AJ0314 Culture, Society and Tolerance

Faculty of Education
Spring 2020
Extent and Intensity
0/2/0. 4 credit(s). Type of Completion: z (credit).
Teacher(s)
Michael George, M.A. (seminar tutor)
Guaranteed by
Mgr. Lucie Podroužková, Ph.D.
Department of English Language and Literature – Faculty of Education
Contact Person: Jana Popelková
Supplier department: Department of English Language and Literature – Faculty of Education
Timetable of Seminar Groups
AJ0314/01: Thu 13:00–14:50 učebna 53, M. George
Course Enrolment Limitations
The course is also offered to the students of the fields other than those the course is directly associated with.
The capacity limit for the course is 30 student(s).
Current registration and enrolment status: enrolled: 0/30, only registered: 0/30, only registered with preference (fields directly associated with the programme): 0/30
fields of study / plans the course is directly associated with
Course objectives
This class deals with the nature of tolerance and prejudice in modern society. While not focusing on any one culture, specific examples of actual incidents and behavior from various lands are used as case studies in order to understand the psychological, social and political mechanisms of discrimination. The class is organized as a "round table discussion" seminar wherein students come to class having read (and prepared to discuss) the texts and topic at hand with their classmates.
The objectives of the class are: 1)for students to analyze the nature of intolerance, distinguish its more subtle early forms, and assess the effect it has on society as a whole.
2)for future teachers to identify the tools they can use in their own classrooms as they teach their (elementary and secondary school) students about tolerance.
Learning outcomes
At the conclusion of this course, students will ba able to analyze the nature of intolerance, distinguish its more subtle early forms and assess the effect it has on society as a whole. Future teachers will be able to identify the tools they can use in their own classrooms as they teach their (elementary and secondary school) students about tolerance.
Syllabus
  • 1. introduction
  • 2. identity: us vs. them
  • 3. the roots of intolerance
  • 4. the nature of prejudice
  • 5. the faces of intolerance
  • 6. social and cultural mechanisms, past and present
  • 7. judging and judgment
  • 8. choosing to participate
  • 9. making a difference
  • 10. educating for tolerance
  • 11. migration and integration
  • 12. identity: us and them
  • 13. conclusion
Literature
  • Drakulic, Slavenka, The Balkan Express. W.W.Norton:New York, 1993
  • Facing History and Ourselves: a Resource Book, Facing History and Ourselves National Foundation, Brookline, Mass.
  • Staub, Ervin, The Roots of Evil: The Origins of Genocide and Other Group Violence. Cambridge University Press, 1989
Teaching methods
The class is organized as a "round table" seminar. In addition to the common texts that are read and discussed by all each week, every student brings his/her own individual contribution to each class. this is some personal story, media report, observed incident, etc. that relates directly to the topic of the week. Successfully done, this ongoing weekly contribution is cumulatively taken as the student's semester research and no formal seminar paper or presentation is required. Video documentaries are also used in seminar.
Assessment methods
85% attendance, preparation for and full voluntary participation in weekly seminar discussions in addition to the individual contribution to the weekly topic as described above. (In the absence of weekly personal contributions, a 2,500 research paper is required.)
Language of instruction
English
Further comments (probably available only in Czech)
Study Materials
The course is taught annually.
General note: Předmět bude realizován, pokud se přihlásí alespoň 15 studentů.
Information on the extent and intensity of the course: 2 hodiny.
The course is also listed under the following terms Spring 2018, Spring 2019, Spring 2021, Spring 2022.
  • Enrolment Statistics (Spring 2020, recent)
  • Permalink: https://is.muni.cz/course/ped/spring2020/AJ0314