Jean Kaya
Dr. Jean Kaya is an Assistant Professor in Language and Literacy Education at the University of Windsor. He is a multilingual scholar and teaches language and literacy courses in the Faculty of Education. His aim is to equip future educators with the tools to effectively address the challenges and capitalize on opportunities of increasingly diverse classrooms and communities. Dr. Kaya’s research program investigates pre-service teacher education with the goal of promoting multilingualism, equity, diversity, and inclusion in the teaching profession. He draws on scholarship in the areas of language learning, intercultural learning, identities, and critical literacies. Dr. Kaya has presented at numerous conferences and written over twenty journal articles and book chapters.
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Navigating Bilingualism: Power, Identity, and Imagined Futures
In this keynote address, Dr. Jean Kaya will delve into the sociocultural dynamics of bilingualism and the responsibility that language educators bear in shaping the future of bilingual or multilingual communities. Drawing on his work from different contexts, including the United States of America, the Republic of Congo, Colombia, and Canada, Dr. Kaya will unpack how bilingualism is intertwined with the dynamics of power, identity construction, and imagined futures. For many individuals, speaking more than one language (i.e., bilingualism or multilingualism) can transform their future significantly. For example, it can create a wider range of opportunities regarding personal or professional connections, career, and intercultural learning and understandings. From this lens, bilingualism plays a critical role in shaping not only communication but also sociocultural dynamics. By addressing these dynamics, Dr. Kaya’s keynote address is aligned with the conference theme of The Different Faces of Bilingualism. He will emphasize the cultural component of bilingualism and related challenges and opportunities. Dr. Kaya will also talk about monolingualism as one of the faces of bilingualism. After discussing the urgent need for decolonizing bilingual education, especially in contexts where historical and linguistic inequalities persist, Dr. Kaya’s keynote will focus on the importance of viewing bilingualism as a vital tool for personal and collective growth in multicultural communities, despite the unequal distribution of power which is often embedded within the politics of bilingualism. The talk will conclude with the role of educators in fostering inclusive spaces that celebrate linguistic diversity, as bilingual learners can construct their identities and imagine new futures and possibilities based on their bilingualism or their languages as resources. In the concluding remarks, Dr. Kaya will share strategies for promoting bilingualism in ways that support linguistic pride, linguistic diversity, and empowerment of bilingual individuals.
