Climate Change and English Language Learners: Language, Literacies, and the Creation of Eco-Ethical Consciousness

• In Event: Extending Second Language Theoretical and Research Perspectives

Abstract

This paper calls on SLR to respond to the growing climatic and ecological crisis, conceptualizing climate change beyond just standards-based language and content curriculum. Climate change is also “cultural” and “religious.” Drawing on theories of value creation and creative coexistence, the author considers climate change socioculturally, epistemologically, and ontologically toward the development of a value-creative eco-ethical consciousness. The author concludes with a case study that used ethnographic and discourse analytic methods to examine the effects of a standards-based climate change unit among adolescent, religious refugee ELLs from the Former Soviet Union. Findings suggest these ELLs developed their language, literacies, and content knowledge relative to climate science. They also developed a value-creative eco-ethical consciousness consonant with their cultural religious identity expression.

Author

• Jason Goulah, DePaul University