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Unconscious bias: it's a quiet murmur in the corridors of our workplaces that can grow into a loud echo, shaping decisions and team dynamics in ways that may go unnoticed. In our collective quest for diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI), recognizing and tackling these biases is not just important—it's essential.
By embarking on this path, we create workplaces where everyone feels valued and heard. If you're an HR professional, a leader, or a diversity consultant, it’s essential to always keep this in mind in every aspect of the workplace. Today, let's explore how language learning can be a valuable ally in breaking down the barriers created by unconscious bias.
Discover how to support an inclusive workplace culture with language learning in our free 6-step guide, featuring actionable tips to help reduce bias and bolster your organization's DE&I program.
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DEI—diversity, equity, and inclusion—is a framework for creating fair practices and fostering belongingness within an organization. Diversity is the presence of differences within a given setting, implying that an organization's workforce comprises individuals with various characteristics, such as ethnicity, gender, age, religion, disability, sexual orientation, socio-economic status and cultural background.
Equity seeks to ensure that all individuals have equal opportunities to develop and succeed, which can mean providing specific support and resources tailored to an individual's circumstances. Inclusion is about creating an environment where all employees feel welcomed and valued for their unique contributions.
These three pillars stand strong when we continuously learn and understand one another—and language learning can be an effective tool to achieve this understanding. Let's start by appreciating the broad range of communication styles that different languages and cultures can bring to our workplace conversations.
The Pew research center examined how people view diversity, equity and inclusion efforts at work. A majority of workers in the United States believe that prioritizing DEI in the workplace is beneficial. However, only a small proportion place significant importance on diversity within their own organization.
At its core, unconscious bias refers to the stereotypes that influence our views and actions, often without us even realizing it. These biases can be about anything from race to gender, age, accent, or language proficiency. Left unchecked, they can affect hiring choices, promotions and everyday interactions in the workplace.
Unconscious biases can surreptitiously construct barriers in the workplace, impeding productivity and inclusivity in several critical areas. These biases may lead to preferential treatment during recruitment, favoring candidates who share similarities with the decision-makers rather than those with the best qualifications for the job.
Such biases might also surface in performance evaluations, where the quality of work may be overlooked in favor of subjective perceptions influenced by stereotypes. Beyond hindering individual career progress, unconscious bias can stifle the richness of team collaboration, restricting diverse perspectives that could spark innovation and drive the company forward.
Cultivating awareness and promoting an open, diverse company culture brings us closer to a workplace where everyone's talents are truly recognized and celebrated.
To embrace DEI, it's vital to identify common barriers that can hinder progress.
Addressing these barriers starts with education and empathy. Encouraging an atmosphere of continuous learning can foster a more inclusive environment. For instance, language and cross-cultural training can bridge gaps and promote clearer communication. Simple alterations in the work environment and providing assistive technologies can also make a world of difference in creating an accessible workspace.
Language is a central piece of our identity and plays a pivotal role in how we connect with others. When someone speaks with an accent or uses English as their second language, they may face unintended biases. It can become a barrier to truly inclusive communication.
As we embrace the plethora of languages and dialects that make up the work environment, we can begin to dismantle these silent barriers. Imagine a workspace where the melodic rhythm of a colleague's accent is celebrated, where every linguistic nuance becomes a lesson in diversity. Language learning isn't just about grammar and vocabulary; it's a voyage into different ways of thinking and seeing the world.
Through language, we can cultivate empathy, encouraging us to step into the shoes of others and understand their cultural context. This journey, full of curiosity and understanding, enriches our interactions and lays the foundation for a truly inclusive work environment. Let's equip ourselves with the tools of language to build bridges, not walls, and to foster a workplace culture that's vibrant with the colors of diversity.
Imagine a scenario where team communication is impacted by language differences, impacting collaboration. To overcome this, a company could initiate 'Lunch and Learn' sessions where team members share phrases from their native languages, thereby creating an adherence to inclusivity while fostering team bonding.
This could also include sessions teaching teams about the company jargon or terms, these can be difficult to track for anyone irregardless of language level.
Another example might be addressing biases in perception due to different English language proficiencies. Here, peer-to-peer language mentoring programs empower individuals to support each other's language growth, as well as increase understanding and respect for the effort involved in language learning.
