Teaching Global Unity

Teaching Global Unity through Proverbs, Metaphors, and Storytelling

This book was first presented by its author, Vivian Chu, at a BC TEAL Conference in November 2002, in the form of a professional development workshop for English language teachers, under the title of “Global Culture through Proverbs, Metaphors, and Storytelling.” A 40-page booklet of the same title was used to support the workshop. The workshop and booklet received very enthusiastic response; subsequently, Vivian was invited to teach it as an elective course at Vancouver Community College’s TESOL Diploma Program (www.tesol.vcc.ca). The 40-page booklet has since developed into a 130-page teachers' resource book, with a 70-page students workbook and CDROM. The first run of the course, on May 3, 2003 was very well received, and it has continued to be available once per term at Vancouver Community College. For more information, please contact Vancouver Community College, TESOL Programs www.tesol.vcc.ca.

By February 2003, the book had grown to 110 pages, and it was used to support workshop presentations at several conferences.

Local Conferences Presentations:

BC TEAL 35th Annual Conference
"Critical Reflections, Effective Deliveries"
Shane Global Village, Vancouver, B.C., Canada
February 28, 2003

Drawing from the vision of the book, Vivian developed another professional development workshop for educators, titled “Perceptions of Self and Others: Evolving Visions,” which was presented at:

BC TEAL 35th Annual Conference
"Critical Reflections, Effective Deliveries"
Shane Global Village, Vancouver, B.C., Canada
March 1, 2003

The workshop, “Teaching Global Unity through Proverbs, Metaphors, and Storytellling,” was further developed and presented at:

Adult Basic Education Association of B.C. Conference
"Unity in Diversity"
Kwantlan University College, Richmond, B.C., Canada
May 8, 2003

International Conference on Imagination and Education
Sponsored by IERG, Simon Fraser University, Vancouver, B.C., Canada
July 18, 2003

A Joint Conference of the ESL Provincial Specialist Association
and the EAR (Educators Against Racism) Provincial Specialist Association
"A Kaleidoscope of Learning"
John Oliver Secondary School, Vancouver, B.C., Canada
October 24, 2003

TESL Canada / BC TEAL Conference 2003
"Connecting Communities: Inspirations and Aspirations"
The Hilton Vancouver Metrotown, B.C., Canada
November 13-15, 2003

A students' workbook and CDROM, Around the World with Proverbs, Metaphors, and Storytelling, which are based on the teacher's resource book, was published in March 2004. This resource package is also available through British Columbia Teachers’ Federation, Lesson Aids Service (Email: laorder@bctf.ca) and UBC Bookstores (Email: bkstore@interchange.ubc.ca).

International Conferences Presentations:

In April 2004, the “Global Unity Project” went global!
The books and workshop, "Teaching Global Unity through Proverbs, Metaphors, and Storytelling" were presented to an international audience in the U.K., at:

The 38th International Annual IATEFL Conference
The Adelphi Hotel, Liverpool, UK
April 13-17, 2004
(www.iatefl.org)

After presenting at the IATEFL Conference in Liverpool, Vivian was invited by the British Council Colombia (http://www.britishcouncil.org), to be a tutor and presenter at:

The A.S. Hornby Educational Fund Regional Latin American School
Bogota, Colombia
June 21- July 2, 2004

The focus of this 2-week seminar was "English Language Teaching and Citizenship." Vivian has written an article on the process of exploring the many facets of citizenship education in different contexts, exchanging perspectives and resources with others in the field of ELT, and more importantly, discovering the beauty of Colombia and the dedication of Colombian educators. The article, "A Discovery Journey to Colombia: Internal Resonance and External Connections," has been published in the October 2004 issue of TEAL NEWS (http://www.bcteal.org). It is also available at the webpage, A Trip to Colombia, (http://www.globalunityed.com/colombia.htm).

In August 2004, Vivian was invited by IATEFL Hungary to present two workshops, “Teaching Global Unity through Proverbs, Metaphors, and Storytelling” and “Citizenship and Identity” at:

The 14th IATEFL Hungary International Conference
"Ideals and Realities of Classroom Teaching"
Szeged, Hungary
October 1-3, 2004
(www.iatefl.hu)

Also in August 2004, a heart-warming invitation was extended by ASOCOPI and the British Council Colombia for Vivian to return to Colombia and present a plenary session and a workshop based on her work on the Global Unity Project, at:

The 39th ASOCOPI National Conference
"Defining Standards in ELT"
Santa Marta, Colombia
October 14-17, 2004
(www.asocopi.org)

Along with this invitation was a generous offer from the British Council Colombia to sponsor printing and distribution of 1,000 copies of the Global Unity books in Colombia. Approximately 750 conference attendees at The 39th ASOCOPI National Conference received a copy of "Around the World with Proverbs, Metaphors, and Storytelling," compliments of the British Council. Future sales proceeds from the books will be placed into a trust fund to support citizenship education and to provide resources and professional development for teachers in Colombia. The trust fund was launched in Santa Marta on October 16, 2004, and it has been named the "ELT and Citizenship in Colombia Trust Fund."

Fundraising Initiatives in Canada began on October 22, 2004

Upon Vivian's return to Vancouver on October 18, $780 was raised through sales of 'Global Unity' books and private donations at two local conferences in Vancouver on October 22-23.

A bank draft in the sum of $780 , payable to ASOCOPI (The Colombian Association of Teachers of English), was sent to Ricardo Romero at the British Council Colombia on October 28, and entered into the "ELT and Citizenship in Colombia Trust Fund."

Vivian would like to say a big THANK YOU to everyone who contributed to the trust fund to support teachers in Colombia, and also participated in her workshops at:

The ESL / EAR (Educators Against Racism)
Provincial Specialists Association Annual Fall Conference
"Faces and Facets of Change"
Vancouver, B.C.
October 22, 2004
(http://www.bctf.ca/eslpsa).

B.C. TEAL Mini Conferencce
"Six in the City"
Shane Global Village
Vancouver, B.C.
October 23, 2004
(http://www.bcteal.org).

Two other 2004 fundraising initiatives for Colombian teachers were:

A PD Event and Benefit Luncheon for Colombian Teachers
~ November 28, 2004

A Fundraising Calendar: "Visions of Our World by Children in Colombia"
~ Available December 1 - 31, 2004

By the end of 2004, a total of C$2,000 was raised for the "ELT and Citizenship in Colombia Trust Fund." More information on the fundraising events are available at (http://www.globalunityed.com/fundraising.htm).

2005 - The Global Unity Project Continues

Another book is in progress as Vivian continues to work with language students in Vancouver and present her workshops and books at colleges in British Columbia, Canada. If you are interested in having Vivian present professional development workshops at your school or conference, please email her at: vchu2007@hotmail.com.