Dissertation: Teaching ethical dialogue in university English language education can promote sustainable development and student well-being

What did you study?

I investigated students’ experiences of an elective English language course focusing on workplace communication, in which they practiced ethical interaction, collaborative thinking, and collective action drawing on David Bohm’s dialogue philosophy. The study was based on a qualitative analysis of students’ experiences and reflective accounts. In addition, students’ psychological flexibility and life satisfaction were measured. The findings were examined through the frameworks of sustainable development and well-being.

What were the findings of your research?

The study demonstrates that practicing dialogue in a foreign language is not merely a linguistic or communicative matter; it may also have broader implications for well-being and sustainability. At the core of Bohmian dialogue are deep listening, awareness of one's own assumptions, and an appreciation of diverse perspectives. The findings indicate that dialogue fostered students’ sense of inclusion, meaningfulness, psychological safety, and the development of ethical interaction skills.

How can the findings be applied? What new knowledge did the research contribute?

The findings can be applied broadly in language education across different proficiency levels and educational contexts. A Bohmian dialogue orientation and the cultivation of its associated virtues can be integrated into language teaching in multilingual groups and across different disciplines. The results showed that students’ understanding of ethical interaction in a foreign language was strengthened when language and language proficiency were not themselves the subject of assessment. The dissertation provides new insights into the potential of language education to serve as a platform for promoting well-being, agency, and responsibility in higher education.

The public examination of Lic.Phil. Mirja Hämäläinen’s doctoral dissertation in Education (Teacher Education) entitled Ethics, Sustainable Development, and Well-Being in Language Education: Practicing Bohmian Dialogue in English as a Lingua Franca will be held on Saturday, 14 November 2026, at 12:00 noon at the University of Jyväskylä. The opponent will be Dr Crystal Green (University of Helsinki), and the custos will be Senior University Lecturer Matti Rautiainen (University of Jyväskylä).

The defense will be held in English.

The public defense can also be followed online via Moniviestin.

Take a look at Mirja Hämäläinen’s disseration.

Further information:

Mirja S. Hämäläinen
mirja.s.hamalainen@student.jyu.fi