Teaching world conflicts

• Analyze a regional or international conflict in which at least one English-speaking country is involved
• Elaborate on and discuss questions related to social and economic conditions in some English-speaking countries

Objectives:

1. To learn about international conflicts involving the USA

Pre-movie activities:

1. Alternative 1. Watch the documentary “Why we fight”.  Before watching the documentary download the guide and skim through the material. See teaser of documentary here, and download this guide
2. Write a summary of the most interesting points on your blog.
3. Alternative 2. Watch the movie,  Lions for Lambs, see the teaser here first.  Lions for Lambs.
4. Watch this talk Robert Redford’s character has with his student Todd. An interesting monologue about the choices we have. “The decisions you make now, can’t be changed, it will take years and years of hard work to redo it. No lifeguard is watching you anymore, you are on your own. The decisions you make are yours alone, from here an til the end.  Discuss the role students can play in shaping their own future. How does this relate to your own choices? Write a paragraph on your blog after you discuss this with your partner.
5. America needs to do more.  The students in this movie try to get others involved. Discuss how this clip is important to the movie. Do you agree with these students’ choices?

Lesson plan:

Discuss these issues on your blog:

1. Lions for Lambs is a 2007 American drama film about the connection between a platoon of United States soldiers in Afghanistan, a U.S. senator, a reporter, and a California college professor. Explain how they are connected and what the soldiers are doing in Afghanistan? Read this article; Newsweek. Read chapter 5 and 6 in the study guide.
2. The professor asks Todd to get involved.  What can he do?
3. Is there a connection between social conditions, the welfare state and the USA’s involvement in wars?
4. What do you think is the current opinion of the American people regarding US engagement in wars? List your sources.
5. Write a post on your blog where you answer all these questions and discuss the US involvement in Afghanistan.