JALT2025 - Tokyo

Help me senpai! Cultural knowledge for inclusive classrooms

Nov 2, 2025, 10:15 AM

30m

National Olympics Memorial Youth Center / 国立オリンピック記念青少年総合センター

Practice-oriented Workshop (30-minutes) Teaching Younger Learners Room 407

Speaker

Letson James (Clark Memorial International High School / Hokkaido University)

Description

Much of the research discussion on best practice regarding inclusivity places the onus on the teacher to provide accessible lesson content and foster a welcoming atmosphere. This is at odds with language pedagogy’s emphasis on ‘student-centered’ approaches to learning. This presentation offers a solution that uses knowledge of L1-related social and cultural forms to produce a classroom management strategy that is both ‘student-centered’ and ‘student-led,’ and to provide lessons which are inclusive and accessible.

Summary

Much of the research discussion on best practice regarding inclusivity place the onus on the teacher to provide accessible lesson content and foster a welcoming atmosphere. This is at odds with language pedagogy’s emphasis on ‘student-centered’ approaches to learning. This presentation offers a solution that uses knowledge of L1-related social and cultural forms to produce a classroom management strategy that is both ‘student-centered’ and ‘student-led,’ and to provide lessons which are inclusive and accessible.