Teaching for a Better World
Cultivating Social-Emotional Learning in English Language Pedagogy
Transforming classrooms into spaces of connection, well-being, and hope
Description
In a world where language connects people across cultures, Teaching for a Better World invites readers to imagine classrooms where words do more than teach grammar; they build empathy, resilience, and understanding. This groundbreaking volume is the first to focus on the integration of social-emotional learning (SEL) into English language teaching from a global perspective, bringing together educators and researchers from diverse cultural and educational contexts. Through conceptual discussions, research, and practical examples, the authors demonstrate how English lessons can also be lessons in compassion, collaboration, and global citizenship.
Organized into three sections—Conceptual Pieces, Empirical Studies, and Practical Examples—the book offers a comprehensive examination of SEL’s theoretical foundations, evidence-based practices, and real-world classroom applications. Contributors explore SEL through lenses such as culturally responsive pedagogy, trauma-sensitive practices, teacher and student well-being, ecolinguistics, and intercultural dialogue. Readers will find innovative and practical ways to create inclusive, culturally responsive classrooms; support student and teacher well-being; and use English as a bridge for intercultural dialogue. Accessible and inspiring, this book’s combination of conceptual depth, empirical rigor, and applied strategies position it as a foundational resource for advancing research and practice in SEL-informed English language pedagogy worldwide.
Readers of Teaching for a Better World will
- Learn pedagogically sound ways to foster empathy and resilience while creating inclusive, culturally responsive classrooms.
- Find ready-to-use lesson plans and activities.
- Encounter diverse perspectives of educators from a range of contexts, including conflict-affected regions, refugee resettlement contexts, and higher education.
Luis Javier Pentón Herrera is Professor at VIZJA University.
Gilda Martínez-Alba is Professor at Towson University.
Michał B. Paradowski is Associate Professor at the University of Warsaw.
Reviews
“English is both desired for its power and market value, as well as vilified for its role in colonization, empire, and domination, resulting in a conflicted ELT profession. This book makes a significant contribution by providing teachers with practices that transform the learning of English into an activity to heal and empower those who have been marginalized.”
- Ofelia García, City University of New York
“Teaching for a Better World is a well-written and varied collection of ESL educators’ experiences. This book explores many different ways to incorporate SEL in pedagogical practices with real-life scenarios. The volume editors have created an important and accessible collection that will be useful for those beginning their own research on SEL.”
- Bahiyyih Hardacre, California State University Los Angeles
“This collection could not come at a better time. It reminds us that language teaching is about far more than language alone, highlighting the importance of nurturing the human side of education through empathy, kindness, and emotional regulation. An essential read for any TESOL practitioner who values teaching with both the head and the heart.”
- Anna Hasper, University of Auckland