DISE Language Education Soirée Celebrates Students and Faculty
On November 20, 2024, undergraduate and graduate students from diverse Language Education programs at McGill's Department of Integrated Studies in Education (DISE) marked the end of another successful term. The DISE Language Education Soirée, held bi-annually, brought together students and faculty for an evening of community building, collaboration, and fun at McGill’s Faculty of Education Learning Commons. Over pizza, snacks, and games, participants engaged in informal and enriching discussions about research, teaching, and future projects.
Organized by two students in the Masters of Second Language Education program, Kiana Kishiyama and Sihem Youbi, the soirée this year had excellent opportunities for networking and a fun language jeopardy game. Kishiyama noted: “Sharing ideas and insights with colleagues can help push your work and research to the next level! I’m always thankful for my colleagues’ perspectives.” For Sihem, the jeopardy game had language related questions and added a fun twist to the event as. In her view, students “need to meet and engage with their professors and colleagues outside of their classes to strengthen their sense of belonging to McGill and our community! The Language Education Soirée has now become a tradition!”
Professors argue about the importance of knowledge building and connections outside of the classroom and fully support this student-led event. “This is so good for the students’ morale, and for ours too,” shared Associate Professor Mela Sarkar. Assistant Professor Pengfei Zhao, a critical qualitative methodologist, added, “The soirée is a vital opportunity for us to strengthen our community—We do this not only by learning and researching together but also by sharing laughter and creating cherished moments with one another.” Because language is the theme that is of interest to all of the students, they tend to inspire one another, develop collaborative work and envision projects together, said Angelica Galante, Associate Professor and Director of the Plurilingual Lab.
For many students, the soirée offered a much-needed break from their academic routines. John Wayne dela Cruz, nearing the completion of his PhD in Educational Studies – Language Acquisition, expressed, “This event provides opportunity and space for us students to gather in a non-academic and less formal environment, where we can chat, laugh, and relate about the joys and woes of PhD-ing, which tend to be isolating once you finish your coursework!” Lin Kang, a student in the Bachelor of Education in Teaching English as a Second Language, highlighted the importance of these events for fostering professional connection: “The soirée allowed us to develop meaningful ties with our diverse community. I loved learning more about my colleagues and finding connections between our individual differences and our shared passion for language education.”
DISE undergraduate and graduate students specializing in Language Education bring a remarkable diversity of linguistic and cultural backgrounds to the department. Students from different language programs get together, exchange ideas and inspire one another. United by their passion for teaching and learning languages with a commitment to inclusion, social justice, and equity, these students embody the spirit of DISE.
