I Have a Friend on the Other Side of the Earth: twinning classes from different cultures to introduce environmental and development education |
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| Authors: | Elena Camino |
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| Institution: | Universita’ di Torino , Italy |
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| Abstract: | This paper describes an educational activity that was undertaken by starting an exchange of letters between Italian and Indian students. The main goal of this initiative was to encourage friendly relationships among students living in very different cultures and socio‐economic conditions, through direct communication. The general objectives of this initiative were: to encourage Italian and Indian children to have an affective, cognitive and emotional openness towards different people, cultures and environments; to make the concept of ‘global village’ more real and the ties that constitute our interdependent world more actual; to stimulate a reflection upon the ‘Western’ model of development, that destroys our resources, the resources of other peoples and of future generations. In this work targets related to several subjects have been identified: geography, environmental science, foreign language and social studies. A few possible interdisciplinary teaching paths have been pointed out, which originated from the development of cross‐curricular themes (environment, development, world studies). Our approach has stressed the comparison between ‘us’ and ‘the other’, the deliberate effort to put oneself in the others’ place and to see the world through ‘their’ eyes. Thanks to the exchange of letters this comparison has been made more concrete, immediate and relevant. Finally, some critical thoughts about the experiences that have been carried out up till now will be suggested in order to open a debate with teachers and researchers who have had similar experiences and to provide useful elements to those who are willing to take the path of environmental and development education through the exchange of letters among their students. |
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