What if we viewed our communities’ linguistic diversity not as a problem to be solved, but as an invitation to listen more deeply to what each of us has to say and to use our collective gifts to work towards the common good of all? Listening Without Borders is that kind of invitation.
How can the Listening Without Borders approach help community leaders working in multilingual settings?
How can its ethical principles be translated into practical approaches for creating environments where all feel heard and supported?
How can we use linguistic diversity of our communities as a resource for collaboration, curiosity and civic care?
If these questions matter to you, take a look at our professional development offer. We’d be delighted to welcome you.
Professional Development Offer
Building Communities in Multilingual Environments: Foundation Workshop
This experiential one-day workshop is suitable for professionals working in and with multilingual communities, especially in settings in which the language of specific groups has been historically marginalised. The workshop will help you to understand how ideas about language can shape, often negatively, societal perceptions and community relations. You will immerse yourself in the actual multilingual realities of your own communities and neighbourhoods and reflect, in collaboration with others, on practical possibilities for actively re-shaping these perceptions. You will be guided through the Listening Without Borders approach to develop creative ways of using communities’ linguistic diversity as a resource for building spaces where everyone belongs. Read a blog that describes the recent workshop experience.
Listening Without Borders Slovakia Community Webinar Series
Our network is informed by collaborative research which brings researchers, educators, and community members together in an ongoing conversation. Our meetings are guided by the principles of the Listening Without Borders approach to help us to listen to experiences that are different from ours, ask ourselves and each other good questions, and build connections to sustain us in our day-to-day practice of supporting students in our multilingual classrooms, schools and communities. The current series is aimed at participants in Slovakia, please register your interest if you’d like to join. Use the same button to tell us if you’d like to join an international community webinar series (in English) or if you would like us to help you with setting up a Listening Without Borders Community Webinar Series in your country.
NEW: Listening Without Borders Slovakia Community Pilot Labs
We are constantly developing new tasks and materials that can respond to the specific needs of those we work with. We are now launching a new series of Community Pilot Labs, where you and your community (school, after-school club, arts organisation, community centre, etc.) can participate in developing, piloting and evaluating new approaches in your own setting. Participation is by invitation only. To be invited to take part, please register your interest and tell us as much as possible about your work, your organisation, your community and how participating in this professional development opportunity would be of benefit. Successful applicants will be contacted with further information. The current series is aimed at participants in Slovakia. Please use the same button to register your interest if you’d like to join a future Community Pilot Lab in your country.
What People Are Saying
“Workshop som vnímala ako miesto, kde sa viacero pestrých ľudí na chvíľu zastavilo vo víre každodenných rutinných vecí a nastavení; a dokázalo pracovať a premýšľať nad podstatou, ktorá nás spája. Viacerí sme podľa mňa vystúpili z komfortnej zóny, ale zároveň cítili, že to má zmysel a vedeli sme prekonať aj chvíľkové trápnejšie momenty, keď treba ísť ‘s kožou na trh’. Celkový dojem a myšlienka akéhosi vykročenia k druhým mi ostali silno v pozadí všetkých úvah a aj pri lekciách a plánovaní mi to pomáha mať viaceré aha-momenty na pamäti a nachádzať aktivity, ktoré zúčastnené strany ľahšie prepoja.”
— Ľudmila Ténai, Cesta von, lektorka a autorka materiálov
“The workshop was the place where a group of people from diverse backgrounds took a moment to reflect in the whirlwind of everyday routines and attitudes and worked and thought together about what connects us. I think many of us have stepped outside of our comfort zones but at the same time felt it was worth it and that it was possible to overcome momentary discomforts to stick our necks out. The overall idea of some sort of walking towards others has stayed with me and remains in the background of all my reflections. It is helping me, when planning my lectures, to pay attention to the various aha moments from the workshop and when I search for the kinds of activities that can connect the participants.”
“Prostredie, v ktorom pôsobím, je jazykovo aj kultúrne odlišné, a práve to ma veľmi baví. Rada sa učím nový jazyk, objavujem nové súvislosti a skúmam nielen samotnú reč, ale aj to, čo sa deje, keď prijímame, akceptujeme a podporujeme kultúru ľudí z iného prostredia. Verím, že je to cesta k vzájomnému porozumeniu a napredovaniu. Niekedy mi však chýba možnosť zdieľať tieto skúsenosti s ľuďmi, ktorí by im rozumeli, a preto bolo pre mňa stretnutie v Košiciach také výnimočné. Už len byť medzi ľuďmi na rovnakej vlne, cítiť bezpečie, spoznávať nové veci, stretnúť známe tváre a zachytiť čriepky príbehov iných – to všetko bolo veľmi silné. Veľmi som si to užila a hlboko precítila. Celý deň bol pre mňa obohacujúci, inšpiratívny a zostane vo mne ešte dlho. ĎAKUJEM.”
— Ivana Berilová, Cesta von
“The place where I work is linguistically and culturally diverse, which is what I enjoy. I like learning new languages, discovering new connections and I love not only examining the language itself but also what happens when we accept and support the culture of people from diverse backgrounds. I believe that is the pathway towards mutual understanding and advancement. But I sometimes lack opportunities to share these experiences with people who would understand, which is why the meeting in Košice was so unique. Just being among people on the same wavelength and feeling the safety in which to discover new things, see familiar faces and capture the fragments of the stories of others - it was all so powerful. I enjoyed it tremendously and it touched me very deeply. The whole day was enriching, inspirational and I will carry it with me for many days to come. THANK YOU.”
“Budovanie komunít bol jeden z najkrajších workshopových zážitkov. Páčilo sa mi, ako bol vyskladaný, páčilo sa mi, že sme boli hneď od začiatku vtiahnutí priamo do komunity a budovania vzťahov. Všetko išlo ľahúčko vďaka piesni a podpornej, prijímajúcej atmosfére. Každá aktivita mala niečo do seba, páčilo sa mi počúvať človeka, ktorý rozpráva svoj príbeh aj ho potom prerozprávať- ‘prekresliť’ do našej spoločnej komunitnej knihy, páčilo sa mi rozprávanie príbehov v skupinách a zoznamovanie s ostatnými ľuďmi. Budem nesmierne rada, keď v podobných aktivitách budeme pokračovať a tvoriť ich spolu.”
— Tereza Gálová, Človek v ohrození
“Building communities was one of the most beautiful workshop experiences. I liked the way it was put together, I liked how we were brought into the community and relationship building from the start. It all went so smoothly also thanks to the song and the welcoming atmosphere. Each activity was powerful, I liked listening to the person who was telling their story and then also retelling it or rather redrawing it into our community book, I like the sharing of stories in our groups and getting to know others. I will be truly happy to carry on with these activities and continue shaping them together.”