Teaching English Using Compassion
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Eileen Pollard |
TEDxUoChester
• February 2020
At a moment when applications to study English at college and university are falling dramatically, this talk suggests an alternative way to teach English – using compassion. It reflects upon the challenges and successes of Chester Retold, an innovative course that offers English undergraduates the opportunity to learn about storytelling alongside participants from the community of Chester. The course emphasises that to understand stories is also to understand what makes us human. Over the past two years, my undergraduates have learnt from and beside ‘community students’ from Fallen Angels Dance Theatre – a charity helping people recover from addiction and mental health problems through movement and dance – as well as LIVE! Cheshire, who work to include young people with physical and/or learning disabilities. The Chester Retold model boosts engagement through placing the facilitation of belonging, acceptance and inclusion at its core. As well as demonstrable mental health benefits, the course achieves excellent academic results and outstanding student feedback: ‘I’ve learnt that I can take my experiences – even negatives – and do something expressive and beautiful and positive with them’. The message is clear: the trend of falling student numbers can be reversed, English can be saved. And one way is to reinvigorate it by involving local communities and shaping our teaching around reflection, understanding and compassion for others, at a time when these skills are needed more than ever.