Feel the emotions, name them, and choose responses that build connection.
WHAT CONCEPTS SHOULD YOU KNOW AS EDUCATOR?
Why is it important to talk about empathy and emotions when talking about how to tackle discrimination? Empathy is the first requirement so that we are not in-different in addressing it. It does not mean for example that if you do not face or see discrimination yourself, that it would not be the case for somebody else. It is important to be actively interested in other people’s realities. Also, it is not ok to pour your own negative emotions on others. Then what would be important to understand about emotions or empathy?
It is part of human existence to experience many different EMOTIONS even for one day or 15 minutes. Emotions are not dangerous, even if they sometimes feel very strong or uncomfortable. What matters is to remember that all feelings are allowed — it is human to feel them. At the same time, it is important to notice how we respond to our emotions. Feelings should not be used as a reason to hurt ourselves or others, for example by saying offensive or harmful words. Instead, we can learn to express emotions in ways that support understanding, care, and respect. Understanding and recognizing our emotions and connecting them to interaction constructively requires life-long work and an important topic to be reflected with the students as well. This emotional learning is connected to empathy.
Then what is EMPATHY? It is the ability to recognise and understand how another person feels, to see a situation from their point of view, and to respond in a respectful and responsible way. Empathy is not a single emotion, but a skill that combines noticing others’ emotions, understanding their experiences, and managing one’s own feelings so that interactions remain supportive and inclusive. As explained by Brené Brown, empathy involves listening, suspending judgement, and showing that another person’s feelings are taken seriously. Empathy creates connection, while sympathy creates distance by observing a situation from the outside without fully engaging. In VET learning and workplace contexts, empathy supports respectful interaction, teamwork, and inclusive environments.
HOW CAN YOU EXPLAIN IT TO THE STUDENTS?
To be able to connect with other people and with emotions they are having, we need empathy.
Empathy requires many things; one very concrete premise is the ability to listen. Listen actively and with empathy. You do not have to think actively about how to resolve the other person’s issues but instead concentrate on genuinely understanding what the other person wants to express. We tend to make assumptions of each other, instead of listening and asking. This active interest to understand the different individuals in the group supports positive group dynamics.
| ACTION ITEM | Model emotional responsibility: Make explicit that emotions themselves are normal and human, while responsibility lies in how they are expressed and acted upon. Guide on how to express and manage emotions constructively. |
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