Social justice can be defined as a philosophy of treating all people with fairness, respect, dignity, and equality. The world language classroom is uniquely suited to teach about this topic because it can encompass a wide variety of topics concerning local and global issues. Language teachers have an opportunity to challenge bias and stereotypes, build cultural competence, and promote global citizenship. Through the teaching process, we can nurture students’ voice and help develop an understanding of others in our world.
Why social justice?
Introducing social justice topics into the language classroom can increase students’ interest in real-world issues. It can also help them understand the context in which they observe and form opinions about them. Providing the linguistic view is really only the first tool language teachers can use to activate students’ interest. Once students have an understanding of global issues through language study, they can actively engage in learning, analyze power dynamics, and grapple with an understanding of a multitude of complex situations and cultural topics.
The language classroom truly is a space that students can learn about social justice and use the safe environment created by the teacher to ask questions about something they have read, heard, or observed, but did not fully understand. Social justice topics can explore topics on race, ethnicity, oppression, language deprivation, stereotypes, education, and other very real topics.
Many social justice topics follow the AP language themes and can (and should be) introduced starting in level 1. These topics offer teachers an opportunity to promote critical thinking and analysis of the information provided in and outside of the classroom. Also, social justice themes can give students the opportunity to ask questions and explore more in-depth about the information they read or view. Teachers not only have the opportunity to teach a language to students but social justice allows instructors to teach about the culture, norms, and taboos of the people being studied. Teaching about social justice also gives instructors the chance to challenge students to find similarities in how power and privilege are used and abused.
Social justice themes
- Domestic violence
- Equal wage based on gender
- Language deprivation
- How children around the world go to school
- Addressing stereotypes
- Education
equality - Deaf around the world
Conclusion
I hope that the idea that social justice can be taught at any level of the language classroom has inspired you to try to broach the topic with your students. The role of the language teacher is to impart knowledge of language and communication to students but to also help them think critically about the world around them. Everyone has a part in shaping the world. Teachers should encourage students to become kinder, more empathetic world citizens who see the complexity of situations and people
Get started today by teaching Hearing Privilege in your upper levels.
