iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Julia Snell @snelljulia.bsky.social · 03/06/2026

Thanks Clare! I enjoyed reading your position paper with Ian, and am looking forward to seeing you at the workshop on 17th!

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Julia Snell @snelljulia.bsky.social · 03/06/2026

eprints.whiterose.ac.uk/id/eprint/24... eprints.whiterose.ac.uk/id/eprint/24...

eprints.whiterose.ac.uk

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Julia Snell @snelljulia.bsky.social · 03/06/2026

If you’re interested in school oracy, I’ve put together a policy brief & framework for shaping oracy education that benefits all children & young people. They set out principles for socially just oracy, a possible framework to embed this approach, and policy recommendations. See links in comments.

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Julia Snell @snelljulia.bsky.social · 20/03/2026

What a fantastic day at the #SpeakingSummit2026! I didn’t manage to take many photos but here’s one of the fabulous Sonia Thompson who was both inspiring and hilarious (as was journalist, @cocobyname.bsky.social)Thanks to @voice21oracy.bsky.social for organising & inviting me to speak

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Julia Snell @snelljulia.bsky.social · 20/03/2026

An early start for me today to get to London for @voice21oracy.bsky.social Speaking Summit. Really looking forward to talking to and hearing from fellow oracy enthusiasts. My talk is at 1.30 if you’re gonna be there. Come say hello!

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Julia Snell @snelljulia.bsky.social · 19/03/2026

Opportunities like this to speak to amazing teachers are a highlight of my job. Hope to see some of you in the Wirral!

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Voice 21 @voice21oracy.bsky.social · 10/03/2026

But what is dialogic teaching, and how does it work in practice? You can learn more by reading @snelljulia.bsky.social's Introduction to dialogic teaching and learning 👇 voice21.org/dialogic-tea...

voice21.org

An introduction to dialogic teaching and learning - Voice 21

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Julia Snell @snelljulia.bsky.social · 16/02/2026

Join me at The Speaking Summit 2026 on Fri 20th March. I’ll be part of a fantastic line-up of oracy experts, hosted by Voice21, gathering to explore how to take the government’s commitment to oracy forward. My session on ‘Overcoming Barriers to Dialogue’ is at 1.30pm. Hope to see you there!

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Julia Snell @snelljulia.bsky.social · 09/12/2025

I'm happy to share a recording of my inaugural lecture on 'Language Diversity & Social (In)Justice' for anyone who missed it and is interested or who watched online and found that the slides weren't working (which has been fixed in the recording). Feel free to share: www.youtube.com/watch?v=SgEa...

youtube.com

Julia Snell Inaugural Lecture: Language Diversity and Social (In)justice

YouTube video by Leeds AHRI

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Julia Snell @snelljulia.bsky.social · 26/11/2025

Are you a primary teacher/leader interesting in applying oracy education in a socially just and inclusive way? Join me for a workshop in January. Attendance is free & you will receive £30 as recognition of the expertise you bring. See link for more info & booking: forms.office.com/e/TBLZHgkWfn...

forms.office.com

Microsoft Forms

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Reposted by Julia Snell

Voice 21 @voice21oracy.bsky.social · 25/11/2025

“Pupils who experience dialogic teaching and learning will develop their oral language skills, gain confidence and build relationships (by becoming more patient and attuned to others’ perspectives)". Read more on dialogic teaching and learning here 👇 eu1.hubs.ly/H0pZBNx0 @snelljulia.bsky.social

eu1.hubs.ly

An introduction to dialogic teaching and learning - Voice 21

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Julia Snell @snelljulia.bsky.social · 19/11/2025

Lots of talk about oracy since the Curriculum & Assessment review, so I’m resharing the Oracy Commission's Speaking Volumes publication. There’s a piece from me that outlines 3 ideas schools might want to think about in their discussions around oracy oracyeducationcommission.co.uk/wp-content/u...

oracyeducationcommission.co.uk

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Julia Snell @snelljulia.bsky.social · 12/11/2025

Thanks Alex! And thanks for coming. It was lovely to see you there

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Julia Snell @snelljulia.bsky.social · 12/11/2025

Thank you for coming and bringing your fab students!

