JEDI Workshop - What’s in a name?

The Center for Equity & Excellence in Teaching & Learning invites faculty and tutors to participate in the JEDI Workshop: What's in a Name?, a hands-on pronunciation workshop designed to help educators confidently and respectfully pronounce the names of their students and tutees. Held on September 2, 2026, from 12:00 to 1:00 p.m. in Library LIB 242 (available both in person and via HyFlex), this interactive session will focus on names commonly found in Chinese, Hindi, Thai, and Vietnamese languages. Participants are encouraged to bring their class rosters and practice name pronunciation with experienced language coaches Hana Arnold, Sudha Krishnamoorthy, Perry Udomwadhanaphorn, and Trang Tran. Attendees will learn the sounds and pronunciation patterns of each language, gain familiarity with common male, female, and non-binary given names, and develop confidence in pronouncing frequently used family names. Led by Dr. Robert Kohls, Associate Professor of English/TESOL, through the Pronunciation Awareness Project, this workshop offers a meaningful opportunity to foster a more inclusive, welcoming, and equitable learning environment where every student's identity is acknowledged and respected.