Language for Peace Forum
clwoelk
Engaging students using “democratic conflict dialogue”
“Conflict dialogue” is defined as process of engaging participants in conversation about conflict topics and processes in democratic ways which can lead to building peace. Opportunities for this type of discussion are frequent in language education settings. But how do educators go about setting up a safe space for this kind of dialogue? Continue reading
Classroom Activities Using Applied Peace Linguistics
Can drawing awareness to different phrases and expressions help language learners promote peace? What role does creative writing and poetry have in peacebuilding? How can we use applied linguistics to learn to communicate more peaceably? Dr. Francisco Gomes de Matos is emeritus professor at Universidade Federal de Pernambuco, in Recife, Brazil, and has written about … Continue reading
Learners Benefit from Creative Physical Spaces
A recent webinar in the US looked at transforming learning with physical spaces. Educators heard from various school districts that have experimented with changes in physical space to align with learning goals. Leaders in these districts “wanted to examine how to truly effect change in the district, and they decided part of that change had … Continue reading
Teacher Communities Affect Student Learning
In this intriguing article highlighted in the Washington Post, Esther Quintero, senior fellow at the nonprofit Albert Shanker Institute, looks at whether students learn more when their teachers work well together. Sure enough, good community among teachers in a school is just as important as within the classroom. While this is not new to many … Continue reading
Social Justice and Peace Education Perspectives
An article by Tabitha Dell’Angelo entitled Creating classrooms for social justice highlights a few key aspects of peace education. She lists connecting to learners’ lives in relevant ways, addressing real issues from diverse perspectives, nurturing caring learning communities, and using authentic forms of assessment as essential not just for integrating social justice in the classroom, … Continue reading
Website for Churches with ESL Ministries
BC ESL Ministries is a network of churches serving newcomers through English classes in British Columbia, Canada. They seek to build community and provide quality ESL education and resources for immigrants and refugees coming to the region. Check out their website at http://www.eslministries.com/
Speaking the Language of our Hearts
Cara Ediger’s poem Heart Language speaks to the richness of language in our lives, particularly our spiritual selves and identity. How does this reflect your language learning experience?
Language Learning Facilitates “Virtual Exchanges” for Youth
The Alliance for Peacebuilding recently highlighted a program called Saliya, which sets up online dialogue between students from different countries and religious backgrounds. The goal is to promote dialogue and understanding across the boundaries that usually divide us through the use of online tools. Participants then use their understanding to respond differently in situations of … Continue reading
Christian English Language Educators Association (CELEA) Newsletter
The new Christian English Language Educators Association newsletter is available at http://www.celea.net/page-1636494. Check it out!
Does Language Affect Thought?
The TED Blog post 5 examples of how the languages we speak can affect the way we think/ addresses the question of the relationship of thought and language. How does this influence perspectives on peace or violence?
Language for Peace Forum 