Listen&Learn: Human Libraries

Posted by: Jaksyn Peacock

Places for people to tell their stories and learn about each other.

Pre-listening vocabulary

• organization: a group of people who have a goal
• diverse: including people of many different backgrounds and identities
• volunteer: someone who offers to do something for free
• borrow: to take something and return it later
• stereotype: a generalized belief about a group of people
• empathize: to understand someone’s feelings and experiences

Listening activity

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Gapfill exercise

In 2000, an organization in Denmark started a called “The Human Library”. This library was not meant for borrowing . Instead, visitors could “borrow” a person and to their story. The event had a diverse group of volunteers with unique to share. The Human Library’s goal was to challenge stereotypes. By meeting one-on-one, the visitors and volunteers got a chance to empathize with each other. The first event was very , and the Human Library began to travel around the world. Over 80 countries have now held Human Library events. Some countries have even built permanent Human Libraries that people can visit at any time.

Comprehension questions

1. The first Human Library event was held in

Denmark

England

Finland

Correct! Wrong!

The first Human Library event was held in Denmark.

2. At the Human Library, visitors could borrow

books written by diverse authors

people with unique experiences to share

lessons about stereotypes and empathy

Correct! Wrong!

At the Human Library, visitors could borrow people with unique experiences to share.

3. The Human Library's goal was

to challenge stereotypes

to offer books from around the world

to get people interested in reading

Correct! Wrong!

The Human Library's goal was to challenge stereotypes.

Discussion/essay questions

1. Would you ever visit a Human Library? What do you think you could learn?

Transcript

In 2000, an organization in Denmark started a project called “The Human Library”. This library was not meant for borrowing books. Instead, visitors could “borrow” a person and listen to their story. The event had a diverse group of volunteers with unique experiences to share. The Human Library’s goal was to challenge stereotypes. By meeting one-on-one, the visitors and volunteers got a chance to empathize with each other. The first event was very successful, and the Human Library began to travel around the world. Over 80 countries have now held Human Library events. Some countries have even built permanent Human Libraries that people can visit at any time. 

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Written and recorded by Jaksyn Peacock for EnglishClub

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24 comments

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• kanishka jaswal says:
  

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