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On 10th October 2007 St Mary’s BEd 4 and
PGCE students took part in the second Global Dimension conference
of the year. The conference The Opportunities and Challenges of
Teaching in Ethnically Diverse Classrooms in Northern Ireland
gave participants the chance to discuss and learn about issues
related to the ever-changing face of the Northern Irish population.
The day started with a talk led by Bronagh Crummey-Bryan of The
Cultural Exchange. As a teacher of English as an Additional Language
involved in cultural awareness training in ethnically diverse
classrooms in Northern Ireland, she spoke about personal experiences
and provided practical techniques to promote diversity as a positive
educational development. Students were also challenged to think
about their own expectations and assumptions about what it will
mean to be a teacher in classrooms where a variety of ethnic backgrounds
are represented. Following this, workshops were held giving students
the opportunity to learn more about specific organisations dealing
with these issues in Northern Ireland and the experiences of those
involved. Workshop organizations included the Indian Community
Centre, NICCY, Belfast Islamic Centre, The Chinese Welfare Society
and St Mary’s Primary School, Divis Street. A plenary session gave
participants the chance to share what they had taken away from
the workshop experience.
 
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