Speaking calendar/Day of Non-Violence
October 2nd · Peace & Resolution

Day of Non-Violence

The International Day of Non-Violence is observed on October 2nd, the birthday of Mahatma Gandhi, leader of the Indian independence movement and pioneer of the philosophy and strategy of non-violence. Today, we debate the power of non-violent resistance, the challenges of conflict resolution in the modern world, and whether true peace is a realistic goal for humanity. Can one person truly change the world through peace alone?

SPEAKING LESSONB1 / B2Discussion · Vocabulary · Activities
01 / LET’S TALK

Speaking Discussion

  1. What does non-violence mean to you in your daily life? Is it just about physical actions, or does it also apply to our words and thoughts?
  2. In your opinion, what is the most effective way to resolve a conflict between two people or groups who have very different views?
  3. How much of a role should the legacy of historical figures like Gandhi or Martin Luther King Jr. play in modern social movements?
  4. Do you think that non-violent resistance is still a powerful tool in the age of digital information and instant communication?
  5. What is the biggest obstacle to global peace in the 21st century? How can we begin to overcome it?
  6. If you had to lead a peaceful movement for change in your community, what issue would you focus on first? Why?
02 / PUT IT INTO PRACTICE

Activity 1: The peace proposal Drafting

The Task: You are a Diplomat. You need to draft a simple, 3-point peace proposal to resolve a hypothetical conflict between two neighborhoods.

What are your three points, and how will you convince both sides to agree?

Activity 2: Rapid Fire Sentences

Complete the sentence and justify it in 20 seconds.

  • "The most important part of non-violence is..."
  • "I think true peace is..."
  • "In my opinion, conflict resolution should be..."