Teaching for a Better World: Cultivating Social-Emotional Learning in English Language Pedagogy

Transforming classrooms into spaces of connection, well-being, and hope 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.