Episode 65: Developod Episode 65 - Embracing colleagues & learners as a supportive Mentor/Communicator with Dr Harry Kuchah Kuchah

About this episode

Dr Harry Kuchah Kuchah discusses his journey in English Language Teaching and the importance of mentorship and community in education.

Helen and Dr Harry Kuchah Kuchah reflect on his lifelong ELT journey, beginning with helping classmates in Cameroon and moving through roles as a primary-teacher educator, UK-based researcher, Ministry of Education policymaker, IATEFL President, Chair of the British Council’s English Language Advisory Group, and Director of the University of Birmingham’s MSc TESOL programme, where he also mentors four PhD students in multilingual education. Guided by the Ubuntu idea that “I am because you are,” he values community and collective work. Harry notes that ELT is becoming more context-sensitive and globally connected, and he advocates for deeper engagement with multilingualism and how languages enrich one another. Seeing language as a tool rather than a product, he argues for assessment that recognises meaningful, culturally situated communication instead of standard RP norms. Though he never sought leadership, relationships led him there, and he views education as a calling rooted in care, mentorship, and human connection. Harry at the University of Birmingham: https://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/education/staff/profile?Name=dr-harry-kuchah-kuchah&ReferenceId=206555 Harry’s…

People in this episode

Host: Helen

Guest: Dr Harry Kuchah Kuchah

Topics covered

• mentorship
• multilingual education
• community
• language assessment
• ELT

Keywords

• Ubuntu
• context-sensitive ELT
• culturally situated communication

Mentioned in this episode

Products: MSc TESOL programme

Books & works: Our World Connected

Places: Cameroon, UK, Manchester

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