Dr. Gina Lontoc of the UST College of Education and the Graduate School was one of the facilitators of dynamic and transformative workshops in Brazil. This program is part of the research project, Gender-ing English language teaching (ELT): International perspectives, practices, and policies funded by the British Council in the United Kingdom.
This event which took place at the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro from June 14 to 17, 2023 brought together Brazilian educators, students, and teacher trainers, who are keen on creating empowering and gender-inclusive learning environments. Dr. Lontoc’s participation and contribution extended beyond the workshop facilitation, as she also took part in the evaluation of the overall project.
Participants shared significant insights during the sessions which highlight the significance of inclusive practices in English language education. Both facilitators and participants emphasized the importance of fostering a safe, respectful, and equitable environment for all learners, regardless of race, gender, age, or socio-economic status.
Participants were encouraged to reflect on current gender-related issues in the classroom and how their own teaching practices could contribute innovative ways to address these challenges and promote diversity and equality in the English language classroom. They were also left with the challenge of embracing their crucial role in shaping a more inclusive and sustainable future as English language educators.
Beyond the workshops, the project team planned for other impactful post-project activities by determining the successes of the project, the areas for improvement, and the strategies that work to enhance their future collaborative endeavors. This inspiring event encouraged new perspectives and meaningful insights in the intersection between language and gender, making English language teaching a powerful tool for transformative education.
These activities are outcomes of the collaborative efforts of the project composed of researchers from 10 ODA countries namely, Bangladesh, Botswana, Brazil, China, Colombia, Indonesia, Morocco, Philippines, Ukraine, and Vietnam. The project is led by Dr. Vander Viana (Principal Investigator) from the University of Edinburgh and Dr. Aisling O’Boyle (Co-Principal Investigator) from Queen’s University Belfast.
