Respect and Authority

Curriculum Context

Subject Area: Filipino (Taught under "Languages Other Than English" – LOTE)
Year Level: Year 8
Australian Curriculum Code: AC9LF8C03 – Understand the relationship between language, culture, and identity, and use Filipino to respect and celebrate culturally significant practices.
Topic Focus: Analysing breaches of respect for parents, elders, and authority figures - "Nasusuri ang mga umiiral na paglabag sa paggalang sa magulang, nakatatanda, at may awtoridad."
Lesson Duration: 30 minutes
Class Size: 25 students

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Lesson Objectives

By the end of this lesson, students will:

1. Identify situations where respect towards parents, elders, and authority figures is not upheld.
2. Reflect on the cultural importance of showing respect in Filipino and Australian contexts.
3. Propose strategies to promote respect in personal and community interactions.

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Resources and Materials

• Whiteboard and markers
• Butcher paper and sticky notes
• Pre-prepared scenario cards (examples of breaches of respect)
• Short role-play activity scripts (2-3 lines each)
• Timer

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Lesson Structure

1. Warm-Up (5 minutes)

Activity: "Respect in Action – A Quick Poll"

• Begin by posing a question to the class: "What does respect mean to you?"
• Provide students with sticky notes. Ask them to write 1-2 examples of what respect looks like when interacting with:
  • Parents
  • Elders
  • Authority figures (teachers, police officers, community leaders).
• Students will stick their notes on three respective posters labeled Parents, Elders, and Authority Figures as they go.

Discussion:

• Quickly summarise the main themes and thank students for their input.
• Transition with: "Now, let's think about what happens when respect isn’t shown in these situations."

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2. Scenario Analysis (10 minutes)

Activity: Group Scenario Analysis

• Divide the class into five groups of five students each.
• Hand each group a pre-prepared scenario card that illustrates a breach of respect. Examples:
  • Interrupting or yelling at parents during a conversation.
  • Ignoring advice from elders.
  • Being disrespectful to teachers when given tasks.
• Instruct groups to:
  1. Read and discuss the scenario for 2 minutes.
  2. Analyse the impact of the disrespectful behaviour on relationships and the community.
  3. Write 1-2 potential ways to address or resolve the scenario.

Teacher's Role:

• Circulate the room to ensure students stay on task, providing clarification where needed.

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3. Role-Play Discussions (10 minutes)

Activity: Respect Role-Plays

• Invite 2-3 groups (time permitting) to perform short role-plays based on the scenario they analysed.
• After each role-play, facilitate a brief discussion with the class:
  • "What did you observe?"
  • "How could this situation have been handled differently to show respect?"
  • "How can we apply this in our daily lives?"

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4. Reflect and Connect (5 minutes)

Activity: Class Reflection

• On the whiteboard, write: "Why is respect important in our culture?"
• Ask students to raise their hands and share their thoughts through both a Filipino and broader Australian lens:
  • How respect for family and elders aligns with the core Filipino value of paggalang.
  • How respect strengthens community bonds and promotes harmony in Australian contexts.

Wrap-Up Message:

• Reinforce that respect is not limited to one culture but is a universal value that fosters understanding and connection.
• Encourage students to practise respect at home, in school, and in their broader communities.

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Differentiation

• Provide visual prompts for EAL/D students (pictures or keywords to accompany discussions).
• Verbally check understanding before group activities, ensuring all students are clear on the task.
• Pair less confident students with stronger peers to encourage participation during group activities.

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Assessment

Formative observations will be conducted during:

1. The scenario group discussions: Assessing critical thinking and collaboration.
2. Role-play reflections: Evaluating students' understanding of the cultural and interpersonal impacts of respecting or disrespecting authority figures.
3. Final reflections: Noting students’ ability to articulate their thoughts and connect respect to cultural contexts.

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Extension Activity (Optional)

Respect Journal: Encourage students to keep a three-day journal where they identify and document moments when:

1. They showed respect to parents, elders, or authority figures.
2. They witnessed or experienced respect (or a lack of respect).
3. Reflect on how they felt during these moments and what they learned from them.

Students can volunteer to share their entries during the next class.

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Teacher Notes

• Emphasise that cultural values like paggalang in Filipino culture can coexist with Australian values of fairness and respect.
• Use a calm and supportive tone to foster a respectful and inclusive learning environment. Remember that some students may have personal experiences that relate closely to the topic, so sensitivity is crucial.

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This lesson aims to go beyond language skills by integrating cultural awareness, building personal responsibility, and fostering a global perspective amongst Year 8 students.