----- Original Message ----- From: "English Inspectorate" <info@xxxxxxxxxx> Subject: Letter from Judy State of Israel Ministry of Education English Inspectorate August 22, 2006 Dear English Teachers, On behalf of the English Inspectorate, I would like to offer my sincere condolences to those who have lost loved ones in the war. We would also like to wish a speedy recovery to those who have been wounded. Although a cease-fire has been called, there has not yet been a cessation of the intense emotions resulting from the hostilities. We have all been, in some way, affected by the war. We, as well as our pupils, feel a mixture of feelings: grief, sorrow, anger, frustration, uncertainty. The time ahead of us will not be easy. For the next few months, and perhaps for years, many of our pupils will be dealing with the physical and emotional effects of the war, including the death or injury of loved ones and the loss of homes and property. More than ever it is up to us, and not just to politicians, to recreate the hopes and dreams that have been shattered, to renew our faith in our potential, and to repair the emotional damage. More than ever, your role as a teacher in educating a new generation is momentous--in giving support and assistance to pupils who are truly in need of help and understanding, in dealing with all that has transpired in the last few weeks, that even we, as adults, find difficult to comprehend. On the one hand, we need to "get back to normal" (if there is such a thing) and open our course books and teach. However, on the other hand, we also need to be attentive to the needs of our pupils, to relate to their experiences and provide opportunities for them to find expression for their feelings and anxieties. The Psychological Department of the Ministry of Education (ùô"é) has prepared guidelines for teachers to use to discuss these sensitive issues in the classroom. They also describe signs of stress and trauma that teachers should be aware of and report to the school counselor. The guidelines can be accessed at: http://cms.education.gov.il/EducationCMS/Units/Moe/MatzavHerum/ We know from research, and from our own teaching experiences, that very often pupils are willing to relate to personal issues in a foreign language more freely than they are in their mother tongue, making English lessons an ideal place to encourage discussion. We do not expect English teachers to assume the role of social worker or psychologist, but only that of a facilitator, providing pupils with opportunities to share their experiences with their classmates. Very often, listening to their friends' experiences and fears helps pupils to deal better with their own feelings. We are posting some ideas for classroom activities linked from the front page of anglit.net and welcome teachers to send us additional ideas to info@xxxxxxxxxx, which we will post. I sincerely wish us all a productive year of quiet and peace that will allow us to educate our future citizens. Dr. Judy Steiner Chief Inspector for English Language Education The English Inspectorate http://www.anglit.net ----------------------------------------------- Write for "The Etni Rag" - http://www.etni.org/etni_rag.htm Add yourself / Update your entry to "Who's Who on Etni" http://www.boker.org.il/etni/whoswho.htm -----------------------------------------------