Cultural borderland - specificity, diversity, inhabitants’ identity 1900-POGRA-OG

The issues to be covered include the theoretical topics concerning terminology i.e. the definition of the term of borderland (kresy, superimposed region), the scope of its meaning, typology of the borderland. Research issues of the borderland in geography as well as in other disciplines (sociology, ethnology, pedagogy) will be also discussed during the course. The next topics concerning the problems with the inhabitants’ identity creation living on the borderland: the identification of the elements of the people’s identity; the importance of the mother language in creating cultural identity; positive and negative aspects of the contacts between representatives of different cultural groups. The cultural diversity of Poland as well as the learning of the mother language of minorities in polish school will be also mentioned. The final topics refer to the particular examples of the borderland’s regions eg. Podlasie, Bukowina, Zakrapacie, Bazylea Regio etc. wit the presentation of their history, cultural and ethnic specificity as well as tourism attractiveness.

Type of course

general courses

Course coordinators

Alina Awramiuk-Godun

Learning outcomes

Knowledge.
After the course student will be able to:
- define the term borderland,
- list and describe the meaning of this term,
- define the concept of the superimposed region and to give the examples of these areas,
- describe the creation stages of the superimposed region,
- define the terms : individual and social identity, ideological and private homeland,
- list the elements of the people’s identity,
- list the national and ethnic minorities living in Poland and their place of living,
- explain the reasons of spreading the Lemko and Ukrainian minorities in Poland,
- explain the differences in the statistics describing number of the minority groups in Poland, taken from national census and provided by organizations representing minorities groups,
- explain the importance of the mother language in creating the child's identity,
- describe in which way the education system in Poland supports the teaching of children from minorities,
- explain the differences between the terms inter-cultural and multi-cultural education,
- list the tasks and objectives of the inter-cultural and multi-cultural education.

Skills
After the course student will be able to:
-give the examples of the methods of conflicts’ solving that take place on de borderland,
- organize educational activities with the objective to develop tolerance and respect for other cultures by pupils.

Attitude
The aim of the curs is to create the students' openness to other cultures, tolerance and respect for other traditions and beliefs. Recognize the cultural richness of Polish and European borderlands and their importance in the development of both the local communities and all nations

Assessment criteria

Final tests which includes 4-5 open-ended questions concerning:
- knowledge – knowledge reconstruction and understanding of the topics discussed during the lectures
- skills – applying of the knowledge in practice.
The final grade will depend on the students’ attendance during the course and their active participation during the lessons.
There is also opportunity to prepare the presentation including student’s way of understanding topics discussed during the course and present another borderlands which were not discussed during the course (it is not compulsory).

Bibliography

1. Barwiński M., 2004, Podlasie jako pogranicze narodowościowo-wyznaniowe, Wyd. Uniwersytetu Łódzkiego, Łódź.
2. Nikitorowicz J., 1995, Pogranicze tożsamości - edukacja międzykulturowa, Trans Humana, Białystok.
3. Nikitorowicz J., 2005, Kreowanie tożsamości dziecka, Gdańskie Wyd. Psychologiczne, Gdańsk.
4. Rykiel Z., 1991, Rozwój regionów stykowych w teorii i w badaniach empirycznych, IGiPZ, Wyd. PAN, Wrocław, Warszawa, Kraków.
5. Sadowski A., 1995, Pogranicze polsko-białoruskie. Tożsamość mieszkańców, Trans Humana, Białystok.
6. Górecki J., 2006, Świadomość regionalna Polaków mieszkających na Bukowinie, Uniwersytet Jagielloński w Krakowie.
7. Wielka Encyklopedia Geografii Świata, tom XII, Ludność Świata, 1998, (red.) T. Kaczmarek, T. Koralewski, R. Matkowski, Wyd. Kurpisz, Poznań (wybrane rozdziały).

Additional information

Information on level of this course, year of study and semester when the course unit is delivered, types and amount of class hours - can be found in course structure diagrams of apropriate study programmes. This course is related to the following study programmes:

Additional information (registration calendar, class conductors, localization and schedules of classes), might be available in the USOSweb system:

Description of 1900-POGRA-OG in USOSweb