ISFD 809

Sistema de la lengua inglesa II

Names:
ASSIGNMENT ON REFUGEE BOY

The aims of this assignment are:

To discuss international issues triggered by the book.

To explore different sources of information to develop informed opinions.
To experience content and language integrated learning.
To talk about the book, the story itself and how it fits into its complex context of
production and circulation.

Activities
1. The book and its context. In the map below indicate where we find: Ethiopia, Eritrea,
Badme, Asmara, and Harar.

2. The protagonist, Alem, becomes a refugee (then hes followed by his father) as a result
of the Ethiopia-Eritrea war. Provide a summary of this war in no more than 200 words.
Please, produce an original summary based on your own info search. Suggested link:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eritrean%E2%80%93Ethiopian_War

ISFD 809
Sistema de la lengua inglesa II

Names:

3. The author and his context. Benjamin Zephaniah published Refugee Boy in 2001.
However, the themes underlying the book are still vivid today in the UK. Watch this
video. LINK: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rTn_P8cq7w0
Question: what connections are there between the book published in 2001 and the UK in
2014?

4. Resonances. The issue of refugees and displacement is major in some territories.

Follow the link below.
https://www.youtube.com/user/unhcr . Choose ONE of the videos and complete the
activities below.
a.
b.
c.
d.

Who chose the video called

This video is about
We chose this video because
It is related to the themes in Refugee Boy because

5. The protagonist and his context. On the issue of children and war, British band Keane
released a song called The Night Sky.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8Tv2u_AhHcM
a. Does the song offer a sad or optimistic view about the future? Support your answer
with parts of the lyrics.

Other useful links:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Badme
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Benjamin_Zephaniah
http://benjaminzephaniah.com/