Human Migration: Why Words Matter

TOPIC:

OBJECTIVES:

  • Recognize and understand the power of language: that words can be used to hurt and that they have a responsibility to choose words that support and promote human dignity.
  • Students will be able to employ respectful vocabulary to discuss circumstances surrounding immigration, displacement, and human migration, and do so with empathy, compassion, and which avoids stereotyping.

INTRODUCTION

Prepare students to use people-first language: to understand what that means and why it’s important, we are going to practice it. People-first language recognizes that words carry power and impact and we use it to describe people using identifiers that humanizes them rather than reduces them.

ESSENTIAL QUESTIONS

  1. How do we help students to talk about difficult and sensitive topics in class without being rude or disrespectful of individuals or groups?