Book

Description

What happens when students are empowered to co-create their learning experiences and challenge traditional norms? The Art of Possible explores the transformative potential of critical pedagogy and literacy in an English language course at a higher education institution in Oman. It introduces an alternative curriculum centered on socially contextualized themes, position questioning, and innovative strategies, fostering critical awareness, empathy, and engagement with diverse perspectives. This study, grounded in action research, captures the voices of students and teachers in a vocabulary and reading-focused module. Through interviews, focus groups, observations, and reflective diaries, it highlights the challenges and successes of implementing a critical intervention. Key findings reveal students’ desire to shape their education, often expressed through resistance, emotional attachment, or silence, and a shift in their perspectives toward greater awareness of social issues and empathy. Teachers often linked readiness for critical pedagogy to advanced language skills, while students connected it to their personal interests and emotional engagement. The research showcases how critical pedagogy is not a rigid framework but a dynamic process shaped by its participants. Students reported growth in language abilities alongside an increased understanding of global issues, demonstrating the potential of critical literacy to inspire meaningful change. This book provides valuable insights into student-centered approaches, emphasizing the possibilities of critical pedagogy to create transformative, learner-driven educational experiences. It addresses the challenges and opportunities of this approach, offering a roadmap for educators, researchers, and policymakers looking to reimagine English language education.