Valuing Student Assets through Inclusive Language Policies

WORKSHOP OVERVIEW

As many international schools begin, or reinvest in, the call to engage in the work of diversity, equity, inclusion, and justice, one area that must be included in the conversation is that of linguistic equity.  As we unpack the complex relationship between language, culture, and identity, we come to understand that the three truly cannot be separated. Therefore, deconstructing a school’s language policy and beliefs is an essential part of the work around diversity, equity, inclusion, and justice.  In this workshop, we will explore a possible framework for developing a school language policy. We will discuss some of the critical questions facing international schools and explore the relationship between current research and how that may often conflict with stakeholder interests.  By the end of this session, participants will leave with a checklist for reviewing/developing a school language policy and have begun the work of analyzing the current language…