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Advice for
Teachers
Getting
started with the topic:
Brainstorm
Teachers
could brainstorm with their students the ideas that
come to mind from the topic identified for the
Australia-China Writing Project: My life-our
future. Further discussion may assist teachers and
students to uncover those issues that are of
particular interest/importance.
Continuum
of life
Students
may begin examining some of the issues relating to
the present and then consider their future. What
point on the continuum of life are students'
currently at? What influences may impact on their
lives and the directions they might take in the
future? How are global issues and career options
different to those their parents may have
experienced and why? How is the use of new
technologies and e-business impacting on learning
and business across the region?
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Using
media as a springboard
The
topic could also be explored using issues featured
in recent newspapers and media relating to
Australia and the Asian region. These issues could
act as springboards, or stimulus when considering
the topic. Students may like to record, over a
period of say four weeks, references and headlines
of interest. Students could then discuss these with
their parents for homework. The focus of the
discussion could be the changes occuring in the
region over time.
Exchanges
and friendships
Students
may like to explore how visits from Chinese or
Australian partner schools, travel, and
interactions with people from the region have
enriched their lives. This personal approach to the
topic may reflect on the value of exchange
programs, multicultural policies and opportunties
to travel and communicate with people extend the
school community 'borders'. What skills are
required to communicate across cultures? What
options does technology open up for building
friendships between countries in Asia? Students
could explore how access to email, newsgroups,
chat-lines and international projects may impact on
school days and future workplace
activity.
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Stimulate
personal thought and repsonses
Some
of the best student writing is often personal,
therefore, the process of uncovering and exploring
ideas and perspectives is important.
Remember
the audience
The
audience for the writing will be both Australian
and Chinese students and teachers. We anticipate
that these pieces will inform students'
understanding fo each other's culture.
Resources
The
Access Asia website has information regarding
resources relating to some of the issues for
exploration and on China:
http://www.curriculum.edu.au/accessasia/
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