In this episode of Hear Us Out, Cooper interviews Dr. Ryuko Kubota, a renowned researcher from the University of British Columbia, who challenges us to rethink what 'good English' really means. The team explores the fascinating world of World Englishes and why exposing students to diverse varieties of English isn't just beneficial—it's essential. Dr. Kubota shares insights from her latest projects, including a compelling documentary and animated series that bring scholarly research out of academia and into the hands of teachers and students. Through stories and examples, she illustrates how our perceptions of English speakers shape both teaching and learning, and why embracing linguistic diversity makes us all better listeners. Whether you're a language educator or just curious about how English is evolving globally, this episode offers fresh perspectives on making language learning more inclusive and effective.

Timestamps:

[00:00:00 ] Opening
[00:01:11 ] Show Introduction & Theme
[00:04:07 ] Interview Begins with Dr. Kubota
[00:04:53 ] Dr. Kubota's Background at UBC
[00:06:46 ] World Englishes Documentary Project
[00:08:09 ] Knowledge Mobilization and Public Scholarship
[00:11:31 ] Defining World Englishes and the Three Circles
[00:13:50 ] Race, Racism and Anti-Racism in Language Education Book
[00:19:16 ] "Your English is So Good" Research Project
[00:24:19 ] Dr. Kubota's Message About Listening to Diverse Englishes
[00:25:42 ] Host Discussion Begins
[00:27:27 ] Teaching Different Varieties of English
[00:30:21 ] Decolonization Context in Language Teaching
[00:34:09 ] Experiences from English Language Schools in Japan
[00:40:00 ] Knowledge Mobilization and the Ivory Tower
[00:42:00 ] Resources and Materials from Dr. Kubota
[00:44:04 ] Show Outro

Resources mentioned:

• World Englishes Voices in Canada: blogs.ubc.ca/worldenglishesincanada and on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCBH1SQwcLxW_7dRF_A0aPDA


• Your English Is So Good animations: blogs.ubc.ca/raciolinguistics


• Race, Racism and Anti-Racism in Language Education (Routledge, 2024)