Dr. George M Jacobs
University of Santo Tomas, Manila, Philippines
“United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals: How Language Classes Can Help
The presentation begins with a section on the United Nations’ 17 Sustainable Development Goals. (SDGs). A book by fellow keynote speaker, Professor Alan Maley is introduced. The book presents a wide range of creative language teaching activities for the various SDGs. A poem Maley wrote for the book is recited. The poem argues that in addition to teaching language, English and other language teachers also have an obligation to teach topics related to the SDGs. They should not confine themselves to what traditionally have been considered language basics, such as grammar, pronunciation, and vocabulary. The second and longest section of the presentation discusses three of the many ways that language impacts the SDGs. These are:
- Growthism vs Less Is More
- Native Speakerism vs Use of Native Languages
- Use of the Relative Pronoun Who with Nonhuman Animals
Conference participants are invited to contribute their experiences and views during and after the presentation.
