Teaching for Change: Inclusion,Voice, and Transformation in ELT

What do inclusion, technology, identity, and teaching abroad have in common? They all ask teachers to reflect on their practice and to make choices that create more welcoming, human, and meaningful classrooms. In this issue of New Routes, we bring together voices that show how English language teaching can promote fairness, give visibility to different experiences, and support learning that matters in the real world.

In the cover topic, Experiencing Diversity and Inclusion, Cintia Rodrigues shares powerful stories and reflections about teaching students with disabilities and neurodivergence. She reminds us that being inclusive is not just about adapting activities — it’s about truly understanding the people we teach. Cintia encourages teachers to learn more about how the brain and body work, listen to the voices of disabled people, and become more curious and open in our daily practice.

We continue with the article Understanding Transgender Issues for Queerer Education, by Anico Perfler. Anico is a travesti English teacher and writer who speaks honestly about the challenges trans people face in Brazil and in education. Her article is a strong call for action, showing how language teachers can use their lessons to help students question unfair ideas and stand up to transphobia.

Our interview section brings something new to this issue. Instead of talking to just one person, we invited four Brazilian teachers working in different countries to share their stories. In Brazilians Teaching Abroad, we hear from Almencina, Eduardo, Jefferson, and Leandra about their experiences in Portugal, Colombia, and the UK. Each of them has followed a different path, but they all talk about the joys and difficulties of teaching in new cultures, learning from their students, and finding their place as L2 English-speaking professionals. This new format gives our readers more than one perspective on the same topic—and we hope to repeat it in future editions.

Finally, Elivelton Domingos explores the topic of Artificial Intelligence in the article The Impact of Generative AI on the Teaching Practices of English Teachers.

His article illustrates the numerous ways AI tools can support learning but also highlights the risks and inequalities we must be aware of when using them. He argues that teachers still play a key role in creating ethical, inclusive classrooms where students feel motivated and respected.

We hope this issue inspires you to ask important questions, to try something new, and to connect with the people and stories behind the lessons. There is no single way to teach well — but listening to diverse voices can help us all teach better.