degrees in English literature and psychology; a postgraduate certificate in learning sciences, media, and technology; a CELTA; and the CELTA Young Learner Extension. Her research focuses on the critical cosmopolitan literacies of language learners participating in an online cross-cultural exchange. Lindsay is the current president of KOTESOL.
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Workshop 2: Practical Techniques for Cultural Awareness
Abstract:
In this workshop, teachers will learn practical techniques that could be incorporated within their classrooms. Activities would require minimal preparation and give learners the confidence to share their culture irrespective of their origin.
Biography:
Martin Sketchley has been involved in teaching English to international students for over 18 years and holds an MA, a TEFL-Q Diploma, and a CELTA teaching certificate. He has taught various nationalities and ages, and at various institutes and universities in the UK and now in South Korea. He is currently an assistant professor at Woosong University and SolBridge International College in Daejeon.
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Join us for an insightful and practical afternoon aimed at enhancing cultural awareness and cosmopolitan literacies in English language classrooms. Don't miss this opportunity to learn from experienced professionals and network with fellow educators!
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References:
Gay, G. (2010). *Culturally Responsive Teaching: Theory, Research, and Practice* (2nd ed.). Teachers College Press.
Hansen, D. T. (2011). *The Teacher and the World: A Study of Cosmopolitanism as Education*. Routledge.
Jang, S. H., & Kim, T. Y. (2020). Multicultural education in South Korea: Current policies and future directions. *Multicultural Education Review, 12*(3), 1-19.
