In the field of Communications, we can study how people talk. We can ask an important question: What tactics of conversation enable us to learn about people’s identities in a diverse population? To learn about people’s identities is to really see people. When people are seen and known, in environments such as work or university, we are practicing inclusion.
In the future, I intend to do research on the topic of “conversation” and how it can create fulfilling learning about diverse populations. I would study, in particular, conversations by and about the identities of Lesbian, Gay, Bi, Trans, Queer, Two Spirit and Intersex people. I request the help of workshop participants to design the primary research. Together, we can talk about the merits of researching different tactics of conversation such as using honesty phrases or leading questions, using symbolism, or language that produces roles, such as “good student”, “queer but approachable person”. With workshop participants, we can do the following in small break-out groups and as a whole:
1. Learn more about discourse analysis (what people say);
2. Determine which parts of conversation should be observed of who, where, when and how;
3. Suggest how to translate findings to teaching
