Addressing Religious Diversity in the Diverse Language Classroom

• In Event: 33.078 - Roundtable Session 11
  In Roundtable Session: 33.078-4 - Reading Religion In(to) Text, Self, and Curriculum

Abstract

Witnessing recent conflicts on a religious background in my Middle-Eastern area, I decided to start addressing these issues in my English-as-a-foreign-language classroom. I enacted a practitioner inquiry research in my religiously diverse classroom, hoping to increase students’ knowledge of and respect for the other faiths in the region. Grounded in critical literacy, I used a book set of religion-based literature alongside critical literacy engagements to affect some change in students’ tolerance towards the other faiths. This article describes my journey of exploring students’ reader responses to religion-based texts and issues. Sample student responses will be shared with the conference audience.

Author

• Rawia Hayik, Sakhnin College