Presentation Title:
Content Based Language Instruction to Promote Peace and Conflict Resolution: Teacher Training for Activism
Presentation Options: Onsite
Presentation Strand: PD
Presentation Delivery Language: English
Description:
Where civil unrest and challenges to self-determination exist, Content-Based Language Instruction can provide opportunities to empower teachers to become peace and conflict-resolution advocates. Providing professional development to teachers who work in remote areas sheds light on how using content to teach language can be utilized as a tool to create learning experiences that contribute to students’ worldviews and prepare leaders of the future. This method allows for the exploration of content areas that can create parallels to more challenging or dangerous topics, empowering teachers and students through “subversive” teaching.
Abstract:
Where civil unrest and challenges to self-determination exist, Content-Based Language Instruction (CBI) can provide opportunities to empower teachers to become peace and conflict-resolution advocates. Working with Burmese teachers who are part of the civil disobedience movement against the military junta’s 2021 coup shed light on how using content to teach language can be utilized as a tool to create learning experiences that contribute to students’ worldviews and prepare leaders of the future. This method allows for the exploration of content areas that can create parallels to more challenging or dangerous topics, empowering teachers, and students through “subversive” teaching. This is an era in which a need for active citizens exists regardless of the country where one is living. We face challenges in the USA on subjects that are allowed in class and books that are allowed in our libraries. This session will provide parallels on how teachers can still play an active role in civic engagement training regardless of external limitations placed upon them. The presentation will provide a synopsis and case study of training provided to displaced Burmese (Myanmar) teachers and teacher trainers in Thailand. The method of instruction provided rich discussions on difficult topics including social/emotional well-being and trauma. It also explored the creation of CBI units that promote content and language learning, with the additional component of teaching through historically parallel content that will not directly incriminate teachers.
Presentation Types: Academic-50m
Target Audience: P-20
Primary Presenter's Telephone: 7656239474
Confirm your Participation: Yes I will present
