Impress your Supervisor! Join the Write-a-Thon on December 10th!

[Madam H]

To all those who teach English, Values, Social Studies or Thai Studies, (even those who teach Computers), here's a teaching idea for you!

December 10th is International Human Rights Day. It is also Constitution Day in Thailand. It is most likely a holiday for everyone, but here's a teaching idea you can use around that time.

If you googled "Amnesty International's Write-a-Thon", it will lead you to a website that collects letters from all over the world. The purpose of the letters is to help free or to help alleviate the suffering of many people in the world who are imprisoned, detained, or suffered violations, not because they have committed crimes, but merely because of their beliefs, religion, race, gender, etc.

There will be links to cases, to sample letters, as well as tips on writing and/or organizing your own event in your school. The letters can be posted or emailed.

This is a great way to get connected with the world outside, to use an authentic activity to teach a language or a core subject, or to use technology (e.g. computers).

Other ideas around it:
> Assign small groups one case each. They research about their case and do a presentation in class.
> The letter, could be modified into a persuasive essay, or an expository one, outlining each case.
> Poster making
> A lesson on how to write business letters
> Oral presentation of each case
> Biography writing
> Reflective writing (e.g. How could people in other parts of the world help people who fall victim to human rights
   abuses?)
> Role playing
> Comparisons between cultures (e.g. Freedom of Speech in Indonesia and America)
> etc.

[Madam H]

December 10th is the date!