Behind the Scenes with Team 2: A Collaborative Approach to Empathy and Community
By Sorana Necula Teacher Coordinator, Colegiul Național "George Coșbuc" Cluj-Napoca, Romania
As the coordinator for Team 2 in the "High Schoolers Talk I" project, I have had the privilege of observing a truly meaningful collaborative process. Our mixed-country team was tasked with exploring a nuanced and highly relevant subject for today's youth: Mental Health, Empathy, and Stronger Communities, with a specific focus on understanding other cultures. Watching our students from Romania and Turkey navigate this theme with maturity, structured effort, and mutual respect has been a rewarding professional experience. The final presentation is the result of careful planning, but the steps the students took to get there are equally worth highlighting.
To properly address the complexity of the topic, we divided the presentation into three distinct but connected segments, allowing each student to contribute her unique perspective. Meyra (teacher Derya) opened the talk by setting a thoughtful foundation around mental health awareness and gently addressing common stigmas. The core of the presentation was delivered by my student from Romania, Ana U., who explored the broader impact of mental health on society. By integrating relevant facts and a relatable story, Ana effectively demonstrated how understanding different cultures serves as a practical, everyday application of empathy. Finally, Elif, under the guidance of teacher Bedia, concluded the speech with a clear focus on actionable solutions, detailing how we can actively build better, more inclusive communities.
The development of this final video was a highly collaborative and structured process. The students began by preparing their initial speech drafts independently, utilizing a shared project template to ensure their ideas aligned well with the TED-style format. Once the initial drafts were complete, the team held online meetings to review and refine the final versions of their speeches. These virtual sessions were a vital part of the project. The students displayed genuine enthusiasm as they provided constructive feedback to one another, adjusted their transitions, and ensured their individual sections flowed naturally into one unified message.
Following these collaborative sessions, the students focused on their delivery and independently recorded their respective parts. Presenting a thoughtful topic in a second language requires focus and confidence, and all three students managed the task admirably. In the final phase, teacher Derya, teacher Bedia, and I gathered their recordings, merged the videos into a single cohesive presentation, and began the publication process. Ultimately, the way these students worked together—coordinating across time zones, navigating language nuances, and actively listening to one another's ideas—was a practical exercise in the very empathy and cultural understanding they spoke about in their speeches. It was a well-executed project, and I am pleased to see their hard work come to fruition.
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