The importance of current events to language acquisition studies at Northbridge

26 November 2018

Gulnora Kuziyeva (2 posts) Secondary Language Acquisition Curriculum Leader, DP English B, MYP English Language Acquisition Teacher View Profile

We, as educators at Northbridge International School Cambodia, believe that incorporating a regular dose of current events into everyday lessons has a multitude of benefits. Research indicates that for students to become competent lifelong learners, they must learn how to use nonfiction materials to expand their knowledge base, solve problems, and make decisions.

This month, Grade 10 students have been researching the extent of the impact humans have on our planet as apart of the Sustainability unit. Reading recent articles helps them stay up-to-date about issues related to sustainability, as well as builds language, vocabulary, reading comprehension, critical thinking, problem-solving, oral expression, and listening skills.

Grade 11 DP English B students also try to stay up-to-date with current events. They engage in oral discourses that stimulate them to think about the impact of the government's perceptions and decisions on the world. At times, texts, such as this, are challenging to some students; therefore, they jigsaw the paragraphs amongst table groups, and they help each other paraphrase them in order to access the content and context.

At home, we encourage parents to have conversations with their children about what is happening in the country and around the world. Talking about current events not only helps students make more meaningful connections between what they do in class and the outside world, but it also helps students understand the importance of people, events, and issues in their local communities and on a global scale. It stimulates students to explore and learn more about the news they see and hear outside of school.