Why is Plato's Allegory of the Cave still Relevant? (C1-C2)

A: Discuss before you watch 🗣

• Who was Plato and what is he known for in the field of philosophy?
• What is an allegory, and how does it differ from a literal story or narrative?
• Based on the title "Why is Plato's Allegory of the Cave still Relevant," and the picture above, what do you predict the video might discuss or explore?
• How do you think understanding philosophical concepts can enhance our critical thinking and perception of reality?

B. Watch the introduction of the video and define "Allegory" (0:00-1:15’) 🤔

Plato's allegory of the Cave is a selection from a larger work called The Republic written about 375 BC, which uses an allegory to illustrate his ideas. An allegory is a form of storytelling that uses symbolic characters, objects, or events to represent abstract or moral ideas.

C. Listen👂to the explanation of "The Allegory of the Cave" without watching and draw 🖍what you hear. (1:16’-2:49’) After that, watch 📽 the video and compare the images shown to the ones you've drawn. 

D. Now say if the following are True or False. Account for your answers. 🎯

E. What’s the missing word? ✍

 

F. CAE Key Word Transformation. ✍

 

G. Discuss the following questions in pairs or groups of 3.  🗣

1. How does the story relate to the concept of reality nowadays? 

2. Why do you think this story has endured for over 2,000 years? 

3. In what ways can we apply the lessons from the Allegory of the Cave to our own lives? 

4. Do you believe that reality is subjective or objective? Why? 

5. How might technology impact our understanding of reality? 

6. Have you ever had an experience that made you question your perception of reality?

H. Creative part (5 ideas 💡)

Using a fake Instagram post generator like  zeoob in connection with the allegory of the cave can be a creative way to evaluate what students have learnt after this video session. Here are a few tasks they could do in groups:

1. Create a fake Instagram post from the perspective of one of the prisoners in the cave. What would they post about their life in the cave? What would they think about the world outside the cave?
2. Create a fake Instagram post from the perspective of the person who is freed from the cave. What would they post about their experience of seeing the real world for the first time? How would they describe the difference between the world inside the cave and the world outside?
3. Create a fake Instagram post that compares and contrasts the two worlds. What are the similarities and differences between the world inside the cave and the world outside? What does this say about the nature of reality?
4. Create a fake Instagram post that argues for or against the idea that the world outside the cave is more real than the world inside the cave. What evidence can you use to support your argument?
5. Create a fake Instagram post that explores the implications of the allegory of the cave for our own lives. What does it mean to live in a world of shadows? What can we do to escape the shadows and see the real world?

I. Final reflection 🤔

By evaluating students through activities like these 👆, as educators we can tap into students' creativity, foster critical thinking, and create a more engaging and authentic learning experience by encouraging active participation, collaboration, innovation, and the development of valuable technological and reflective skills. 🧡

The Human Library (B1+/ B2)

Discuss Before you watch

• Have you ever heard of the "Human Library"? What do you imagine it must be about?
• Watch the following one-minute video and check your predictions.
• What else would you like to know about the "Human Library"?

Watch this other video and complete the mindmap below.

Match up the following collocations which appear in the video and explain how they relate to what you have just seen.

Retell the video using the collocations above. You can use the mindmap to guide you!

Discuss again

1. What do you think of the Human Library? Is is a Good idea? Why? Why not?

2. Would you give the experience a try? Why? Why not?

3  If you could read a Human Book. What kind of book would you choose? Why?

4 Do you know anybody who would make a best-seller? Why?

5 If you could get published, what would you call your book? Would enjoy the experience?

6 Would it be a Good idea to implement Human Libraries in schools? Why? Why not? Would there be any drawback?

Nomophobia (B1/ B2)

 DISCUSS BEFORE YOU WATCH

• Look at the following cartoons. What do they have in common? 

 

• How do you think your smatphone affects your life?
• What are the pros and cons of using smartphones? Do you think the advantages outweigh the disadvantages, or the other way about?
• Do you feel like you have to keep checking your phone when you're out?
• When you are out and your phone dies, what is your reaction?
• How disruptive are smartphones to a young person's social life?
• What is the biggest disadvatage of smartphones on society and social interaction?
• What makes smartphones so addictive in your opinion?
• Have you ever heard of the term "Nomophobia"? If so, share what you know about it with the class. 

 WATCH

•  What exactly is nomophobia? Are any of the ideas discussed above mentioned in the video?
• What could be done to overcome nomophobia?
• Do you think you might be nomophobic? Take this quiz and find out!   

 MATCH UP THE COLLOCATIONS

How do the collocations above 👆 refer to the ideas expressed in the video?

