Description

Recent research, reports, and ministerial policies highlight the importance of making strides toward creating more inclusive FSL classrooms. This can be challenging given the grammatical male–female gender binary in the French language. So how can FSL teachers create gender-inclusive learning environments that move beyond the gender binary? One way is by using gender neutral and/or inclusive language. In this interactive session, we will begin by sharing the results of a survey completed by FSL teachers in FSL Disrupt aiming to learn about how they include (or exclude) conversations, topics, and activities around gender and sexuality in their classrooms. We will address the worries or concerns teachers may have about approaching questions of gender and sexuality in the FSL classroom. To support FSL teachers, we will also discuss the difference between grammatical gender and social gender, provide examples of gender inclusive and neutral language (e.g., the iel pronoun, epicene forms of words, and circumlocution strategies), and provide strategies for addressing resistance or discomfort from students and colleagues. By the end of the session, we hope you leave feeling more confident to use gender neutral and/or inclusive language in your FSL classroom.