Navigating a new language in a new land

Salma Hassan, BA (Hons) Education, London Metropolitan University  “It’s really emotional for me because I see European people with blue eyes and blonde hair being killed”  Arab News (2022)  Ali has arrived from Afghanistan   Ali has arrived from Afghanistan, leaving everything he has ever known behind. Embarking  on a new journey in a new land in hopes of a prosperous future. It was the devastating conflict that lead Ali’s family to flee Afghanistan. The United Kingdom … Read more

The Role of Home Languages in Education: An Asset or Barrier? 

Sholah Ahmadi, BA (Hons) Education, London Metropolitan University  As I was wandering the streets of my neighborhood in Walthamstow, London, I decided to take a brief detour before heading home. It had been a long day of work, and so I decided to stop by a coffee shop (also known as Costa Coffee, many of your londoners might know … Read more

Breaking Barriers: Adult English Learning in Spain and Social Justice

    Paola Elizabeth Perez Garcia, BA (Hons) Education, London Metropolitan University “Understanding a language is not just about knowing words; it’s about understanding people” Dabbling and Language Inequality In Spain, speaking English is seen as a golden ticket opening doors to better jobs, travel, and global connections. But mastering English isn’t always simple. One major … Read more

Multilingualism in UK Schools – A Resource, not a Barrier 

         Maria Bahnari, BA (Hons) Education, London Metropolitan University  Walk into any UK secondary school today, and you’ll likely hear more than just English. From Polish to Punjabi, Arabic to Albanian, UK classrooms reflect a rich mosaic of languages spoken by students from all over the world. This linguistic diversity is a defining feature of 21st-century British education. Yet, despite its … Read more

Language Inequality in Education – A Personal Journey Through Multilingualism and Research

Erona Jaha, BA (Hons) Education, London Metropolitan University “What does it mean to not be able to fully express yourself in the classroom?”  When I moved to Kosovë at the age of nine, I was faced with this very question. Although I spoke Albanian at home, I quickly realised that speaking a language and learning … Read more

Promoting emotional wellbeing for pupils with autism and severe intellectual disabilities: Education Cafe Talk

Karam Bhogal – London Metropolitan University Karam Bhogal, Senior Lecturer in Education (SEND), talked about his Doctoral research focussing emotional well-being of children and young people on Autism Spectrum and Severe Intellectual Disabilities on Tuesday, 18th November 2025. Karam’s talk focussed on the perceptions of school practitioners regarding interaction and the promotion of emotional wellbeing … Read more