Unit 11: Ethics of Cultural Representation in Language Teaching
Conditions d’achèvement
This
unit explores the ethical responsibilities involved in representing cultures
within the language classroom. It examines the risks of stereotyping, cultural
appropriation, and colonial bias in teaching materials and practices, while
encouraging teachers to foster respectful and accurate intercultural dialogue.
The unit promotes inclusive pedagogy by highlighting strategies for
decolonising curricula, engaging learners critically with cultural content, and
amplifying underrepresented voices. By the end of this unit, students will be
able to recognize ethical dilemmas in cultural representation and develop
practices that support empathy, diversity, and fairness in language education.
4. Decolonising the Language Curriculum
Decolonisation
in education refers to: ·
Challenging Eurocentric worldviews embedded in curricula. ·
Diversifying authorship and voices in classroom texts. ·
Recognising colonial histories and their impact on language
hierarchies. In
English language teaching, this might involve: ·
Including literature from non-Western authors. ·
Teaching English varieties beyond
British/American norms. ·
Acknowledging the global power dynamics of
English. 🌍 Reflection: How does
your teaching resist or reinforce linguistic colonialism?
