This talk is tailored for parents seeking cross-cultural literature for their kids and themselves.

Drawing on his longstanding interest in travel literature as a high school teacher, Mr. Emmet Dunphy will reflect on works that stimulate curiosity about cultural encounters, including the Hakluyt Society's publications of Ibn Battuta's travels, Giovanni da Pian del Carpine's journey to the court of the Great Khan, and, of course, Marco Polo. He will also recommend a curated reading list, ranging from Tupac Shakur and Seamus Heaney for Grade 6 to later works such as American Born Chinese, Persepolis, and Born a Crime.

Throughout the talk, Mr. Dunphy will share rich classroom examples showing how the right books effectively engage students in reading and understanding global cultures in depth, well beyond what they see on social media.

Mr. Emmet Dunphy holds a BA in English Literature and History and an MA in French History from University College Dublin. Currently, he teaches MYP and DP Language and Literature and DP Literature at Shanghai Community International School. Outside the classroom, he enjoys traveling, hiking, and hunting down contemporary literature for his students.