Integrating the Ideals of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusivity in My Teaching

By Anton T. Brinckwirth, Ph.D.

I use film and media to present relevant social justice issues from the Spanish-speaking world through powerful and moving stories presented from cultural, linguistic, and moral perspectives. Multimedia is an ideal instructional aid for learning world languages because it develops interpretive and presentational competencies in the target language (L2). My pedagogical goals are to spark lively discussions about the film themes, induce critical thinking, and foster the conditions for transformative learning. When I empower students to articulate their views on various social justice topics and issues, it gives them insight into the principles of diversity, equity, and inclusivity.

In the first half of the course, we explore Latin American Cinema titles that poignantly reveal the consequences of inequality, racism, and corruption in Latin American communities. The films show the devastating impact of extreme poverty and lack of opportunity. The thought-provoking themes of the films motivate students to speak Spanish in class with more confidence.

Each film is treated as a self-contained unit with relevant cultural and thematic vocabulary lists and engaging language activities. Learners need these instructional supplements to critically analyze the plot, characters, themes, and cultural references. Ultimately, they will learn to articulate their views on the issues and topics presented in each film. In analyzing these social justice topics, students will understand the importance of advancing diversity, equity, and inclusion; in life, in the workplace, and the classroom.

To further develop communication, cultures, connections, comparisons, and communities in my classes, I pair each student with a vetted language partner, a peer learner who speaks the target language (L2) natively and studies EFL at a university abroad with comparable L2 proficiency. Students view the same films and prepare for the virtual exchanges using the same translingual materials. I cooperate with the instructors and staff at the partner school to design and implement each session with translingual vocabulary lists, structured task-based activities, and clear learning targets to be achieved through collaborative performance and project-based activities.

In the second half of the course, we turn to the cinema of Spanish filmmaker, Pedro Almodóvar, to confront centuries-old stereotypes that lead to the demonization and mistreatment of women, gays, and transgender people. In Almodóvar's Todo sobre mi madre (1999), the main characters lead sad and dysfunctional lives, but they exemplify the virtues of acceptance, authenticity, and selflessness.

The film repeatedly reminds us to never to judge a book by its cover. The secondary characters are more polished in their appearance. However, behind the façade, they are stunningly intolerant self-serving people. Almodóvar wants viewers to see bald-faced bigotry and hypocrisy contrasted with acts of humility, generosity, and kindness. The film shows how judgmental and cruel people can be, but also reminds us that forgiveness, decency, and compassion are also human qualities. These are precisely the  values I want to exemplify when addressing content and themes related to historically marginalized and underserved populations in the Spanish-speaking world. 

Another Almodóvar masterpiece ideal for teaching about women's empowerment and the unbreakable bonds between mothers, daughters, and sisters in Spanish culture is Volver (2006). The film's themes confront the realities of gender inequality, "machismo," and the abuse of women in a traditionally patriarchal society. The women characters in Volver are portrayed as survivors, not victims. Despite their flaws, they are still savvier, wittier, stronger, and more resilient than the uninspiring male characters in the film. Volver is a tragic and complicated story, but Almodóvar delivers it gracefully with humor and sensitivity.

Through the main characters' personal plights and problems, he shows that family, friends, culture, and food nourish and enrich our lives more than anything. In Volver, forgiveness and redemption are intertwined.