All over the world, impactful events happen that influence our day-to-day lives. When major events like these happen, teachers often hold class discussions to address the event. In some English classes, however, teachers take it a step further by embedding current events into their curriculum. English classes should always tie class content to current events because it is highly beneficial for students.
Incorporating current events into English classes can help students make stronger connections to the literature they are studying. “My AP Lit seniors are going to start reading The Handmaid's Tale next week. I think it would be a big disservice to teach that book and not talk about the implications of women’s rights and what’s happening, especially in today’s world,” said English teacher Ashley Cunningham. Students can apply what they read, and see how the plot in the books is reflected in the current events and social movements around us.
When current events are tied into classwork, students can grasp why reading literature is important. It helps students understand larger ideas and issues in their books as well as the state of those same issues in our current society. “Having a class discussion after an event takes place is essentially reactive. There’s a place for that. But we can’t always be learning in a reactive state, and I think it’s important to be proactive in showing students how to connect their learning to what's going on now,” said Berkeley International High School (BIHS) Global Literature teacher, Melissa Jimenez.
Students also develop a better understanding of the events that took place by learning what occurred, and exploring why and how the event happened. Cunningham talked about her education and class when she was a student. “I would have loved it if we could have dived deeper into the events, like reading newspapers, magazine articles or watching news clips, something that could have let us have more knowledge than what was being given,” she continued. “Another reason you might look at current events is to teach students how to understand what’s happening around them,” Jimenez said.
Having a platform to discuss currents as an embedded part of the curriculum also creates a safe environment for students to talk about the issues that are important to them. Cunningham said, “It’s important to have those discussions in class and allow a safe space for students to talk about things that are happening in the world that they find important.”
Teachers, primarily those in the humanities, must include current events in their curriculum. Tying novels, films, and lectures to current events helps students with their analysis skills while creating a community that cares about what is happening around the globe. So, teachers and students, what current world events do you want to explore?