ACTR would like to invite all its members to a new initiative dedicated to exploring specific classroom adaptations that can easily be made to promote greater diversity, equity, access and inclusion (DEAI) in the realm of Russian language teaching and learning. We chose a reading group format for this activity. This initiative will continue throughout the next academic year, but we start on May 6, 2022 to give everyone an opportunity to engage with this important topic over the summer.
Our starting point will be the most recent issue of ACTR's Russian Language Journal, which is devoted specifically to DEIA: "Diversity, Equity, Access and Inclusion: Lessons for the Russian Language Classroom." For the first meeting, Tom Garza will lead a discussion of his article "Here, There, and Elsewhere: Re-Imagining Russian Language and Culture Course Syllabi for Social Justice." He will give a brief presentation of specific types of applications he has found successful at promoting a more inclusive and accessible classroom. Participants will then be invited to break-out rooms to brainstorm the application of these ideas in their own classrooms.
All members of ACTR are invited, representing all types and levels of educational settings. You're encouraged, but not required, to read the article in advance. You'll find a pdf of the article attached for your convenience (Here, There, Elsewhere.pdf)
We want to express our gratitude to Colleen Lucey, guest editor, and to all of the contributors to the groundbreaking issue of the Russian Language Journal on DEIA. We look forward to these discussions!
