Language for Peace Forum
peacebuilding
Join us for Stories of Language Learning, Faith, and Building Peace Webinar!
Join the Language for Peace community of language and peace educators and learners for our first online seminar: Stories of Language Learning, Faith, and Building Peace live on March 12, 2015 at 7:00 CST. Continue reading
Language Policy and Peacebuilding: Alliance for Peacebuilding
“Across the world, nations and societies are in crisis. Threats to peace and security proliferate, and solutions are elusive. At the center of both the problem and the solution are matters of language. A person’s language is a defining factor in social and cultural identity. This is true within and between groups. Language policy guiding … Continue reading
Language Learning as Tool for Resolving Worldview Conflicts
How can language learning help us to navigate the difficult experience of worldview conflicts? Peacebuilding becomes most challenging when the conflict is not the surface issue, but the difference in the ways that people organize their way of making meaning in the world and by which they make decisions about action. Most entrenched conflicts actually are not about the apparent issues, but these underlying ways of seeing the world that are opposed to each other. Language learning can provide essential tools for addressing these conflicts in constructive ways. Continue reading
Even a Little Language Learning Provides Benefits at Any Age
A recent article in the Medical Daily, Bilingual Benefits: How Learning Another Language Keeps Your Mind Sharp, No Matter Your Age, highlights the importance of even minimal language learning in keeping the brain healthy, even for older adults. Continue reading
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
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
Bridge Building through Language: Mark Zuckerberg’s Approach
Facebook’s Mark Zuckerberg’s visit to China has made for a few headlines this week, including this one from the Washington Post. In front of an attentive audience, he began a live interview with 30 minutes in Mandarin. Students at the university he was visiting seemed to enjoy his efforts. Going public with a new language … Continue reading
Women as Leaders and Peacemakers Infographic
Alliance for Peacebuilding posted a helpful infographic on Women as Leaders and Peacemakers. This could be a discussion starter in a class, or an example for students to make their own infographic on another peace-related topic.
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