Responding to pushback (Teach for Change 6/6)

When we bring certain themes into the classroom we may not always get a positive response. A learner may sigh or roll their eyes. A parent might ask, why are you teaching this? Even colleagues can question, is this really school material? Pushback happens. The key is not to argue but to respond calmly and with clarity. #TeachingEnglish #ELTcpd #britishcouncil #elt #englishteacher #professionaldevelopment #socialjustice #videoseries #inclusiveeducation Before viewing Reflect on the questions and discuss with a colleague if possible. Have you ever received pushback from learners, parents or other teachers when you discussed certain topics in class? What happened? How did you respond? Look at the six tips below. For each one, think of how these might help to deal with pushback. Clarify the purpose Link to curriculum Emphasis inclusion, not politics Invite dialogue, not confrontation Set boundaries with learners Take your time While watching Make a note of the advice given in each tip For the answers to these activities and related resources, check out our website: https://www.teachingenglish.org.uk/professional-development/teachers/managing-lesson/responding-pushback 00:00 – Understanding pushback 00:30 – Clarifying the purpose 00:46 – Linking to the curriculum 01:03 – Emphasising inclusion, not politics 01:22 – Inviting dialogue, not confrontation 01:55 – Setting boundaries with learners 02:30 – Taking time to respond 02:47 – Modelling respectful dialogue and resilience Subscribe here: https://www.youtube.com/@BritishCouncilTeachingEnglish TeachingEnglish website: https://www.teachingenglish.org.uk/ Connect with us! Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/teachingenglish.britishcouncil/?hl=en Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TeachingEnglish.BritishCouncil X: https://x.com/teachingenglish?lang=en