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The Learning Experience – Du, Sie, and the “Universal”: Translating UDL Across Cultures

CAST: The Learning Experience, featuring logo illustration with a doodle of a brain attached to a microphone.

Du, Sie, and the “Universal”: Translating UDL Across Cultures

Episode Title: Du, Sie, and the “Universal”: Translating UDL Across Cultures

In this episode, guests Stewart Campbell and Lukas Fehling explore why translating CAST UDL Guidelines 3.0 is never “just language”, it’s culture, identity, and what Stewart Campbell calls a linguistic habitus. They unpack the real-world tension between the informal “Du” and formal “Sie” in German-speaking academic contexts where “distance equals neutrality” and how UDL’s focus on intentionality (not uniformity) creates room for authenticity and multiple pathways to engagement.

The conversation then shifts to the grassroots momentum behind the emerging UDL network for German-speaking countries, the surprising weight of cross-country administrative startup work, and practical advice for anyone hoping to build a connected UDL community in their own region.

Hosts:
Luis Pérez
Bryan Dean

Guest:
Stewart Campbell
Lukas Fehling

Access the episode with transcript on YouTube

Checkout the podcast on Transistor FM

Podcast Episode Resources

CAST: The Learning Experience, featuring logo illustration with a doodle of a brain attached to a microphone.

The Learning Experience Podcast

Join hosts Kelli Suding, Luis Pérez, and Bryan Dean as they bring you inspiring conversations and real-world examples of breaking down barriers to learning. Each episode of The Learning Experience brings you inspiring conversations with educators, students, families, and inclusive education leaders who share practical tips, proven strategies, and real-world examples of how to break down barriers and create equitable learning experiences for everyone.

Check out previous episodes