1984 is one of my favourite books and so is Animal Farm. Orwell certainly posseses the craftmanship and vision of a great writer. Both books are very strong.

As for teaching books in class I still have this painful memory from 10th grade when my teacher coldly and harshly decomposed and almost killed the magic of another one of my favourite books, The Catcher in the Rye by Salinger.

It's not a big deal that you teach this book in a post socialist country (or whatever it is the right social / political terminology). These kids don't have any idea of the context or history. It would not touch them in any special way because of this. Even their parents must have forgotten all about it long time ago. And you rightly say that it is now that we are heading into the Big Brother world and may even happily invent the new speak so that we don't have to think uncomfortable thoughts.