A Minute of Language

Twenty four hours after the barbaric killings of the cartoonists and journalists from Charlie Hebdo by religious terrorists in Paris, I had my first class of the year with my students of English. I told them that, instead of observing a minute of silence as a tribute to the victims, I would teach them a few expressions that the fanatic yihadists would not have wanted me to teach them nor them to learn. I took a piece of red chalk and wrote in capitals on the blackboard:

8th January 2015

FREEDOM OF THE PRESS

FREEDOM OF SPEECH

FREEDOM OF FAITH

I pointed out to them that, although they were not strictly A2 or B1 language items, they would always need to know such terms, as they summarize some of the values our democracies stand on. I asked them to write them down on their notebooks in red and in capitals, which they did with great solemnity. It was a very emotional moment in my teaching career.

The great Voltaire said: "I don't agree with what you are saying, but I will die for your right to say it." 

L'AMOUR EST PLUS FORT QUE LA HAINE.

NOUS SOMMES TOUS CHARLIE HEBDO. 

Vive la Republique! Vive la Liberté!

El yihadismo es fascismo. 
¡ NO PASARÁN !

Love is stronger than hatred.