FOLLOW UP: ESSAY WRITING (Cambridge First. B2) 

In what ways have smartphones affected our lives? Has this been a positive or negative development?" (Write your essay 140-190 words)

Discuss:

• Access to information
• Relationships
• ____________ (Your own idea)

How Music Saved Venezuela's Children (B2/C1)

Before you watch

Look at the photos above and discuss the questions.

• Do you play any musical instrument? How long have you played it for?
• How did you start playing it?
• What are the advantages of teaching children to play musical instruments? Are there any disadvantages?
• What is the best age to learn how to play a musical  instrument?
• Have you ever heard about the Simon Bolivar Youth Orchestra? If so, what do you know about it?

Reading & speaking

Cut these slips of papers on the different benefits of learning music and give out one to each student. They should read it and try to memorize the main idea.  Play a song and let them move around the class sharing what they've read with their classmates. Then, ask them to go back to their seats and take turn to say what benefits they remember.

http://www.childrensmusicworkshop.com/twelve-benefits-of-music-education/


Look at the mindmap below. What information do you expect to learn from the video?

Watch

A. Watch and make connections with the images and information in the mindmap. Then, share your findings with the class.

 

Focus on Language

Match up and provide examples related to the video

 

Other Collocations you can use:

An ambitious scheme

Excluded children                         

An unlikely setting   

Amazing results  

Classical music                          

Now, write a short summary of the video, using the collocations above. Then use the mind map again and try retelling the video using the collocations you've learnt.

Sample Summary: 

In the unlikely setting of Venezuela, an ambitious scheme called the 'Sistema' was set up in 1975 by the acclaimed musician José Antonio Abreu. This extraordinary project, utilizing the power of classical music, aimed to fight poverty and have a big effect on the lives of excluded children in the nation. By providing free instruments and lessons through after-school centers, the Sistema successfully kept kids away from drugs and gangs, turning the community into artists. The results were absolutely amazing, with the creation of 30 professional orchestras and the enrollment of approximately 275,000 children in El Sistema schools. At the forefront stood the Simón Bolívar Youth Orchestra, led by Gustavo Dudamel, one of the best conductors in the world.

FOLLOW UP: Choose 3 questions and discuss them in small groups. Then, share your conclusions with the whole group.

• How does music have the power to transform lives?How does music contribute to emotional well-being and mental health?
• Can you identify any examples from history or current events where music has been used to inspire social change or promote important causes?

• How does participating in music-related activities, such as playing an instrument or singing in a choir, enhance personal growth and development?
• Can you imagine a world without music? How would it be different, and what aspects of human life would be affected?
• How can small actions or gestures in our daily lives contribute to creating a more inclusive and equitable society?
• In what ways can education and awareness-raising campaigns be effective in promoting social change?
• How can technology and social media be utilized as powerful tools for mobilizing and organizing social movements?
• What role does empathy and understanding play in driving social change?
• How can community involvement and collective action contribute to addressing social issues and creating lasting change?
• What are some ways individuals can use their skills, talents, or resources to actively contribute to social change in their local communities?
• What are some challenges or barriers that individuals or groups may face when trying to initiate social change, and how can they be overcome?

Money buys happiness (B2/ C1)

WARM UP

• What do you make of the images above?
• Do you agree with the statement “Money buys happiness”?
• Would you rather spend your money on yourself or on others?
• If you spend it on yourself, what kind of things do you prefer to spend it on?
• If you spend it on others, what kind of things do you prefer to spend it on?

BEFORE YOU WATCH

Match up the collocations

1.     To be in pursuit                 a. end of the day

2.     A correlation                      b. run

3.     To use money to                c. a raise or commission

4.     To be sensitive                  d. source of happiness

5.     To get                                e. of money

6.     To go into                         f. debt

7.     To spend money                g. on yourself/ others

8.     In the long                         h. question

9.     To go                                i. to change

10.    To be the main                 j. our advantage

11.    At the                               k. between money and happiness

12.    A burning                        l. after experiences

WATCH & DISCUSS

1. What’s the correlation between happiness and money according to the video?
2. How does making more than U$75.000 impact happiness?
3. What does the video say about people who win the lottery?
4. Where does the problem lie according to recent studies?
5. What happens in teams and organizations?
6. How important is the way money is spent on others?
7. How should you spend your money if you decide to spend it on yourself?
8. What should you do if you have a burning question? 

FOLLOW UP

  

The following language might help you:

• Money is likely/ unlikely to affect ... as...
• Having money makes no/ little difference given that ...
• The lack of money may have a negative effect on... due to the fact that ...
• Having money has a profound impact on...in the sense that ...

These are some synonyms of the word "Important": Try to use them in your discussion as well:

ESSENTIAL- CRUCIAL- VITAL- IMPERATIVE- PARAMOUNT