M3 - Globalisation and Citizenship – Henrik’s lessons

On Friday 20th we had a Globalisation and Citizenship lesson with a new teacher – Henrik.
He started the lesson with giving everybody a very cold stone to hold as tough as possible during next couple of minutes…Oh! It was freezing so much (he had cooled it in a box of ice before). And the explanation which was coming later?
The stone was as a person in troubles (cold) – and it should show us that sometimes it HURTS to help, to keep somebody warm.
The question from Henrik was: Are you ready to give, to help, to pay costs – not only receive? --- It was a pretty good, touching and therefore unforgettable example of the basis of citizenship – not only to GET, but also to GIVE. I liked that “practical” example very much!

Then we started to work in groups with Obama´s inauguration speech – finding key words of citizenship. We were going to work with them more in a following lesson too. Unfortunately I had to leave this lesson earlier, because I was having an appointment at a chiropractor with my back…

For Monday 23rd we should prepare presentations about “How is citizenship taught in our country”. Then we were watching and discussing some stories and songs connected to citizenship – for example: Earthsong by Michael Jackson, Where is the Love by Black Eyed Peas and Shawshank. Some interesting ideas from this lesson:
“Sitting in front of TV is better than playing computer games”. (Computer games are often based on killing, hurting other people... On the other hand, you can find quite a lot of social messages in TV series and films such as Baywatch, Superman and Armageddon…)
We also spoke about balance between
-globalization vs. nationalism
-rights and duties
“You have no rights without duties, and no duties without rights”.

And a notice from Shawshank film: “Freedom can be also between walls, freedom is in your mind”.
I think it can be good idea to speak during a language lesson with pupils more about the meaning, deeds and consequences of behaviour in some TV and music scenes; to discuss the social message in them. In my opinion the topic of citizenship and democracy can be used in language lessons quite a lot…
To speak more about freedom hand in hand with responsibility;, about duties and rights; about giving, not only greed to get… to help the pupils to grow up into good citizens and help them to understand the world…

We also get homework – to make a POCKET VIDEO about democracy and citizenship.
Why a “pocket” video? It should be made with a mobile-phone (or a digital camera) – the thing you usually have in your pocket with you…
I found the idea of pocket videos quite interesting – because it is the way how to USE A MOBILE-PHONE in the lesson. Pupils usually love their phones and can be creative, using the newest technology at school. So – why not? :)

In the last lesson with Henrik – on Friday 27rd (in fact it was our last lesson of the whole programme, unfortunately) we watched a scene from The Lord of the Rings (a part with a quarrel and then making a fellowship). Then we were discussing it and working in groups – finding the key-words from Obama’s speech which can be connected with this scene. I liked it very much. A few ideas got from that:
“Everybody can be tempted by power.”
“Arguing is good, but not fighting.” (arguing is a part of democracy – that’s right)

Then we were working in groups on the second task – to find the biggest challenges about citizenship nowadays – on personal, national and global level and how can they be solved and taught.

I confess that I liked these lessons so much. I liked the Henrik´s way of thinking, the way of working with us, the way he gave us ideas and made us thinking…


AND I WAS VERY SAD THAT ALL THE LESSONS AT UCSyd HAD FINISHED THAT FRIDAY. Since then we have been having practice at Danish schools.

I liked the whole programme very much, it really fulfilled my expectations. Moreover – it was even better then I expected. I think it helped me to "extend my horizons", to discover not only Danish school system and Danish culture, but also the wideness and beauty of European cultures, helping me to understand more to each other, to see my own country, culture and school-system from outside …And what is more it supported me to learn more about myself, helping me to be more open-minded, tolerant and respectful, self-sufficient, responsible, co-operative, understandable… I hope this will help me – and I will be really trying – to be a good European citizen. I think this was the most important thing which is this programme about and I am really happy about that. I think it helped me to thing more about my values and about things what I would like to do and not to do in my life… And it learnt me to ASK QUESTIONS, AND BE CRITICAL AND TOLERANT AT THE SAME TIME. I know it is only the BEGINNING and there is much more to learn, but I am very glad for that.

And of course – I am really looking forward to my practice at a Danish school!
I consider it a next step in the study programme.

I would love to say something right now:
Thank you to everyone – the teachers, my schoolmates and house-mates and all the people who contribute to this programme. “Living and Learning Together”. TUSIND TAK!