How much difference should there be? Diversity in textbook and classroom

Abstract

From Zwarte Piet and slavery to transgender athletes at the Olympic Games: diversity is a hot topic in the social debate. What about the representation of gender and ethnic diversity in textbooks? Should it be better? And how? Twan Zegers works as a Dutch teacher at Charles University in Prague and is involved in DO IT, a study on diversity in Dutch textbooks.

In this article he writes about how he tried to make more room for diversity in his lessons. And how he succeeded - or maybe failed?

Keywords

• Diversity
• Teaching materials
• Research
• Dutch as a second language
• didactics
• Intercultural communication