The English Studies Department and ELT Teaching for a Cause

Teaching is a noble profession but many times we forget how it is also a calling and a platform through which one teaches knowledge and skills but also instills values and raises awareness towards significant issues. On Tuesday, 10^th March 2021, the English Studies Department became aware of stray animals and how they can inspire the creation of ELT teaching material, motivate the learning process, instill sensitivities, and ignite creative activism towards noteworthy causes. Raising our awareness of the above was guest speaker, educator, teacher trainer, materials writer and children’s author storyteller, Ms Margarita Kosior who delivered a seminar titled: “ELT for Companion Animals: Teaching for a Cause”.

Ms Kosior is an avid animal rights supporter, who also takes in stray animals, makes them a part of her family, raises awareness towards the issues involving stray animals, volunteers at the animal shelter Stray Planet in Thessaloniki and now has used her love for animals as creative content and materials inspiration for ELT teaching. In her seminar, Ms Kosior offers the background context and motivation that resulted in this prosperous project, by primarily drawing the connection between animal cruelty and abusive behavior in general and how the former can be a tell-tale sign. Of course, being educated on the matter can help us resolve certain parameters and be a voice that helps to change and solve the situation. And, of course, stories also have a strong resonance and impact on raising awareness towards significant causes.

Ms Kosior offered a comprehensive overview of the Tales of Strays campaign as well as her story/material contribution titled “Toby to the Rescue.” The campaign and all relevant materials, both online and printable, can be accessed at the following website: www.margaritakosior.com

Material for young and adolescent learners can be found in abundance, complete with lesson plans, teacher instructions and a variety of activities ranging from memory games, to word searches, to rhyme time to jigsaw puzzles telling the stories of actual stray animals to engage learners and educate them not only in the English Language but towards the cause of helping and loving stray and companion animals. As the stories that pose the focal point of each lesson are also inspired by real life, they further demonstrate the passion the contributing teachers and material creators have towards the cause.

The website also contains the marvelous creations of students demonstrating not only their knowledge in English but their creativity in poems, story-writing even illustrations. Teacher contributions are also included to act as examples and inspiration for other interested parties but also to raise awareness. Many organizations and individuals have expressed their support towards the Tales of Strays campaign and Ms Kosior graciously extended an invitation to anyone who is interested in contributing ideas, lesson plans and supporting the cause.

The cause is also active on social media platforms including Facebook and Instagram.

On a closing note, if the desire to teach and learn is on its own noteworthy, let us consider how much more impactful it can be when it is inspired by a cause meant to make us more empathetic and loving not only towards animals but towards all people and creations.