The Irish immigration to USA during the 19th century

In the second grade in high school, in History lessons, we must study an example of emigration from Europe. This subject can illustrate the part of Europeans in the peopling of the earth. Personally, I chose the Irish immigration to United States during the nineteenth century.

The students were allowed to work in pair group. They had to choose one theme among these : the context (why did Irish people migrate to United States?), the escape, the crossing of the ocean, the arrival in New-York, the biography of Jacob Riis, the reality in New-York (the daily life of migrants) and the evolution of Irish immigration to US.

I handed out one or several documents according to the subject : cartoon, draw, photograph, curve, video, text…

And they finally made the recording of it. They had the choice between a mp3 file (for only sound) or a mp4 file (if they wanted to mix pictures and sound).

Obviously, the result is unequal but many students made an effort. To speak in English (when it’s not your native language) and to record yourself with equipment not always appropriated for are not easy. Read the text as you was a journalist on the radio is difficult ; it needs training… Nevertheless, there are original and interesting works.

Have a good listening… and be kindly !

Arrival in New-York

Another group decided to expose this subject as a radio report including an interview.