When it comes to telling our students about some very famous and important figures that made History the challenge is
HOW CAN WE TRY TO ENGAGE THEM AND HELP THEM UNDERSTAND THE IMPACT THAT THOSE MEN/WOMEN HAD IN THE PAST AND STILL HAVE TODAY?
Has it ever happened to you to talk about somebody with as much passion and excitement as possible and look at your students and have the impression that they think you are coming from Mars... that you are some sort of an alien who talks about something which was in the past and has nothing to do with the present and the time they are living now?
Well... it has to me.
So this year we tried to change thing a little bit, and not just as regards the English language. Each teacher had to choose one or two figures that made History and are considered important for the subject they teach. Each "historical VIP" was assigned to one student. Each student had to read and study this man/woman, write down a few questions and answers and perform the interview in front of the rest of the class. During the live interviews, students had to pay attention and take notes. All the interviews have been recorded and shared with the students.
Needless to say, this project made History come to life again.
As regards my subject, I chose two girls to represent Rosa Parks and Emmeline Pankhurst.
I gave them two books to read and work on.
These are the videos of their interviews. I was so proud of these two girls for working so hard on this project. They showed linguistic competence in reading, understanding and speaking. I asked them and their parents permission to post their videos on my blog and also to use their interviews for future students. I think this is a wonderful way to foster culture and History learning.
ps: In the Rosa Parks video there is a mistake. It should be "let me have those seats ( and not sits)". Please forgive me but I realized it once I was looking at the final video but I could not change it anymore.
Thank you,
Miss Alex
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