Kinsella Valies

Island Insights: Unveiling Challenges and Dreams of Future Language Teachers in Curaçao

Larger island nations like Japan have numerous universities. Smaller islands like Nauru (21 km²) in the south-pacific offer university courses while Curacao (444 km²) in the Caribbean features a university that educates language teachers. This presentation examines challenges faced by outer circle students, offering insights for teacher trainers. It focuses on future non-native language teachers at the University of Curaçao, Dr. Moises Da Costa Gomez, based on surveys and interviews with first-year and graduated students. The presenter will discuss Curaçao’s multicultural aspects, introduce the university, present demographic data of local student teachers, and delve into their experiences. The presentation aims to provide a vivid portrayal of students’ lives, aspirations, and challenges. Drawing from personal experience as a multilingual, non-native English as a Foreign Language (EFL) teacher, the presenter seeks to engage the audience in reflecting on their teacher training and study abroad experiences, inviting them to share insights on enhancing the preparation of future language teachers, and to help problem-solve global non-course related challenges.

Biodata: Kinsella Valies is an assistant professor at Jissen Women’s University and Aoyama Gakuin University, Japan. She holds a Masters in Applied Linguistics from the University of Limerick, and has published articles on speaking assessment, teaching and assessing with film and TTRPG, motivation, and teacher supporting students. She is also co-author of the chapter Black Women’s Ibasho – Creating a Space of Belonging in Multilingual Matters’ New Perspectives on Language Education, Reimagining Dialogue on Identity, Language and Power (2023).