Wesley Martin presented on how to make climate change real to middle school students. He based his lesson on using a little humor and a lot of metaphors. We brainstormed ways to find substitutes for climate change. One way is to see climate change as a moving bus that is going off a cliff. How can we save ourselves? After a number of suggestions, we looked at the benefits of using metaphors and humor to teach about crisis related themes. One way was to scaffold new vocabulary and to shelter from negative emotions. When the wolf is at the door it is better to laugh aloud than to despair.
Our other speaker was a local lawyer, Park Jiwon, who came to give us legal advice and answer questions. Many questions were submitted early and were mostly just everyday things about housing contracts -you should give 3 months’ notice before leaving, the rent can only be raised 5% a year, if no one says anything it is automatically renewed. Work contracts were also discussed, as well as traffic law and personal concerns.
