When Emotions and Tensions Run H.O.T.

Increasingly, international educators find themselves party to tense interactions involving students in classrooms, at home and abroad, and in a variety of other learning and engagement settings (e.g., in transit between destinations, fieldwork, internships, excursions, homestays, etc.). If left unaddressed, these encounters can damage relationships and erode trust among educators, local partners, host nationals, as well as students. For some, such interactions can serve as triggering events surfacing unresolved experiences, deep held beliefs and/or collective traumas that challenge educators' composure, facilitation, and intercultural skills.

As educators, most of us aren't trained as mental health professionals or in conflict resolution, and it is important to recognize the limits of our knowledge and roles as educators when conflicts or tense moments occur. At the same time, there are important roles for educators to play in these situations as coach, mentor, and guide.  

Sometimes tensions and conflict may create opportunities for growth and learning, encouraging students to practice perspective taking and suspend judgement. It is vital that we build our capacities to work with students and partners to shift unteachable moments in to teachable ones.  H.O.T. moments may be one approach that can you can use to work with learners to recognize, process and respond to topics that are difficult, perplexing and offensive.

H.O.T. Moments

Generative Conflict & Civic Skills Development

The acronym H.O.T. refers to moments that are Heated, Offensive, and/or Tense. The term “hot" moments is often used as a catch all term for challenging or difficult interactions. In educational settings involving interactions among students, educators, and host nationals, H.O.T. moments provides a resource for educators to use to critically appraise a situation and align their responses with the context.

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​In education abroad, relationships form the foundation for learning, connecting students, educators, and community members across diverse settings. However, conflict is an inevitable part of these relationships and can serve as a powerful catalyst for growth and understanding. When navigated thoughtfully, conflict provides opportunities for dialogue, deeper trust, and the development of shared solutions, ultimately enriching the educational experience for all involved.

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OUR GOAL IS TO CREATE OPPORTUNITIES FOR STUDENTS TO PRACTICE VOCABULARY, CONCEPTS AND SKILLS THAT "MOVE THEM INTO HUMILITY, OPENNESS, AND ANALYSIS RATHER THAN CERTAINTY, REBUTTAL, OR REFUSAL."

SENSOY & DIANGELO (2015)

Continue Exploring Teaching and Learning with The Forum:​

• Educators as Learner and Leaders
• Education Abroad as a High-Impact Practice (coming soon)
• Critical Reflection (coming soon)
• Where’s the Learning in Education Abroad? (coming soon)
• Assessment & Evaluation (coming soon)
• Syllabi & Educator Resources