Bird Watchers Flock to Colombia

A more peaceful Colombia is attracting the world's bird watchers. Click on the embedded link below to read the article and see photos on the NPR website. Word count: 502

As Colombia Grows Safer, Tourists - Especially Bird Lovers - Flock Back

Before reading:

General Knowledge:

• Can you find the country of Colombia on a map?
• What comes to mind when you think about Colombia?

         

Speculate:

• What might make Colombia a great place for watching birds?

          
      

John Otis for NPR

      

         

After reading:

      

Review and discuss:

• Write a 3-4 sentence summary of this article. Begin your summary with "This article is about…".
• How do you think the local people might feel about the increase in the number of tourists? Think about people like Loraida Pavon.
• What do you think Marcia Wiley means when she says, " And all of a sudden, you are in this world between what's real and what's not real"?
• What do you think Colombia will need to do in order to prepare for the increase in tourism?
• In your opinion, what was the most interesting thing mentioned in this article? Why?

        

Reflect and evaluate:

• Make a list of possible ways that an increase in tourism might affect the country. Who will be the most affected? Which of the possible outcomes are positive and which are negative?
• The tourists interviewed in the article came to Colombia to see something they could not see in their hometowns. If you could go anywhere in the world to see something special, where would you go?
• What bird or animal species are well-known or unique in the area where you live? Do tourists visit your area to see them?
• 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.

         

Beyond the page:

• Read more about the peace talks between the Colombian government and the FARC rebels: US urges Colombia and Farc to sign peace accord
• Find out more about bird watching in Colombia (Colombia Birding) or take a look at some beautiful photos of birds seen in this region (antpitta.com).
• Find out about other parts of the world where tourism has been disrupted because of fighting or other problems. Have you heard any other stories like this in the news lately?

           

Join the conversation: add your thoughts about this article in the comments section below. And don't forget to like Lively Exchanges on Facebook!

Is McDonald's to blame for rising obesity rates in Israel?

Israel's government has targeted McDonald's in its efforts to promote healthier eating.  Click on the embedded link below to read the article and see photos on the NPR website. Word count: 672
       
Israel's Health Minister To McDonald's: 'Not In Our Country'            

Before reading:

       

General Knowledge:

• Can you find Israel on a map?
• What comes to mind when you think about McDonald's? What kind of reputation does McDonald's have?

       

Speculate:

• Israel's health minister has criticized the nutritional value of food at McDonald's. How do you think McDonald's responded?
• This article explains how Israel's government defines "fast food". What do you think are the characteristics of this type of food? How would you define this term?

           

              

After reading:

         

Review and discuss:

• Write a 3-4 sentence summary of this article. Begin your summary with "This article is about…".
• Do you think it is fair for the government to target one specific company (rather than all fast food companies, for example) in their efforts to promote healthy eating?
• The article says that Israel's health ministry defines "fast food" as "food that is eaten in 7-10 minutes without fork and knife, needs little chewing, and makes the eater feel satiated only after 20 minutes, pushing the eater to consume more". What do you think about this definition? Would you make any changes?
• The article lists several ideas for promoting healthy eating, suggested by Israel's Regulatory Committee to Advance Healthy Food. Choose the 2 ideas that you think are most important, then chose the 2 that you think are least important. Explain your choices. Would you like to implement any of these strategies where you live?
• In your opinion, what was the most interesting thing mentioned in this article? Why?

          

Reflect and evaluate:

• Is obesity a problem where you live? How does the government promote healthy eating habits?
• Is it fair to blame fast food restaurants for rising obesity rates? How might the government, the education system, or the economy also affect obesity? Should other businesses, like snack food manufacturers, share the blame?
• How do you think McDonald's compares to other fast food restaurants where you live? Is it healthier, less healthy or about the same?
• In your opinion, how healthy are your own eating habits? Do you enjoy eating fast food?
• 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.

          

Beyond the page:

• Find out more about the Mediterranean diet, which is common in Israel. Have you ever tried this type of cuisine?
• Take a look at some interesting menu items from McDonald's around the world: 30 Bizarre McDonald's Burgers and Drinks Around the World
• If you're up for a longer read, take a look at this article which talks about changes in fast food offerings in the United States, as well as McDonald's' efforts to change its image: Freedom From Fries

           

Join the conversation: add your thoughts about this article in the comments section below. And don't forget to like Lively Exchanges on Facebook!

A bakery that changes lives

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 a bakery offering opportunities to women who have been in prison. Word count: 1066

Before reading:

General Knowledge:

• Can you find the US state of Virginia on a map?
• What are "soft skills"? Why are these skills important?
• What is "recidivism"?

        
Speculate:

• After a person is released from prison, what are some challenges they might face, and why?

      
After reading: 

        

Review and discuss:

• Write a 3-4 sentence summary of this article. Begin your summary with "This article is about…".
• Why did the writer contrast the cleanliness of the kitchen with "the chaos that some of these women have been navigating"?
• Sam Schaeffer says that one of the reasons culinary employment is appealing to people who have been in prison is because it allows them to work with their hands. Why might this be an attractive quality in a job?
• What do you think about the Ban the Box movement mentioned in the article?
• Explain the relationship between employment and lower recidivism rates.
• In your opinion, what was the most interesting thing mentioned in this article? Why?

