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Jun 2024
34m 17s

The power of language in difficult times

BRITISH COUNCIL
About this episode

Discover how language learning can enhance well-being, unite communities, and support people displaced by conflict.

Marie Delaney, educational psychotherapist and teacher, joins host Christine Wilson to share inspiring stories of resilience from her work with refugees and displaced peoples worldwide. Together, they explore how language learning can serve as a catalyst for rebuilding lives.

We also visit Warsaw, Poland, where Zhanna Sevastianova tells us about her work in making the teaching and learning of English more trauma-sensitive, inclusive, and safe for students and teachers in Ukraine.

Join us for compelling stories and an insightful conversation about the transformative power of language.


Ahead of our last episode of this series with our Chief Executive Scott McDonald, we’d like to hear from you. 

What burning questions do you have about the topics raised in this series that you’d like us to discuss in that episode? 

If you’re listening to us on Spotify, you can comment your question. And if you’re listening on a different platform then send us your question by emailing ⁠researchglobal@britishcouncil.org⁠ by Sunday 18 August. We’ll choose a few to discuss in that final episode


Dive deeper:

Read Marie’s Language for Resilience report - https://www.britishcouncil.org/sites/default/files/language_for_resilience_report.pdf 

Learn more about Marie’s work at Trauma Responsive Education - https://trauma-ed.com 

Explore Zhanna’s Teaching and Learning in Difficult Times course and project - https://www.britishcouncil.org.ua/en/teaching-and-learning-in-difficult-time 

Find out more about Zhanna’s work in helping English language teachers in Ukraine to lead professional communities in their schools - https://www.britishcouncil.org.ua/en/programmes/english/schools/switlo

Follow British Council Research and Insight:


Newsletter – https://www.britishcouncil.org/research-insight/subscribe 

Twitter – https://twitter.com/InsightBritish 

Website - https://www.britishcouncil.org/research-insight 



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