Page 23 - ELG1704 Apr Issue 446

IATEFL NEWS

Bring the world

into your class

Linda Ruas explains how global issues can inspire students

ASKED one of my Esol can be quite difficult to contain
students – a retired neuro- them. Learners who find out
surgeon from Syria – what it about Fairtrade and sustainabil-
would take to make the world ity might then become activists
a fair
I er place. ‘Only through themselves, developing their
education,’ he said, ‘can we English and independent study
change the future. Only by dis- skills far more in the process.
cussing and understanding other Artists make bold statements
people’s worlds can we find that try to change the world and
solutions.’ As his teacher, I was the way people think – look at
quite proud of his inversions! As Banksy’s new ‘Walled-Off Hotel’
a human being, I agreed with his in Bethlehem or Ai Weiwei’s
words. ‘Sunflower seeds’. Language
In the Iatefl Global Issues teachers have a similarly respon-
SIG we recognise that we are all sible role. How can we do that
world citizens, English is a global if we leave politics and global
language and teachers have a very justice out of our classes?
important role to play. What we At our Global Issues pre-con-
do affects the rest of the world, ference event at Iatefl Glasgow,
and what happens in the rest of kindly sponsored by the British
the world affects us. We have to Council and New International-
include some content to con- ist, we’re looking at ‘English in
textualise the language we teach an unstable world’. It’s impos-
and often find that published sible to ignore the real world of
materials present a consumerist refugees, polarised opinions and
Eurocentric view of the world, increasing inequality, so we’re
which we might not want to training courses that they topics, our lessons could be bland, boldly showing how we can as
perpetuate. So let’s think carefully shouldn’t bring their own decontextualised and meaningless. teachers help with the global
about the message we communi- opinions into class. Personally, How can we teach critical thinking issues themselves and bring
cate. Every one of us can make a I’d feel like an empty shell if I if we don’t bring topics into class those same issues into class. We
difference – and we as teachers didn’t, and believe that my pas- that learners can be critical about? want teachers and learners to
can reinforce this message by what sions and interests and the idea How can we inform and safeguard be actively involved. We want
and how we teach. that I might be helping to make our younger learners if they don’t teachers to develop and share
So which of the many and the world a slightly fairer place know that child slavery still exists? their passions for many different
varied global issues can we bring are the main things that motivate We can take our teaching to a issues, share material and
into class? Some teachers prefer me to continue teaching after whole new level by raising aware- support each other on projects.
the ‘softer’ global issues, espe- more than thirty years. ness about these issues as well as Come and see what others are
cially those who teach children: It might be that we’ve been teaching English. doing, and discuss what more we
sharing, kindness, happiness and conditioned by course books. We can empower women by can do together!
empathy. Others use hard-hit- Publishers usually avoid PARS- celebrating International Wom-
ting, contentious, often shocking NIPs (politics, alcohol, religion, en’s Day and help stop bullying Linda Ruas has taught and
issues such as land grabs, funda- sex, narcotics, -isms and pork), at LGBT awareness events. We trained teachers in Brazil and
mentalism and organ-trafficking. for understandable reasons. Of can reduce water use on World Japan and now teaches Esol and
We do, of course, need to know course we need to be sensitive, Water Day and value inspiration- Celta courses at a London FE
our learners and assess the suit- and we mustn’t get learners or al figures like Nelson Mandela college. She also runs the Easier
ability of the topic and how they schools into trouble or place and Malala instead of the normal English wiki for New International-
will respond. anyone in danger, but if we always diet of celebrities. And after we ist and is joint coordinator of Iatefl
Teachers are often told on avoid all these more controversial bring global issues into class, it Global Issues SIG

24 April 2017

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