On November 17th, students from 1st “A” grade Secondary Level participated in a meaningful and interdisciplinary class titled “Bosnia before and after the First World War.” The session took place during their Social Studies lesson, under the guidance of Ms. Patricia Jerez, and was conducted entirely in English as part of the English Immersion Plan.
The activity was led by Mr. Marcos Riveros Illanes, Coordinator of the English Immersion Plan, together with Ms. Mia Kreca, our foreign guest from Bosnia and Herzegovina. The class invited students to reflect on the historical and cultural impact of the First World War on Bosnia, connecting past events to questions of identity, memory, and cultural understanding in the present.
The lesson began with a visual exploration of the Balkan Peninsula, where students located Bosnia on the map and shared their prior knowledge about the region. This introduction helped set the stage for the historical context that followed. The class then watched a short documentary video — “Bosnia and the First World War” — which presented the main events in Sarajevo and illustrated how the tensions of that time triggered the outbreak of the Great War.
The highlight of the session came through Ms. Mia Kreca’s participation, as she shared her personal reflections about Bosnia’s history and identity. Her presence gave students the opportunity to listen to an authentic perspective from someone whose roots are directly connected to the country they were studying. Through her words, history became tangible — no longer distant or abstract, but personal and alive.
Students participated with great interest, asking thoughtful questions about Bosnia before and after the war and reflecting on how conflict can shape nations and individuals. The dialogue encouraged them to think critically about the role of history in building empathy and understanding among cultures.
“Listening to Mia made us realise that history isn’t just about the past — it’s about people and their stories,” shared one student.
The class concluded with a collective reflection on the importance of learning history through real voices and cross-cultural dialogue. It was an inspiring experience that brought together language, empathy, and global awareness.
Through initiatives like this, Colegio Concepción continues to promote meaningful learning, bilingual education, and intercultural understanding, reminding us that history is not only learned from books but lived through connection and conversation.
