One of the greatest experiences of our lives can come from learning—and often participating in—- the rich cultural diversity of our world neighbors: their customs, their food, their values, their dreams, and their even sorrows. Furthermore, in many places around the world, the faith traditions of people are also at the center of their lives, and yet, the topic of religion seems to produce a wide range of emotions.
Unfortunately, it can at times be viewed as a hot topic—like politics—that should be handled with care from afar. However, I believe that we can find meaningful ways to talk about religious values and traditions that elevate understanding of others, leading to enriching human connections with others. This broadcast will address these issues, and audience participation is encouraged.
In what can religion be a “top topic” in the language classroom? How can educators teach “about religion,” verses “teach religion?” How can teachers and students allow such discussions to come up organically in schools where cultural and religious traditions are recognized and deeply respected?
Watch the video and answer the questions. Look for the closed-captions option ( CC ) at the bottom of the video to watch the transcript. [The captions are automatically generated, so they are not perfect.]