I can’t remember when I first heard about the “Berlin Wall,” probably in high school or even in university. I knew that Germany was divided into West and East after World War II, and I also knew that the Wall eventually fell down. However, all those sentences were simply words in a textbook and didn’t mean much to me. It was only about 8 or 9 years ago when I had the chance to visit Berlin on a business trip that I decided to go as a “real tourist” to Checkpoint Charlie. At Checkpoint Charlie, you can see one side where an American soldier stood and the other side where a Soviet Union soldier stood (yes, they looked very different!). However, I had no idea where exactly the Wall was. Who knows? I thought, maybe this is it. (How silly I was in those old days…)
pic from https://www.berlin-welcomecard.de/en/poi/checkpoint-charlie
Three years ago, I brought my kids to Germany for the first time. We were accompanied by a couple who were born in Berlin and had a personal connection to its history. As we listened to their family stories, we took the metro and walked along a street lined with new buildings that lacked charm. The Wall was still present, but there were no visible clues indicating its existence. However, everything changed when we finally reached the memorial stone. There it was, the true representation of the Wall. In that moment, “the Wall” ceased to be just a noun. It became a tangible reality for me. Through the stories we heard and the experience of seeing the memorial stone, I felt a deep connection to its significance.
As “Germany” is always a popular topic in my class, I wonder what more I can add this time so that the students can understand and enjoy it. What are the interesting aspects of the Berlin Wall? How should I teach it? What should I teach and how should I approach it? It’s always a brainstorming session when I’m preparing my class. The students already have knowledge about World War II, and they know that Germany, Japan, and Italy were on one side, while the rest were on the opposite side (although they might only be familiar with Russia and the USA). I typically start after Germany’s defeat in World War II when it was “partially divided” (although that might not be the correct word; in Chinese translation, it means “forced to be divided”) by several countries. Therefore, before introducing this part of history, I need to explain the meaning of “forced to be divided” first.
Somehow, there has always been something missing in my mind. I have learned many terms and concepts that I never truly understood. For instance, I have known about the “Berlin Wall” for years, but I never really considered what it actually looked like. Frankly speaking, that’s not the way it should be. Now, as a part-time teacher, I strive to avoid such gaps in knowledge. I want the kids to truly know, feel, and think about the subjects we cover. Even though they are young (around 4 to 8 years old), they are capable of processing information. I have found a video from 1989 that shows the tearing down of the Berlin Wall. Let’s “see” history together!
When I played the video, everyone was so focused. I realized that even though they may not understand everything, they were able to see how the Berlin Wall looked like, and this image will stay in their minds. It serves as a starting point for future learning. Their curiosity was piqued, and I firmly believe that curiosity makes everything possible. As adults, it is our responsibility to nurture and protect that curiosity. With the next picture, I asked the kids what they thought of the small building. They suggested it could be from Japan, China, or Asia. They were correct! It indeed had an Asian style. sponsored by South Korea. Why? That’s another topic we can talk about 😉 becoz as Germany were divided into West/East Germany, Korea has similar situation. Yet south Korean hope that the border will be vanish peacefully someday…
History is always the best story for everyone! With the help of pictures, we can teach kids about the world, and they can process and understand it. But before anything else, let’s cultivate curiosity in everything!
#Children’s international perspective #Promoting international literacy among children #Fostering a global outlook in children #Berlin Wall #Germany #World history
