The following is a short interview conducted by Euractiv with English teacher Piotr Nazaruk from the tCLVI Liceum Ogólnokształcące Integracyjne (Warsaw) on the need to integrate EU concepts into the high school English curriculum.
E: Dear Piotr, how do you think the modules of the EUPress Teacher Training can be integrated into the classroom?
PN: I think all the topics covered in the first module would be useful in the classroom. In order to learn the ins and outs of the mechanisms of such a complicated system as the European Union, knowledge of its parts and their internal relations is necessary. The challenge remains how to make all this complicated material easily accessible to students in a limited amount of time. While some parts of the topics could be integrated into the curriculum material during my English classes, I believe that most of the topics could be covered during the extra classes we plan to organize.
E: Could you explain which topics you found more interesting along with their advantages?
PN: First of all, “The History of European Integration”. By learning about the history of the EU, young people can gain a better understanding of how and why European integration took place and the benefits it has brought to member states. It can also help young people develop critical thinking skills by examining the decisions and actions of European leaders and institutions. This can encourage young people to engage in constructive dialogue about the EU and its future direction. Finally, by learning about the history of the EU, young people can develop a sense of European identity and recognize the importance of working together with other European countries to solve problems and promote common values.
I have also found extremely useful the lesson about “Concepts and categories for understanding the EU and its development and functioning”.
In order to understand the EU and its development and functioning, it is important to have knowledge of several key concepts and categories, including: realism and European integration, intergovernmentalism, neo-functionalism, federalism or constitutionalism. Understanding these concepts is essential to understanding the development and functioning of the EU. They provide a framework for analyzing the organization’s policies and decision-making processes and help us understand how the EU functions as a supranational entity.
E: What do you think about the challenges of the European Union discussed in the module?
PN: The challenges of the European Union have taught us several valuable lessons. First, the importance of solidarity. The Union’s response to crises such as the 2008 financial crisis and the COVID-19 pandemic highlighted the importance of solidarity among member states. These crises demonstrated that the EU is stronger when its member states work together to address common challenges (e.g. vaccines). Second, the challenges facing the EU have also highlighted the importance of listening to citizens and responding to their needs. The EU has taken steps to improve citizen engagement, such as the creation of the Conference on the Future of Europe, which aims to give citizens a voice in shaping the future of the EU. Third, the many challenges have also highlighted the benefits of international cooperation in finding ways to address them. The EU has worked closely with international organizations such as the United Nations and the World Health Organization to address issues such as climate change and global health.
