Controversial Topics

SELANGOR 14

Controversial topics you have used in class

Politics Washrooms in school should be paid. 2013 Malaysian general election Students should be allowed to bring headphones to school. Students are not allowed to bring headphones to school. Girls are better than boys. Election day in Malaysia Public canning in schools. Should parents be sent to the oldfolks home? Topics based on gender, strong opinons.

Topics you think should be avoided

political and racial issues

Politics in Malaysia

Religion

Civil wars

Cultural diferences

All sensitive issues

Beliefs

Maybe in a discussion, students shouldn’t be allowed to mention any sensitive issue such as the ones mentioned before.

The advantages of using controversial topics in class

When talking about politics, students get the chance to discuss about the different scenarios of our political environment as compared to other countries. In addition, they may also know how democracy is practised in many different countries.

Controversial topics give room for students to' think out of the box‘ and become more creative.

Students learn new things and gather knowledge about the topic.

They become more mature and learn to respect people with opposing views.

They are more willing to talk about issue which are related to their daily lives.

The advantages of using controversial topics in class

Students can be more creative and more critical.

Discussions enhance their language proficiency level and students will become self-explorer learners rather than being spoon-fed learners.  

Classes become more lively.

Some students do their best to make sure that their opinion is heard.

It may create awareness among the students and they will be able to think more wisely.

The disadvantages of using controversial topics in class

Some students may feel dissatisfied, angry or too emotional about the topic.

Some students may become very passive when they are asked to voice out their opinion.

Some students may take it too personally and inform parents or school authorities.

They can lead to an uncontrollable discussion when it comes to disagreement to certain points discussed.

Sometimes nobody wants to participate in the discussion because they are afraid of being against the topic discussed.

Some students may feel upset and dissatisfied with certain topics.

The disadvantages of using controversial topics in class

They may create an uncomfortable atmosphere in the classroom and students may think that teachers are not sensitive enough to decide on the 'controversial' topics to be discussed.

Using controversial issues can provoke students' emotions and some may get too emotional.

Students may get too carried away.

Teachers...

should have a good class control. Or else, the discussion may create havoc in class.

should control the discussion as some students tend to get carried away while discussing. Or else, this might establish an unfriendly learning environment.

should control the discussion and should never give negative feedback on the topic. Every student has the right to know the truth and share their viewpoints. However, teacher must be neutral.

shouldn’t be biased and show favorable comments towards the government or the opposition, that is, teachers must be neutral and let students come up to their own conclusions on their own.

Some food for thought...

What if we worked on a Reading and Writing activity?

We may select some sites where students can read about the topic and after that, they should write about it. We can even ask students to exchange their texts with a partner and write a response. Of course, we have to make sure there is nothing too aggressive or too offensive in the texts.

So, what do you think about it?