UNHCR - Unit plan for ages 15-18 in Language & Literature: The Depiction of Refugee Experience in Literature

Soviet military retaliation against the uprising in Hungary in 1956 caused 180,000 Hungarians, including this young couple to seek safety in Austria. © UNHCR/Szabo

Teaching About Refugees

Unit plan for ages 15-18 in Language & Literature: The Depiction of Refugee Experience in Literature

UNIT OBJECTIVES

Knowledge

To understand refugees' sense of alienation
To be briefly informed about refugee situations around the world, with particular reference to Ethiopia
To understand the living conditions of African refugees

Skills

To practise reading and interpreting a poem
To practise sharing one's thoughts and feelings with the class
To practise analysing the ways in which a writer conveys strong feelings in prose
To analyse:
a) emotional response
b) fluency of expression
c) evocative use of language

To practise effective prose writing

Values

To encourage the students to enter into the feelings of exile and alienation which refugees experience
To encourage the students to relate to the poet's experience to their own, or to that of someone they know
To empathise with refugees' sense of alienation
To reflect upon the response of a host community to refugees, particularly their own community response
To provide a personal response to literary works on refugee themes

Early refugees: Some of the first people helped by UNHCR being processed by Germany in 1953 for resettlement in other countries. © UNHCR/IRO

LESSON 1: "Concerning the Label Emigrant" by Bertolt Brecht

CONTENT	TEACHING METHODS/LEARNING STRATEGIES
The Depiction of Refugee Experience in Poetry: Bertolt Brecht, Concerning the Label Emigrant	Preparation The day before the lesson, ask the students to read about Bertolt Brecht's life and work in an encyclopaedia. Reading Seat students in a large circle, if possible. The teacher, or a talented reader among the students, should read aloud the poem. Comprehension questions Can be answered verbally or in writing. Discussion questions Bring out the poet's sense of alienation. Encourage the students to relate that feeling to their own experience, or to that of someone known to them.
RESOURCES
BRECHT, Bertolt, "Concerning the Label Emigrant" in Refugees: An Anthology of Poems and Songs. Edited by Brian Coleman. Ottawa, 1988, p. 21. Distributed by the Editor, 44 Caroline Avenue, Ottawa, K1Y OS7, Canada.

Kakuma refugee camp. © UNHCR/A.Webster

LESSON 2: "All tomorrows are the same" by Misganaw Worknehe

CONTENT	TEACHING METHODS/LEARNING STRATEGIES
The Depiction of Refugee Experience in Prose: Misganaw Worknehe, All tomorrows are the same.	Preparation Library research questions for homework: Give some examples of host countries who have opened their doors to refugees. Where did the refugees come from, and when did this happen? Follow up of library research Teacher builds up blackboard summary, with discussion under these headings: HOST COUNTRY REFUGEES' COUNTRY OF ORIGIN DATE OR PERIOD
RESOURCES
WORKNEHE, Misganaw, "All tomorrows are the same" in Tilting Cages: An Anthology of Refugee Writings. Edited by Naomi Flutter and Carl Solomon. Sydney, 1995, pp. 77-81. Distributed by the Editors, PO Box 223, Pyrmont, NSW, 2009, Australia. Also available from Public Information Section, UNHCR, Geneva.

LESSON 3: Critical analysis

CONTENT	TEACHING METHODS/LEARNING STRATEGIES
Critical analysis of Brecht's poem and Worknehe's short story.	Writing task Questions requiring the students to analyse the literary qualities of the two works.
RESOURCES
Further readings for the teacher John Simpson, ed. The Oxford Book of Exile (Oxford, OUP, 1995)

1951 Refugee Convention: Questions & Answers
The most frequently asked questions about this key treaty. [PDF, 1.6Mb]

Estimated Number of Asylum Seekers, Refugees and Other of Concern to UNHCR, 1st Jan 2007
Asia	14,910,900
Africa	9,752,600
Europe	3,426,700
Latin America & Caribbean	1,143,100
Northern America	3,542,500
Oceania	85,700
TOTAL	32,861,500

Protecting Refugees – Questions & Answers
Answers to some of the most commonly asked questions about refugees themselves and how the agency attempts to help them. [PDF, 3Mb]

Gallery of Prominent Refugees
Featuring refugees or former refugees who have achieved special status within a community because of their achievements, or because they have overcome hardship to build a new life.

Pictorial history of UNHCR
More than 50 turbulent years in pictures - UNHCR's role in refugee crises and the struggle for survival of one of the world's most vulnerable groups.

Refugees: Telling Their Stories
A publication of the winners & finalists of UNHCR's High School Writing Competition.[PDF, 1.21Mb]

UNHCR Web Videos:

Making the environment work
A unique project in Ethiopia encourages Somali refugees improve themselves and help the environment. (3:06)

Refugees and the Environment
Sudanese refugees in Chad do their part to take care of their host country. (4:06)

Related News Stories:

5 June 2006
UNHCR News Stories
Refugee around the globe to mark World Environment Day

25 June 2003
UNHCR News Stories
Aid resumes in Kenyan camp after fighting ceases

24 June 2003
UNHCR News Stories
UNHCR concerned about deaths and possible "humanitarian crisis" in conflict-hit Kenyan camp

Related websites
(external links, new window):

Kakuma-Turkana
Dueling Struggles: Africa's Forgotten Peoples
(external link)