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Freire’s Dialogue

University of the People

EDUC 5220: Curriculum Design and Instructional Decision Making

Dr. Sansone

July 19, 2023

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Freire’s Dialogue

Paulo Freire is considered one of the most influential minds in education. His thoughts

and theories have shaped the way education is today. Freire was a voice for the “oppressed”

people. “Freire's revolutionary pedagogy starts from a deep love for, and humility before, poor

and oppressed people and a respect for their "common sense," which constitutes a knowledge no

less important than the scientific knowledge of the professional” (Paulo Freire (1921–1997) -

Conceptual Tools, Philosophy of Education, Criticism, n.d., Para. 1).

Dialogue

One area that Freire advocated for was dialogue.

“For Freire, dialogue is "an act of creation" firmly rooted in love. Dialogue is the process

of naming the world, and by trusting others, particularly those deemed "weaker," to

explore and name their experiences is an act of love—for both humanity and the world

itself. It is also an act of humility” (Course Hero, Inc., 2016, Para. 2).

Freire explains that dialogue can’t happen unless both people are there to learn something and

have an open mind. Everyone in the conversation must be involved, be listened to, and be

respected. Both parties must be open to hearing new ideas and be willing to change their

perspective on an issue. Dialogue can build trust when both parties are respected and the actions

discussed are carried through. If a teacher or a political leader makes a promise, they must carry

through with it, otherwise trust will be lost. Educators and leaders must also use language that

can be understood by the oppressed. If the leaders are using language that the oppressed don't

understand, they will lose interest and not listen. Educators and leaders must also not assume

they know the problems or situations that the oppressed deal with. The oppressed need to be able

to share their experiences and thoughts with the leader. The educator or leader needs to be able to
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work and communicate with the oppressed. The dialogue needs to be respectful and trust must be

established (Freire, 1970, 1993).

Curriculum Reform

Paulo Freire did not believe in the “banking system” of education. The “banking system”

implies that children’s minds are an empty bank. Teachers “deposit” knowledge into the student’s

bank to educate them. The “banking system” implies that teachers hold all the knowledge. Freire

believed in the “problem-posing system”. In this system, the teacher does not give the students

the answer. The students must problem solve and explore to find the answer. The teacher is there

to help guide them with their research and problem solving skills. The oppressed students have

been used to being “less than” so to teach these children to become critical thinkers involves

dialogue. This dialogue is important to help the oppressed realize that they can change their

situation. They can be respected and are allowed to have their own thoughts and ideas (Paulo

Freire (1921–1997) - Conceptual Tools, Philosophy of Education, Criticism, n.d.). Freire’s idea

of “problem-posing” is still relevant today. Teachers are still trying to teach students to be

problem solvers and to use creative thinking. These skills are needed to be successful in society

today. Employers look for people who can think outside the box and solve problems. Employers

also look for people who know how to communicate. Freire definitely had an impact on

education reform.

Assessment

Freire’s strength and validity for dialogue is spot on. People lose interest in a

conversation when they do not feel as though their input is valued or being heard. They also lose

interest if the language used is too challenging for them and isn’t understood.

“Most people go through life wishing to be listened to more. So by listening rather than
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talking, you are giving something valuable to the person who's speaking. Especially if

you really are taking in what that person is saying and not thinking about something else.

The speaker will appreciate that gift and you will have created a bond. He or she will feel

understood and validated” (Zetlin, 2020, Para. 10).

Freire’s theory of dialogue is especially true in education. When I am teaching I have to make

sure that I am using language that the students can understand, but still expand their minds. I am

very big on open communication in my classroom. If a student has a problem, we sit down and

discuss it. I teach them the importance of being able to have a conversation. Dialogue is a skill

they will need the rest of their lives.

In conclusion, Freire certainly knew what he was talking about when he shared the term

dialogue and his logic to the world. Perhaps we need to remind the world how important

dialogue is and how to do it effectively. It may help solve some of the current problems in the

world.
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References

Course Hero, Inc. (2016). Pedagogy of the Oppressed Chapter 3 Summary | Course Hero.

Course Hero. https://www.coursehero.com/lit/Pedagogy-of-the-

Oppressed/chapter-3-summary/

Freire, P. (1970, 1993). Chapter 3 In Pedagogy of the Oppressed. London: The Continuum

International Publishing Group.

http://www.historyisaweapon.com/defcon2/pedagogy/pedagogychapter3.html

Paulo Freire (1921–1997) - Conceptual Tools, Philosophy of Education, Criticism. (n.d.).

Students, World, Oppressed, and Process - StateUniversity.Com.

https://education.stateuniversity.com/pages/1998/Freire-Paulo-

1921-1997.html

Zetlin, M. (2020, February 6). 7 Smart Reasons You Should Talk Less and Listen More. Inc.Com.

https://www.inc.com/minda-zetlin/7-reasons-why-its-smart-to-listen-more-than-

you-talk.html