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Reposted by Julia Snell

Voice 21 @voice21oracy.bsky.social · 12/11/2025

⭐We can’t wait for the inspiring @snelljulia.bsky.social's inaugural lecture “Language Diversity and Social (In)justice” taking place today. An event to both learn from and undoubtedly to acknowledge Julia’s thought-leadership 👇 www.ticketsource.co.uk/university-o...

ticketsource.co.uk

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Julia Snell @snelljulia.bsky.social · 10/11/2025

Yes! I’ll DM you the details

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Julia Snell @snelljulia.bsky.social · 05/11/2025

One week today! Join me for my inaugural lecture on 12th Nov. If you won’t be in Leeds, you can join online (dm me for Teams link)

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Julia Snell @snelljulia.bsky.social · 21/10/2025

Hi Elisabeth, I’ve added your email to the Teams invite, which hopefully you have received?

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Julia Snell @snelljulia.bsky.social · 14/10/2025

Hi, yes of course. I’m going to follow up on some organisational aspects this week, including the online set up, so I hope to have the link soon

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Julia Snell @snelljulia.bsky.social · 14/10/2025

If you won’t be in Leeds, we’re hoping to livestream and record. Drop me a message if you’d like the link

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Julia Snell @snelljulia.bsky.social · 14/10/2025

Please join me on 12th November at my @universityofleeds.bsky.social professorial inaugural lecture on ‘Language Diversity and Social (In)justice’. More info here, including a link at the bottom to book a ticket (which is free but we need to track numbers): ahc.leeds.ac.uk/english/even...

ahc.leeds.ac.uk

Professor Julia Snell's Inaugural Lecture: 'Language diversity and social (in)justice'

Drawing on research conducted over 20 years, Prof. Julia Snell interrogates the assumption that modifying children's speech will lead to educational success and social mobility.

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Julia Snell @snelljulia.bsky.social · 13/09/2025

Looking forward to connecting with teachers & colleagues today at this conference. ‪@iancushing.bsky.social‬ and I will be imagining futures of linguistic justice (tho I’ll be the Debby Downer talking about deficit perspectives first…)

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Reposted by Julia Snell

Voice 21 @voice21oracy.bsky.social · 23/07/2025

📣 2 years ago, Sir Keir Starmer pledged to embed #oracy in the curriculum. Today, a coalition of parliamentarians, education experts & schools are calling on him to deliver on that pledge. Read the letter here: voice21.org/open-letter/

voice21.org

Open Letter to the Prime Minister - Voice 21

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Reposted by Julia Snell

Voice 21 @voice21oracy.bsky.social · 04/07/2025

According to @snelljulia.bsky.social: “Pupils who experience dialogic teaching and learning will develop their oral language skills, gain confidence and build relationships (by becoming more patient and attuned to others’ perspectives)." Read full article here 👇 voice21.org/voice-21-lau...

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Julia Snell @snelljulia.bsky.social · 03/07/2025

Thanks. Would love to hear your thoughts if you do!

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Ian Cushing @iancushing.bsky.social · 03/07/2025

me and @snelljulia.bsky.social are doing a joint keynote at this UKLA/NEU conference, talking about futures of linguistic justice and designing linguistically just schools 💜 www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/literacy-i...

eventbrite.co.uk

Literacy in Primary Classrooms Conference

Join the NEU and UKLA for our Literacy in Primary Classrooms Conference!

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Julia Snell @snelljulia.bsky.social · 02/07/2025

And thanks to @iancushing.bsky.social for feedback on an early draft and for general encouragement, collegiality and inspiration!

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Julia Snell @snelljulia.bsky.social · 02/07/2025

It is crucial that we develop this approach in educational research and build an ethnographic evidence base that can challenge deficit thinking and better inform educational policy and decision making.

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Julia Snell @snelljulia.bsky.social · 02/07/2025

Linguistic ethnographic research is important in leading this change. It rejects universalizing assumptions about students and seeks to understand the complex and intricate ways in which local classroom practices connect with the wider institutional and sociopolitical order.

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Julia Snell @snelljulia.bsky.social · 02/07/2025

However, ideologies & educational reforms do not influence classroom practice in a linear ‘top down’ way; there is negotiation in classrooms between bottom-up meaning making processes & broader institutional and socio-political processes, which opens up possibilities for change.

