• how to get the meaning
across?
• literal meaning
v non-literal?
• multiple meaning?
• translation
- a false friend?
• connotations?
culturally defined?
• synonyms/antonyms?
• appropriacy:
style & register?
• appropriate guide to meaning?
It's World Refugee Day
on June 20th. Wherever you live these days the plight
of refugees is an issue. Here's what the UN says:
'A place to call home: Rebuilding
lives in safety and dignity - In 2004, World Refugee Day
will focus on the search for, and implementation of, durable
solutions for refugees. Based on the theme, "A place
to call home: Rebuilding lives in safety and dignity",
UNHCR will look at the challenges and hopes that accompany
refugees in their search for a new home through voluntary
repatriation, local integration or resettlement.'
'I urge you to
celebrate the extraordinary courage & contributions
of refugees past & present.'
Kofi Annan - United Nations Secretary General`
For the following activities you will
need to get the material at these two links:
a. The
2004 World Refugee Day 2 page Leaflet - pdf download
b. And
the Amnesty International Refugee roleplay
- the rolecards are below
A procedure:
1. Introduce the idea of World Refugee
Day on June 20th through the introduction from the UN
about & the Kofi Annan quote. You could do this as
a dictogloss activity for higher
levels. Elicit local attitudes to refugees.
2. Brainstorm the lexical area, building
up a spidergram on the board, getting the students to
explain the words they offer.
Refugee, displaced person, exile,
asylum seeker, refugee camp, boat people, asylum, transit
camp……..
Get all to copy the spidergram down
& clarify any problems.
3. Handout the leaflet, explaining
it is about the 2004 Day. Looking just at the headings:
New Land, New Life
The solution for durable Solutions
Rebuilding Lives in Safety & Dignity
Coming Back
Putting Down Roots
Students discuss how these headings
are related to the plight of refugees.
4. Students read quickly to see if
their ideas are in the leaflet.
5. Comprehension task - get the students
to write 6-8 questions about the content of the leaflet
(this is only a Tip, after all) - give them an example
if needed. Go round & help out, correcting any errors
in their questions - they could do this in pairs.
6. Students swap questions for each
other to answer - feedback to each other to check.
7. Discussion - any points they dis/agree
with? Eg what do they think of the idea of encouraging
refugees to return home as one of the durable solutions?
8. Roleplay - See the
material in the Amnesty roleplay.
Set the roles, giving out the ideas'
cards & in groups they think of more arguments they
could use. See the
roleplay for alternative ideas - it is written for
native English speakers so have a think about what kind
of language your students will need to carry out the roleplay.
The
situation |
| "It is a dark, cold
and wet night on the border between X and Y. A column
of refugees has arrived, fleeing from the war in X.
They want to cross into Y. They are hungry, tired
and cold. They have no money, and no documents except
their passports. The immigration officials from country
Y have different points of view - some want to allow
the refugees to cross, but others don't. The refugees
are desperate, and use several arguments to try to
persuade the immigration officials." |
Monitor & take notes for feedback on language used.
|
| Immigration
officers' arguments and options:
You can use these arguments and any
others you can think of:
- They are desperate, we can't send
them back.
- If we will send them back we will
be responsible if they are arrested, tortured
or killed.
- We have legal obligations to accept
refugees.
- They have no money, and will need
state support. Our country cannot afford that.
- Can they prove that they are genuine
refugees? Maybe they are just here to look for
a better standard of living?
- Our country is a military and
business partner of country X. We can't be seen
to be protecting them.
- Maybe they have skills which we
need?
- There are enough refugees in our
country. We need to take care of our own people.
They should go to the richer countries.
- If we let them in, others will
also demand entry.
- They don't speak our language,
they have a different religion and they eat different
food. They won't integrate.
- They will bring political trouble.
Before the roleplay, think about the
following options:
- Will you let all of the refugees
across the border?
- Will you let some across the border?
- Will you split them up by age,
profession, wealth...?
- Will you do something else
instead?
|
| Refugees'
arguments and options: You
can use these arguments and any others you can think
of:
- It is our right to receive asylum.
- Our children are hungry, you have
a moral responsibility to help us.
- We will be killed if we go back.
- We have no money.
- We can't go anywhere else.
- I was a doctor in my home town.
- We only want shelter until it
is safe to return.
- Other refugees have been allowed
into your country.
Before the roleplay, think about the
following options:
- Will you split up if the immigration
officers ask you to?
- Will you go home if they try to
send you back?
|
There's a lot of material around that
a quick search on Google uncovers - a couple of links:
World
Refugee Day 2004 Posters Campaign
Listen
to Refugee Voices in Real Audio Read Testimonials from
Refugees
