DeStance is an international online learning platform designed with a mobile first approach, whose objective is to develop linguistic strategies for inclusive and non discriminatory communication, developing linguistic strategies for an inclusive society.

The platform focuses on critical stance literacy, that is, learning to recognise how language expresses epistemic positions, how knowledge and certainty are presented, emotional positions, how feelings, empathy or distance are expressed, and effective positions, how language promotes values, judgements and possible actions.

DeStance aims to:

• raise awareness of how racism, xenophobia and bias appear in everyday language and in the media
• offer accessible, research based training to strengthen intercultural communication
• provide practical tools to reflect on one’s own language use
• measure learning progress through questionnaires and reflective activities 

  

How does DeStance work?

The platform is organised as a progressive four step learning pathway:

1. Initial assessment and registration, to identify the learner’s starting point
2. Diagnostic questionnaires, which help identify linguistic usage patterns
3. Training through micro courses, micro MOOCs, with interactive activities, quizzes and guided tasks
4. Progress measurement and results, with visual and reflective reports

Learning is structured around a de centring pathway:

• epistemic, how knowledge is constructed in discourse
• emotional, how empathy or distance towards other people or groups is expressed
• effective, how language reflects values, positioning and orientations towards action

DeStance also incorporates AI assisted formative feedback, which provides personalised metalinguistic comments on language use, as well as a teacher dashboard that allows monitoring both individual and group progress.

The platform is free, accessible, designed according to digital accessibility standards, and provides a certificate of completion.