Moreover, encouraging employees to use language-learning apps, workplace training and providing subsidies or time allocations for this purpose, reflects an organizational commitment to DEI.
This not only supports the learning journey but promotes an overarching culture of growth and continuous learning. Read more about creating a culture of learning in the workplace here.
Learning languages can be a win-win situation and is mutually beneficial for both the learner and those around them. Here's how language learning can lay the groundwork for a more unbiased workplace.
Learning a new language is a humbling experience. It invites us to make mistakes and learn from them. For fluent speakers, understanding the effort it takes to learn English can foster empathy towards non-fluent colleagues, helping to dismantle negative stereotypes associated with language proficiency.
Encourage language exchange or 'tandem' programs within your workplace. It's a fantastic way to grow mutual respect, develop relationships and provide a space where everyone's voice can be appreciated, understood and celebrated.
When teams see their leaders and peers making an effort to understand and speak a new language, it sends a powerful message: 'We value you, and we want to actively engage with you.' This shared experience can boost a sense of belonging and inclusivity.
As we learn new languages, we're invited into new worlds, cultures and ways of thinking. This expanded viewpoint can directly counter narrow stereotypes and contribute to a more holistic understanding of each other.
So, how can you put these insights into action? Here are but a few examples:
In solidarity, we can make strides toward an environment where each individual—no matter their language—feels integral to the fabric of the organization.
Organizations that encourage a variety of perspectives naturally create an excellent environment for creative thinking. Individuals from diverse backgrounds bring their unique experiences and ideas to the table, fostering a culture where 'thinking outside the box' is not just a slogan, but a daily reality. Language and cultural diversity act as catalysts for this process, unleashing the collective genius that lies within diverse teams.
Understanding and embracing diversity isn't just the right thing to do—it's smart business. Companies that reflect the multicultural tapestry of the markets they serve are better positioned to understand and anticipate the needs of their customers. Language learning, in particular, allows employees to communicate directly with a wider customer base, forming stronger connections and building trust in new and existing markets.
In today's job market, the best talent seeks more than just good pay—they look for workplaces that respect and value diversity. By promoting language learning and inclusion, organizations demonstrate their commitment to an environment where everyone, regardless of their background, can thrive. This makes them more attractive to prospective employees and can greatly increase staff retention by creating a sense of community and belonging.
When a whole range of perspectives is woven into the decision-making process, organizations benefit from a more well-rounded analysis of the challenges they face. Language and cultural diversity can help prevent echo chambers, where similar thinking leads to biases and blind spots. Instead, diversity can provide a wide-angle lens through which a business can view its strategy and operations, leading to more informed—and often more successful—decision-making.
Finally, the blend of rich insights and the ability to connect with customers in meaningful ways puts organizations a step ahead of their competition. It isn't simply about being representative of the world at large; it's about leveraging that representation to propel the company forward with agility and foresight. As our world grows more interconnected, companies that are adept at working across cultural and language divides are likely to stay ahead of the curve, ready to adapt to the changing tides of global commerce.
Organizations galvanized by inclusion and diversity aren't just better places to work; they're more dynamic, more resilient, and more connected to the communities they serve. Each step towards a more inclusive workplace is a step towards a brighter, more innovative, and more inclusive future for all.
To bring the principles of DEI with language learning into the very heart of your organization, consider our range of language solutions for work. Our tools and resources are meticulously crafted to enhance language learning and effective communication across all levels of your company.
It's time to demonstrate your commitment to an environment where every colleague has the tools they need to connect, flourish and feel valued. Reach out today and be the catalyst for lasting change in your workplace. Because when we grow together, we succeed together. Learn more about Pearson's language solutions for work and encourage employees to improve their language skills with our language learning app Mondly by Pearson.
Read more in our blog post 'Ways language learning can energize your organization’s DE&I strategy'.
At Pearson Languages, 2024 has been a landmark year full of innovation, connection, and impactful resources for businesses worldwide. We’ve worked on so many things with the aim to empower global workforces and help organizations unlock the potential of language skills to drive business success. Here's how we made a difference this year.
As the new year approaches, it's the perfect time to reflect on our teaching practices and plan engaging, effective lessons for our English as a Second Language (ESL) students. Thoughtfully crafted lesson plans can make a significant difference in the learning outcomes and engagement levels of your students. Whether you're teaching young children, teenagers, or adults, the principles of effective lesson planning remain consistent. Here are some ideas, hints and tips to help you create dynamic and successful ESL lessons for students of all ages.
