Remembrance day is shortly upon us again.  While the recognition of the holiday seems to have changed quite a bit since I was a kid, it is still a very important day that we should all respect.  For our ESL students who may have no knowledge of remembrance day it is particularly important for us to pass on the information and tradition.

Before we go any further, always keep in mind that war can be a very sensitive topic.  We don't know the histories, biases, and experiences our students may be carrying with them.  Always approach this type of topic respectfully, tactfully, and give your students the option of 'backing out' if they become overly uncomfortable.  A student who saw his family killed by a land mine or in a genocide may not be too keen on the topic.  But then again they may be.  Just approach the subject with the respect it deserves.

OK….here we go…. 

There are many ways that you can incorporate Remembrance day activities into your ESL class in the computer lab.  It doesn't take much to put some useful activities together.

You can watch videos on war, about historic moments,  or about remembrance day.  Here are two links that may be helpful:

• A Pittance of Time (Song):  http://www.army.forces.gc.ca/chief_land_staff/remembrance/English/lyrics.asp
• The Story of John McCrae (Author of "In Flanders Fields") : http://www.histori.ca/minutes/minute.do?id=10200
• any other song you'd like on the topic of war.

I've put the text of the poem "In Flanders Fields" at the end of this post.

You can teach a lesson about the imagery and symbolism in the poem and then

• You can have your students record the words of "In Flanders Fields" as a speaking exercise.
•  write something about it using a word processor. 
• Or you could have your students record their own thoughts about the poem or other 'war' thoughts

Peace vs. War

This is really simple.  Have your students draw a picture or symbol of peace (give them 5 minutes or so).  Then they pass picture over to another student.  Student 2 makes "war" on the picture.  They draw whatever they want, but with the purpose of 'destroying' the initial picture.  Then hand it back (or to a 3rd student) and have them remake peace.

Discuss how easy it was to destroy vs. repair.  Move into a computer lab and have them write or record their comments as you see fit.

Dixie Chicks (or any other modern war controversy)

Ok so the Dixie Chicks got themselves into a little hot water a couple of years back with a song that expressed disagreement with the US war in Iraq.  Depending on the level of you class you could get into a discussion of celebrities expressing their opinions about war (and the backlash against them).  Just search on Youtube.com for news clips of anti-war protests (or pro-war protests) and let the content lead you to new lesson ideas.

Heck…why not make a class video about war and post it on youtube?

These are just a couple of really simple ways to bring the topic of remembrance day into your ESL classroom.  It doesn't need to be complicated.

Cheers,

Eric

In Flanders Fields
By: John McCrae

In Flanders fields the poppies blow
Between the crosses, row on row,
That mark our place; and in the sky
The larks, still bravely singing, fly
Scarce heard amid the guns below.

We are the Dead. Short days ago
We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,
Loved and were loved, and now we lie,
In Flanders fields.

Take up our quarrel with the foe:
To you from failing hands we throw
The torch; be yours to hold it high.
If ye break faith with us who die
We shall not sleep, though poppies grow
In Flanders fields.

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