4D, 5A AND 6A DISCUSS AND PROCESS THE RUSSIA-UKRAINE CONFLICT

BEITRAG VON MAG. PATRICK KLAUS PLATZGUMMER

The modern English classroom has become a place where teachers can also go off-script sometimes, facilitate a discussion about controversial topics and give students a better understanding of current events. As the Russian-Ukrainian war escalates, its impact is reverberating in Austrian school hallways; students are hungry for knowledge and have questions that urgently need to be answered.

5A and 6A were particularly keen on veering away from the English textbook and into the Russia-Ukraine conflict. Exploring a range of different perspectives and news bulletins, learning how to balance sources of information and understanding the political-historical background were primary goals of this teaching unit. A small research project, open conversations and reading activities resulted in a series of posters and infographics. A selection can be found below.

4D also dealt with this sensitive subject in the English classroom. Learners got to grips with the Russian full-scale invasion and reproduced knowledge by creating own podcasts. This little research project clearly showed that also younger students are, in fact, capable of nuanced thinking, and are curious about (inter)national politics, current affairs and global issues. If you have become interested in listening to these podcasts, please click on this link: https://tinyurl.com/yckkue4e