The Danger of a Single Story Lesson

Every year I work with a teacher in another part of the world so that our students can become pen pals and learn about each other. Last year, I introduced my students to where their new pen pals live in India. We began to discuss what they know about India, and talk about some of the questions they have about where their new friends live. Right off, students started discussing about how poor people in India are and how the kids do not have adequate clothing, shoes, housing, or schools. When I began asking them why they know people in India live like that, they said because we have seen it on the news and in movies. Because most of my students had misconceptions about India, I showed them the film, "The Danger of a Single Story." Afterwards, we discussed what they now thought about their new friends in India and how they thought they may live. The class then discussed what ideas they felt that their new friends may have about them because they live here in the United States. My students were very excited to begin writing letters to their new friends! This was a major eye opener for me as a teacher. I have often thought how many have these misconceptions about different places and people around the world.