The languages we speak and the empires we embrace: addressing decolonization through the gaze of the empire
Paula Ambrossi (UCL IOE)

‘The home of the empire cannot be decolonised. Ignoring the empire’s continuing power is what sustains the colonial gaze and what constitutes decolonization’s greatest obstacle. By employing a poststructuralist framework (Foucault, 1980), this paper explores notions of power and knowledge in education through language and the gaze. To illuminate discussions, I make use of some of the historical context necessary to understand the spirit and the tragedy of empire, with its language as principal instrument, as well as some of the literary aspects (Magical Realism and poetry) that have been used to gaze at the colonized and redeem the conqueror.’ 

Paula Ambrossi is lecturer at the Institute of Education, University College London. Her experience as a Modern Foreign Languages teacher in Secondary education, followed by almost twenty years as tutor and researcher in Primary Teacher Education, has allowed her to reflect and write on topics related to foreign language pedagogy and philosophy of education. Coming from Santiago de Chile, Paula arrived in UK in 1988 and has thus been able to experience different educational systems and think critically on the continuing impact of empire (both the Spanish and the British) on our corresponding social and educational identities.’