Universities in the UK exercise considerable time, effort and money in promoting their international profiles and their Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) policies. Yet institutional attitudes towards multilingualism and plurilingualism often reflect those of the UK more broadly by tending to deny the importance and benefits of linguistic diversity for our societies, institutions and, importantly, for the personal, academic, social, cultural and employability benefits for individuals. The presence of other languages in educational and workplace environments is viewed at best with disinterest or at worst as problematic with primacy given to the monolingual and monocultural dominance of English. This is at odds with the lived experience of university communities which are made up of students from the UK’s multilingual communities and of those who may speak more than one language for a variety of reasons, alongside international students and university staff from across the world. What is the current place of multilingualism and plurilingualism in learning, teaching and research? What place should/could they hold? Should assumptions concerning linguistic diversity be challenged? How would the Multilingual University look, behave, speak? What values would it embody?

Speakers

Professor Terry Lamb, Professor of Languages and Interdisciplinary Pedagogy, University of Westminster. In addition to research into critical learner and teacher autonomy and into linguistic diversity and plurilingual pedagogies in the context of globalisation and urban studies, Terry founded and leads ‘The Multilingual University – A Westminster Learning Community’ which aims to put the University’s multilingualism on the institutional agenda, contributing to inclusivity and more broadly demonstrating the ways in which all languages are an asset.

Professor Jo Angouri, Professor in Sociolinguistics and Deputy Pro-Vice Chancellor for Education and Internationalisation, University of Warwick. She is an interaction analyst and her research concerns include multidisciplinary projects on teamwork and leadership in complex professional settings, notably medical emergencies and pre-hospital care; the future of education and transnational collaboration; and multilingualism and language policies.

Respondent

Dr Jarad Zimbler, Reader in English and Global Cultures and Director of Research, Global Cultures Institute, King’s College London

Co-Chairs: Dr Ana de Medeiros, King’s College London and Professor Emerita Debra Kelly, University of Westminster

A drinks reception will take place in Room K 2.40 7:30–8pm

The Debate will be held in hybrid form. The link to join online will be sent once you have enrolled.