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Julia Snell @snelljulia.bsky.social · 02/07/2025

These three mechanisms have relevance beyond the focal schools since they are underpinned by widespread beliefs/ideologies about underprivileged students and systemic pressures (e.g. frequent student testing, league tables) that influence classrooms internationally.

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Julia Snell @snelljulia.bsky.social · 02/07/2025

Yet, in peer-group conversations recorded on the margins of classroom activity, these students showed themselves to be mature and independent thinkers with a propensity for dialogue.

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Julia Snell @snelljulia.bsky.social · 02/07/2025

Student characteristics (e.g. laziness), behaviour (e.g. not listening), or (lack of) ability were invoked as reasons for their lack of understanding or missed learning opportunities, thus obscuring the need for institutional or systemic change.

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Julia Snell @snelljulia.bsky.social · 02/07/2025

Third, in line with neoliberal accountability logics, students at the Lower SES school were held responsible for education failures.

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Julia Snell @snelljulia.bsky.social · 02/07/2025

The Lower SES school prioritised compliance and rote following of procedure over independent student thinking. The students were perceived to be immature, lacking in ability, and prone to disobedience; thus, their voices, bodies & behaviour were micromanaged.

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Julia Snell @snelljulia.bsky.social · 02/07/2025

Second, there were competing approaches to managing classroom roles, routines & relationships. Students in both schools were expected to show respect for the teacher, but boundaries between teacher and student were more clearly demarcated and enforced at the Lower SES school.

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Julia Snell @snelljulia.bsky.social · 02/07/2025

At the Higher SES school, there was space for students to participate in classroom talk, but at the Lower SES school, student talk was actively discouraged and often met with reprimands and punishment, which had enduring effects on students.

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Julia Snell @snelljulia.bsky.social · 02/07/2025

Close analysis of classroom interaction across both schools identified three mechanisms driving disparities in student participation. First, there were different assumptions about the purposes of classroom talk and how students should participate.

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Julia Snell @snelljulia.bsky.social · 02/07/2025

Prior research has attributed similar disparities to students’ social class backgrounds and perceived deficiencies in their communicative abilities. However, the article challenges this deficit thinking and demonstrates the need to attend instead to the classroom context.

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Julia Snell @snelljulia.bsky.social · 02/07/2025

Quantitative analysis revealed significant disparities in student talk time between the two participating schools, with students in the Higher Socioeconomic Status (SES) school contributing substantially more to whole-class discussions.

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Julia Snell @snelljulia.bsky.social · 02/07/2025

Drawing on linguistic ethnographic research in two socioeconomically differentiated primary schools, this article investigates why dialogic discussion is more readily available to some groups of students than others and how we can disrupt this problematic dynamic.

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Julia Snell @snelljulia.bsky.social · 02/07/2025

The talk children encounter at school has consequences for their learning. Children who participate in ‘dialogic’ classroom discussions do better than their peers who have not had this experience. Yet, such talk is relatively rare in schools serving underprivileged students.

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Julia Snell @snelljulia.bsky.social · 02/07/2025

New research published in @languageeducation.bsky.social, available open access here (tinyurl.com/bdf262jp) and a short thread on the work below. Many thanks to the reviewers & editors for their feedback and to @leverhulme.ac.uk for funding support.

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Julia Snell @snelljulia.bsky.social · 02/07/2025

Fantastic resource providing a series of ‘talking points’ to support schools on their oracy journeys. Happy to have contributed a piece on why dialogic classrooms are so important for learning. I’d love to here what you think 👇

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Julia Snell @snelljulia.bsky.social · 17/06/2025

We were very lucky to have an inspiring talk from @lucyjones.bsky.social at @universityofleeds.bsky.social yesterday. If you want to know how to conduct effective intersectional analysis, read her book when it’s released later this year. Mine is on preorder! www.bloomsbury.com/uk/language-...

bloomsbury.com

Language and LGBTQ+ Youth

This book takes a queer linguistic and intersectional approach to the analysis of young LGBTQ+ people's identity constructions, showing how their language use r…

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Julia Snell @snelljulia.bsky.social · 07/05/2025

It was a privilege to be at the inaugural lecture of my colleague @cgregoriou.bsky.social this evening, which included a theatrical adaptation of the memoirs of a Greek Cypriot sergeant in the British Army during WWII. Fantastic stuff!

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