Implementing Tolerance towards Minority Groups in an English Lesson Plan: A Proposal for People with Down Syndrome

Abstract

Even though tolerance towards minority groups seems a truism, students at early ages need to be educated on this issue. Minorities include categories such as race, religion, sexuality, cognitive disability, autism, physical impairment, among others. The aim of this paper is to present different English lesson plans prepared by students in which the inclusion of people with Down Syndrome is stated. Broad efforts have been made on an institutional level, but this study presents a more pointed focus. This proposal integrates the topic into the syllabus of an English class because this subject provides an invaluable opportunity to put social matters into practice. To this end, an example of an English lesson plan prepared by future English teachers is offered in which respect, tolerance, and acceptance towards people with Down Syndrome is implemented. Results show that values flow naturally while teaching a subject and that creativity is an asset in this work.