New York City firefighters learn Chinese

Click on the embedded link above to read the article, see photos, and listen to or download the audio file on the NPR website.

This article is about NYC firefighters, paramedics, and EMTs who are learning Mandarin. Word count: 440

Before reading:

General Knowledge:

·Can you find New York City on a map?

·What comes to mind when you think about New York?

Speculate:

·New York City is one of the most ethnically diverse cities in the United States. How might this affect the public services that are offered?

After reading:

Review and discuss:

·Write a 3-4 sentence summary of this article. Begin your summary with "This article is about…".

·What does Doraun Ellis mean when he says, "I'm a, you know, 6-foot-2 black guy. They were not expecting me to speak Mandarin"?

·Lt. Charles Flores says, "If you can put them a little at ease, that's half the treatment sometimes." How does learning Chinese help to accomplish this?

·What might happen in a situation where a firefighter or paramedic cannot speak the language of a person who needs help?

·In your opinion, what was the most interesting thing mentioned in this article? Why?

Reflect and evaluate:

·Have you ever been able to put someone at ease in a difficult or stressful situation? Or has someone helped you? What happened?

·Are there any skills you would like to learn in order to do your job better?

·Research: Chinese immigrants haven't always been New York City's largest immigrant group. Find out about immigration trends in the city's history. Then, find out more about immigration trends in the area where you live.

·Is there anything else you'd like to know about this topic? Do you have any questions that weren't answered in the article?

·What vocabulary words were new to you in this article? Make a record of what you have learned.

Join the conversation: add your thoughts about this article in the comments section below!