This presentation discusses the development of a UK manifesto for decolonising language teaching developed with colleagues from 12 British Universities on behalf of the Association of University Language Communities in the UK and Ireland (AULC). Informed by intercultural citizenship theory, I reassess language education through a decolonising lens by presenting the rationale behind the initiative and the discussions that the AULC group held during the past year which led to the creation of the manifesto.
This presentation uses a decolonising lens to reassess the discipline of language education in the university sector using the AULC national manifesto for decolonising language teaching. Inspired by Phipps, where she proposes that 'if we are going to do this, then let's improvise and devise. This is how we might learn the arts of decolonising', this presentation discusses the decolonising potential of intercultural citizenship education as a driver for change. Key areas often ignored or not yet given full attention in the current conversations will be presented. This talk aims to generate ideas leading to future micro and macro changes ranging from personal reflection and actions as professional language practitioners to institutional transformations in the University communities to which we belong. Using the AULC manifesto, the presentation argues that intercultural citizenship education in the practice of language learning and teaching strongly aligns with the ideals of decolonisation.
