Supporting Refugee Women in English Classes: Culturally Responsive TESOL Strategies
Tuesday 25 August 2026 4:30pm – 5:30pm AEST, Online
This professional development session explores the unique challenges faced by refugee women learners in English classes across Victoria. Participants will examine how cultural, social, and linguistic factors affect learning and engagement. Drawing on culturally responsive pedagogy, translanguaging strategies, and inclusive TESOL practices, the session provides practical tools to enhance participation, confidence, and empowerment for refugee women. Through case studies, interactive activities, and classroom examples, attendees will develop strategies to design lessons that respect learners’ backgrounds while fostering language development and social inclusion. This session addresses a critical gap in professional learning, offering teachers actionable approaches to support refugee women in both community and formal English language programs.
Speaker
Dr Seham Shwayli is a PhD-qualified TESOL educator, lecturer, and researcher with over 30 years of experience in EAL teaching across community programs, TAFE, and university settings. She has supported refugee and migrant learners as a volunteer EAL teacher and has worked with Chisholm Institute and Melbourne Polytechnic as an EAL teacher in SEE and Tutor Scheme programs, as well as a cultural guide in collaboration with Save the Children.
Dr Shwayli is an active researcher in refugee women’s education, with publications in VicTESOL and international journals, focusing on language learning, empowerment, and culturally responsive pedagogy. Currently a Lecturer in TESOL at La Trobe University, she trains pre-service teachers in inclusive and culturally responsive EAL practices, integrating trauma-informed approaches, translanguaging strategies, and empowerment-focused teaching to support refugee women in achieving language, participation, and social inclusion outcomes.
She is also an active community advocate, including work with SHAKTI Organisation and Hampton Park Secondary College, and is a member of VicTESOL and the Language & Society Centre at Monash University.
Cost
$15 – VicTESOL members (including members of other state TESOL associations)
$40 – Non-members
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Please note: VicTESOL is a not-for-profit organisation. Your registration ensures we can continue to offer high quality professional learning. Registrations are per participant.
Terms and conditions
Purchasing a ticket buys the participant the right to the live online session. Registration is not to be shared with any other person who has not purchased a ticket.
A Certificate of Attendance will only be provided to participants who attend the live session.