Do I include political content in my language classes?
Teachers often ask me; and ask themselves.
But the answer is not that simple.
First, we must accept that teaching is a political act.
There is no neutral, unbiased teaching.
Simply, because teachers are human beings.
We carry with us lots of conscious and unconscious baggage.
The unconscious baggage is often difficult to unpack, no matter how smart you think you are.
But what about our conscious political views?
Do we need to bring them into the classroom?
Not necessarily.
Before doing so, ask yourself a few questions:
Are your students intellectually and emotionally ready for this kind of content?
Did they request it? Or is it your choice?
Sometimes students are just too young.
Other times, the political content is so sad that it can easily change the mood of everyone in class if not done with care and tact.
For Arabic language teachers who are native speakers, many of their countries have gone through, and continue to go through, terrible and traumatic experiences.
By bringing this kind of content to the classroom, we can collectively live and re-live the trauma.
So it is not an easy decision.
And there is yet another thing to remember:
Sometimes, our battle is not our students’ battle.
If, after all, you decide to bring political content into your classroom, do it intelligently, with care, and keeping in mind first and foremost: your students.
(Photo by AFP – Lebanon)
