INTERNATIONAL RESOURCES
Linking continents
Young people in
the Democratic
Republic of
Congo (DRC) are
the focus of a new modern
SCIAF
languages teaching
Photos:
Congo calling: Images from the recently
resource for pupils learning
published SCIAF French resource, including
Aimee and Joseph (above)
French in the UK. The
people are more socially aware and socially responsible
resource enables contact
than they used to be. But with this we can say the work
we do in class involves the same people we’re talking
between young people
about in the news.”
Given the real-life and international nature of Citizens
of the World the resource and supporting materials can
in the UK and Africa and
be used in other subjects, including geography, history,
modern studies, iCt, and citizenship.
promotes global citizenship
Catriona Oates of the Scottish Centre for information
and Language teaching (SCiLt) has also endorsed
across a range of subjects.
Citizens of the World.
She said: “it provides real opportunities to engage
and exchange with young French-speaking adults,
David Taylor explains
and raises awareness of current events in DRC. the
opportunity to investigate, debate, collaborate and
analyse across all stages of secondary school gives
hen it comes to teachers the platform to develop these skills in a
W
international development it relevant and meaningful way.” SecEd
can often seem like a one-way
street with wealthy countries
Further information
always providing support to to view the online video wall, visit www.sciafyouth.
developing countries. org.uk/congo and to obtain a copy of Citizens of the
however, young people World – Life in the DRC, which costs £9.95, call 0141
living in Bukavu, the capital city of the South Kivu 354 5555 or email youth@sciaf.org.uk
province in eastern DRC, are showing that they have a
lot to offer in a new modern languages teaching resource channels that expertise into a resource which promotes
developed by the Scottish Catholic international Aid modern languages and global citizenship by linking the
Fund (SCiAF). learning experience to real people and real issues in a
Citizens of the World – Life in the DRC (Citoyens Francophone African country.
Du Monde – La Vie en RDC) includes an online video “Learning a language is a vital tool for bringing
wall, featuring Aimee and Joseph, two Congolese young people from different cultures together. the
teenagers, talking in French about their lives and the resource also demonstrates that young people in
issues that affect them. developing countries have a major contribution to make
Different versions of the videos are provided with to the lives of their counterparts here in the UK.”
and without english/French subtitles to give flexibility the fact that the DRC has been in the news in recent
in the classroom. there is also an interactive blog to months, following an upsurge in fighting in north Kivu
enable young people in both countries to communicate between rebel forces and the Congolese army which
directly with each other. left 250,000 people displaced, makes the resource
the online resources are backed by a 59-page all the more topical. in her blog, Aimee gives her
teacher’s guide complete with a DVD-Rom which perspective on the conflict. the ability of pupils in the
includes the videos and lesson ideas and encourages UK to ask Aimee questions relating to what they hear
pupils to think about global citizenship and how they on the news gives the resource added value and is an
can be the agents of change in the world. the guide also incredible opportunity for them, Mr Sharp added.
includes photographs, background information, and the questions being asked by pupils at Calderglen
links to external websites relating to the DRC. high School in east Kilbride also include some more
the SCiAF works in over 20 developing countries down to earth issues.
providing practical support for communities in the One pupil said: “i want to know what her town’s
areas of sustainable livelihoods, peace-building, and like, what her school’s like, what her plays and stories
reducing hiV and AiDS. the organisation also works are like.”
to raise awareness at home of the many issues facing A classmate added: “i want to know what her family
people living in developing countries. are like and how she lives on a day-to-day basis.”
John Sharp, the SCiAF’s schools officer, believes Calderglen high was one of a number of schools
that Citizens of the World combines the organisation’s which worked with SCiAF to ensure the resource was
international development expertise with a new way of suitable for both teachers and their students. Feedback
learning French, which he hopes will tap into young from young people at the school has been positive so
people’s ever-increasing interest in global issues. far with another pupil adding: “it’s really fun. it makes
“i know from visiting schools virtually every week French much more interesting.”
of the year that pupils are really fascinated by the lives tony McDaid, headteacher at Calderglen high sees
of young people in developing countries and the global the benefits of working with the new resource: “this is
issues that affect us all. they tell me that they want to about global awareness, making a real-life connection.
Marston Robing Ltd is proud to introduce our Children’s Graduation
know what they can do to get involved. Sometimes that’s been a limitation of the traditional
Gown collection. We are the only UK Robemaker supplying graduation
“SCiAF has a great deal of experience working in curriculum model – that you don’t see the relevance.
international development and Citizens of the World if it’s only tokenism there’s no point in doing it. Young
gowns for children of all ages. Our gowns are available in a choice
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We currently have many
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Please call +44 (0)1264 339703
or visit www.marstonrobing.com
SecEd • April 23 2009 15
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