      
Reflect and evaluate:

• Has this article changed the way you think about people with criminal backgrounds? Explain.
• In your opinion, should prisons help prepare inmates for returning to normal life?
• Which "soft skills" are most important in your work or study environment? Choose three or four of them and explain how these skills affect the way people do their jobs or relate to others.
• 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.

      
Beyond the page:

• Take a look at the Together We Bake website: http://www.togetherwebake.org/

        

Join the conversation: add your thoughts about this article in the comments section below. And don't forget to share this post with your friends!

10 Ideas for Study Groups - free download!

Are you using the Lively Exchanges blog with your study group? Download these 10 tips for making your study sessions successful:
        

       
Access the free download here: 10 Ideas for Study Groups

Smog-induced stress for Mexico City residents

**Special note: Check in again tomorrow for a free download!**

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 how high levels of smog are affecting the residents of Mexico City. Word count: 492

Before reading:

      

General Knowledge:

• Can you find Mexico City on a map?
• What is smog? What causes it?

     

Speculate:

• One of Mexico City's strategies for reducing smog is to limit the number of cars on the road each day. Consider: a) How can the government make a fair rule about which cars are not driven on which days? b) What could be some of the consequences of preventing drivers from using their cars?

    

After reading:

         

Review and discuss:

• Write a 3-4 sentence summary of this article. Begin your summary with "This article is about…".
• As the article states, smog in Mexico City isn't as bad as in other parts of the world, or even as bad as in the city's own past. What can be inferred by the fact that the government is taking steps to limit smog now?
• What problems might result from not reducing the smog? Think about consequences for the environment, public health, etc.
• Imagine that you are a business owner in Mexico City. How could you help relieve the stress of the commute for your employees?
• Which types of businesses and which types of people are likely to be more affected by the car ban than others?
• In your opinion, what was the most interesting thing mentioned in this article? Why?

         

Reflect and evaluate:

• What kinds of pollution does your city struggle with? Has the government taken steps to change the situation?
• What forms of transportation do people rely on the most where you live? Do people usually use cars? Trains? Bicycles? What would happen if they had to use different transportation once a week?
• 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.

          

Also in the news…

Read about other places that must deal with their smog problem:

• Southern California: Air pollution study shows children got healthier as the air got cleaner
• Italy: Milan and Rome ban cars as pollution rises
• China: China smog sparks red alerts in 10 cities

        

Join the conversation: add your thoughts about this article in the comments section below. And don't forget to share this blog with others!

Follow-ups: new perspectives on previous posts

Today's post offers some selections for follow-up reading on two topics that have appeared recently on the blog. Did one of these topics interest you? Take a look at other perspectives on the problems or situations that have been covered in Lively Exchanges discussions.

   

Topic #1: Food waste

    

Original post: Denmark Shows the World How to Reduce Food Waste

     

Another perspective:

• How Colorado is Turning Food Waste into Electricity: "Consumers throw out a staggering amount of food every year: Knowing there's a machine to clean up their mess could relieve some guilt of throwing food away."

          

Topic #2: Refugees in Sweden

      

Original post: Refugees Make a New Life in Sweden

       

Other perspectives:

• As Sweden Absorbs Refugees, Some Warn the Welcome Won't Last: "Some 160,000 asylum seekers arrived in the country last year alone, stretching its resources."
• After Fleeing the Taliban, An Afghan Reinvents Himself in Sweden: "Hafiz says that in Sweden, he finally feels like a human being again."

       

Talk about these topics with others, or write about your reflections in a notebook. Have these new articles changed the way you think about something? How do they help you understand the topic better?

Refugees make a new life in Sweden

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 how Sweden is helping refugees adjust to life in a new country. Word count: 743

Before reading:

      

General Knowledge:

• Can you find Sweden on a map? How about Syria?
• What is a 'refugee'?
• Why has there been a lot of news and discussion about refugees recently? What have you heard?

            

Speculate:

• When a refugee arrives in a new country, what are some of the most important things they might need to learn first?
• This article describes some of the things the Swedish government is doing to help refugees integrate into society quickly. What do you think are the advantages of this? Why is this important?

       

After reading:

       

Review and discuss:

• Write a 3-4 sentence summary of this article. Begin your summary with "This article is about…".
• What are the advantages of having immigrants like Mohammad Abdualamir teach the classes for refugees? Could there be any disadvantages? What kind of person would make a good teacher for immigrants?
• The article says that Sweden is a "haven" for refugees and that last year it accepted "the most [refugees] per capita of any European country". What does this suggest about Swedish culture or values?
• The article also says that Sweden's anti-immigration party is gaining support because some people "see their country changing". What kind of changes might they be worried about?
• One of the problems mentioned in the article is that Swedish and refugee students don't seem to be mixing in the cafeteria. How do you think the school can encourage the students to get to know one another?
• In your opinion, what was the most interesting thing mentioned in this article? Why?

     

Reflect and evaluate:

• This article concentrates on ways that the government is helping refugees learn to live in Sweden, but what do you think the government could do to educate Swedish people about the refugees who are arriving?
• What are some ways that a country can change when it experiences an influx of immigrants?
• 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.

      

Beyond the page

• Do some research to find out more about refugees in your part of the world. Are there many refugees living in your country? Where are they from? Does your country offer services for them?
• Follow this link to see some infographics illustrating the refugee crisis: Refugee Crisis in Europe Explained through Infographics.

       

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