finding the "hook": engaging in english with anh do
DESCRIPTION
TeachMeet presentation, presented at TeachMeet Asia in April 2014, and the Asia Education Foundation National Conference, in June 2014.TRANSCRIPT
#ASIAED14FINDING THE “HOOK”: ENGAGING STUDENTS IN ENGLISH AND ASIA WITH ANH DO
- Perspective - Empathy - Refugee Experience
Lisa Edwards – HT Welfare Bossley Park High @raisingxplorers
CONTEXT – BOSSLEY PARK HIGH
Big multicultural school in south-west Sydney
Wide and varied cultural backgrounds, including refugees
Limited empathy for the refugee experience – particularly asylum seekers coming via boat
Limited perspective of life outside Bossley Park
OUR GOALDevelop a Year 9
English unit that:Explores the concept of
perspectiveBuilds empathyAddresses the Cross-
Curriculum Priority – Asia and Australia’s relationship with Asia
Addresses elements of the AC general capabilities
INSPIRATION There’s a lot of great
work out there already:Paula Madigan and Viviana
Matiello’s presentation at ETANSW Conference 2013 – “No Turning Back”
Billabong High teachers’ DEC unit “In Their Position”
Lots of other resources available
THE UNIT – “BEYOND BORDERS”
Week 1: Refugees and what we know
Week 2: Modelling critical thinking about refugees – UNHCR resources, newspaper articles, MediaWatch episode
Week 3: Where do you stand? Perspective… Go back to where you came from
Week 4: Different voices on refugee issues
Week 5:Refugee voices
WHY ARE REFUGEE VOICES LAST?
Rethinking the unit
What will really engage Year 9 students in this issue?HumourSomeone they can
relate toA recognisable
character
Lisa E
dw
ard
s - @ra
isingxplo
rers
SHOW THEM…On YouTube:
Anh on Adam Hills in Gordon St Tonight (7 mins)
Anh on Pictures of You (16 Mins)
Refugee experience told using humour, anecdotes
Life in Vietnam, history
READ… “The Little Refugee” Excerpts from “The
Happiest Refugee” Visual literacy Humour Historical context Empathy Refugee experience Physical survival Hope Friendship Intercultural understanding
JIGSAW ACTIVITY:
Meaningful discussion… Each group researches one of the following:
1. Vietnam War, background and other relevant historical context
2. Experiences of “boat people” from south-east Asia3. Australian attitudes towards south-east Asian refugees
at the time4. Vietnamese culture and traditions5. Australia’s relationship with Vietnam during Vietnam
War, post-war, and today6. Vietnam today
Members from each group come together to share responses.
PERSPECTIVE / EMPATHY Were Anh Do and his
family justified in seeking asylum?
What do we know about asylum seekers today?
Where are they coming from?
Why are they fleeing? Is their experience any
different to Anh Do’s family?
READING, VIEWING, AND BLOGGING
Focus on asylum seekers/refugees today: Newspaper articles UNHCR resources Go back to where you came from Political commentary / materials
Blogging responses: Allows for further exploration of ideas
and “discussion” in a safe online environment – writing for a real audience, and practice providing meaningful feedback to each other.
Edmodo, Edublogs, Moodle, Weebly
DIFFERENT VOICES Speaking assessment No “essays on legs” AC – assessment FOR
and AS learning Panel discussion:
Host Member of humanitarian
org Refugee/asylum seeker Immigration Minister Detention centre worker
Self and Peer assessment
CREATIVE WRITING