Begin each lesson with clear, achievable objectives. What do you want your students to learn by the end of the lesson? Objectives provide a roadmap for both you and your students, ensuring that everyone is focused and aware of the goals. For example, an objective might be "Students will be able to use past tense verbs to describe their weekend activities." Clear objectives provide direction and help you measure student progress.
To cater to different learning styles and keep students engaged, incorporate a mix of teaching methods and activities. Here are a few ideas:
Authentic materials—such as newspapers, menus, brochures and videos—expose students to real-world language and contexts. These materials can make lessons more interesting and relevant, helping students see the practical application of their language skills. Even better, they’re everywhere, so easy to find. Here are some more suggestions for how to select and use authentic materials in your English language teaching.
Teachers are already used to leveraging technology to enhance lessons utilizing online resources, language learning apps and interactive platforms to create a dynamic learning environment. Why not take this a step further by using AI to create your own resources. Take a look at our blog on How to make the most of AI in the classroom for some more ideas.
How can teachers use the Global Scale of English (GSE) and AI to help students set and achieve language learning goals for the new year?
As the new year rolls around, it’s the perfect time for students to set fresh language learning goals. But for teachers, it’s not just about inspiring students—it’s about giving them clear, measurable goals that they can actually achieve. That’s where the GSE, a very powerful tool, comes in. It can help teachers create personalized learning paths based on where students are right now and guide them toward their language goals throughout the year. Let’s dive into how the GSE can work to boost student progress.
The GSE is a precise framework that measures English proficiency with remarkable detail. Each score on the GSE aligns with specific speaking, listening, reading and writing competencies. For instance, a student with a GSE score of 50 might handle everyday conversations comfortably (B1 level), while a score of 75 indicates functioning at a more advanced level (C1).
What sets the GSE apart is its granularity—it goes beyond general levels of "intermediate" or "advanced," allowing teachers to identify exactly what their students can do at any stage. This level of detail enables teachers to set targeted, skill-specific goals for every learner, ensuring personalized and purposeful progression.
Before setting goals, it’s important to determine each student’s current standing. The GSE is an excellent tool for this because it provides a detailed breakdown of a student's skills. Teachers can use GSE-aligned assessments to pinpoint strengths and weaknesses, which gives a clearer picture than just knowing if a student is at an “intermediate” or “advanced” level.
Once you know where students are, you can set a baseline. For instance, if a student’s reading score is 52, you’ll know that they are likely in the B1 range, and you can target specific skills (like improving vocabulary or understanding main ideas) to move them forward.
Now that you know where each student stands, it's time to set some goals. These should be realistic, measurable and achievable based on their current level and the time span involved. The key is to pick goals that will push them to improve without overwhelming them. The GSE has detailed descriptions of what students can do at each level. You can pinpoint specific skills that need attention by looking at these descriptors. We know that large goals can feel intimidating, so break them into smaller, manageable chunks. Here, the GSE is an amazing resource, thanks to its granularity.
Using the GSE Learning Objectives (LOs) in conjunction with an LLM (Large Language Model) opens up a world of possibilities for creating focused activities at the right level for each student. Here are some key points on how this combination enhances personalized learning:
By combining the GSE LOs and harnessing the power of an LLM like ChatGPT, teachers can create personalized activities that cater to individual students' language needs, promote active learning, and foster continuous improvement.
Setting goals is just the start—tracking progress and adjusting those goals as needed is just as important. Throughout the year, teachers should regularly check in with students to make sure they’re on track. How can we monitor and adjust? Here are some tips.
Teachers should schedule regular one-on-one sessions with students to review their progress. The GSE can clearly show students their progress.
If students are achieving their goals faster than expected, adjusting their targets is important to keep them challenged. If they’re struggling, the goals might need to be more achievable, with smaller, more gradual steps.
Using the GSE can help students set clear, measurable goals and steadily progress throughout the year. By assessing where students are starting, setting specific GSE-based goals, creating personalized learning paths with AI, and continuously tracking progress, teachers can create a more dynamic and effective learning experience for their students. The new year is the perfect opportunity to help students improve their English and achieve their goals—and with these tools, teachers have everything they need to guide students toward success.
