Page 32 - ELG2202 Feb Issue 479

FEATURE .

Levelling the playing field

Jodie Gray, chief executive of English UK, shares how the organisation
intends to tackle discrimination

PHOTO PIXABY

ne of the things I’m most excited fossil fuels, reducing emissions from our events ask for feedback to English UK and the
about this year is working for and seeking more sustainable travel options. antiracism action group.
positive change in our industry. We’re also calling for industry volunteers to  Promote the UK ELT industry as an
ORebuilding our members’ business join our environmental action group. opportunity to increase visibility and
and supporting UK ELT to success once more Further advanced is our antiracism action recruitment. The group discussion noted
are the priority, but English UK also wants plan, launched in the middle of 2021 and that ELT is not widely known to a diverse
to take the opportunity to create a more acknowledged in our value statement that range of people, so contributing to a lack
sustainable future. everybody belongs in UK ELT. We embrace of diversity. This is a long-term project
As a relatively new chief executive who has diversity and value everyone’s perspectives and it’s vital the industry is promoted as a
worked in the industry for most of my career, and contributions to our community. safe and welcoming place to all people.
it’s important to me that, while we focus on We have made steady progress on this
the bottom line and return our centres to plan. We have completed our first annual I’m really pleased with the quality and range
profitability, we also work to ensure ELT’s survey of staff and the ELT community on of these suggestions, and we are beginning to
footprint is as beneficial as it can be. Even better, their experiences of racism and other forms consider how we will address them, updating the
this is important to our Board of Trustees as well. of discrimination, and we shared the results at action group at its next meeting in the spring.
As industries go, ELT has broadly positive a very productive first meeting of our action The group also has some interesting ideas
impacts. We support students from all nations group in December. on what success might look like and what they
and backgrounds to travel and study, so they want us to achieve in the context of English
can realise their dreams. We encourage people Antiracism: objectives for 2022 UK, the membership and the wider industry.
from all over the world to widen their horizons The action group suggested five next steps for Those ideas include tackling unconscious bias,
and foster mutual understanding. We enable English UK. These are: education for everyone, including students and
people to communicate better.  Provide training for members and the agents, and working with other educational
The flipside is that we’re encouraging travel UK ELT industry. Topics could include organisations and wider stakeholders.
at a time when we need to reduce emissions dealing with incidents, raising awareness
and live more sustainably, that we aren’t and tackling unconscious bias. Training Survey findings
challenging perceptions that native speakers formats could include conference We sent the antiracism survey to industry
are the most desirable teachers, and that sessions, guidelines, tools for centres to contacts, member centres and stakeholders,
discrimination may be going unchallenged in use, webinars or paid training. and the findings provide an interesting and
our classrooms and staff rooms.  Create guidelines for diversity in broadly positive picture of our industry,
2022 is the year when English UK begins marketing to inform the language and although there is more to do.
to take the lead on all of this. With the Board visuals used in our materials and shared Most respondents are not very or not at
of Trustees, last November we agreed new with members as a suggested template. all concerned about racism or other forms of
values which are important to us. They are:  Use the English UK platform to promote discrimination at their ELT organisation (86
community, inclusivity, integrity, responsibility diversity by celebrating people of colour and 81%). Three-quarters say they have rarely
and sustainability, and we are taking steps to within the industry, diversifying speakers and or never experienced or seen discrimination
live and work by these. trainers at our events, making antiracism in UK ELT, and nobody reported any form of
Now we have launched our latest initiative, and diversity central at our conferences and discrimination as frequent in their workplace.
an environmental action plan in which English using social media platforms to promote Over two-thirds think discrimination and
UK has committed to lead the way on greening diversity within our industry. prejudice are taken seriously in our sector.
our industry. As our values say, we believe in  Facilitate a networking group for In other positive findings, 95% thought all
turning UK ELT green to help protect our people of colour in UK ELT, enabling cultures, backgrounds and ages are respected
planet, build hope and secure our future. mentorship and networking across roles, and valued in their ELT organisation, with
As an organisation, English UK will examine giving the opportunity to discuss racism almost as many believing ‘overt’ or ‘extreme’
and revise our actions, including divesting from in the industry and get support, and racism would be addressed at their organisation
32 February 2022