What's so funny 'bout peace, love and understanding? The role of social justice in ELT

Brown, S. (2019) What's so funny 'bout peace, love and understanding? The role of social justice in ELT. IATEFL TDSIG Newsletter,

Abstract

The term Social Justice Warrior tends to be used pejoratively to mock anyone who seeks to promote equality, equity or human rights for all. This is unsurprising, given the connotations of aggression and self-righteousness that are embedded within the term. In this article I argue that the promotion of social justice should not be seen as radical or extreme, but is in fact a fundamental responsibility for all teachers. The real location of extremism and aggression is in fact in the dominant, neoliberal ideology that drives global society, and which the ELT profession is currently complicit in promoting.

• Item Type: Articles
• Keywords: ELT, English language teaching, Social justice, Critical pedagogy, TESOL, EFL, TEFL
• Status: Published
• Refereed: Yes
• Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID: Brown, Dr Steve
• Authors: Brown, S.
• College/School: College of Social Sciences > School of Education
• Journal Name: IATEFL TDSIG Newsletter
• Publisher: IATEFL