KOTESOL International Conference 2016
(Concurrent Session)
Melissa Watkins, KoreaTech University
Effective Ways to Talk About Diversity and Difference in Korean Classrooms
Abstract
By teaching a course intended to help Korean students who want to live abroad or engage with the growing numbers of non-ethnic Korean residents of Korea, a practical framework has been developed for discussing diversity and difference appropriately in a mono-cultural EFL environment with special focus on sensitively addressing stereotypes, prejudices and "isms". English educators can find this very difficult, either being fearful of addressing the topic or too intent on molding opinions based on cultural assumptions. There is a way to discuss these issues in Korean EFL classrooms that is effective and educational.
Via a mini demonstration lecture and guided discussion, attendees will learn how to begin creating a space for diversity in their own classrooms that is as comfortable and effective as possible.
Biographicals
Melissa Watkins is currently an adjunct EFL professor at KoreaTech University in Cheonan, South Korea. Prior to coming to Asia, she received an MA in cultural theology and a BA in communications and theater, as well as the requisite TESOL certification. Her academic interest in the development of multicultural identity and diversity began when she worked in a multicultural neighborhood in northern England as a youth and community worker. Her observations on engaging with different cultures and introducing multiculturalism to communities via personal presence have been published in the 2014 anthology Trailblasian: Black Women Living In East Asia, and the popular blog "I'm Black and I Travel". Aside from teaching, reading and writing, her interests include hiking, language and science fiction.
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