The restoration of Iraq's marshlands

Topic:

         

This article is about the restoration of a marshland area in Iraq.

         

       

Before reading:

          

General Knowledge:

• Can you find the country of Iraq on a map? What do you know about it?
• What is UNESCO, and what are its main mission
• What are the characteristics of 'marshland'?

           

Speculate:

• What are some reasons that natural areas might be destroyed? In other words, what are some of the causes (human or otherwise) of ecological destruction?

             

Click on the embedded link below to read the article, see photos, and listen to or download the audio file on the PRI website. Word count: 543

           

Iraq's marshlands, nearly destroyed under Saddam, are coming back

After reading:

          

Review and discuss:

• Write a 3-4 sentence summary of this article. Begin your summary with "This article is about…".
• In your own words, explain why it is important to preserve these marshlands. Look for hints in the article, and give as many reasons as you can.
• How might the new UNESCO World Heritage status affect the region? Make a list of possible consequences.
• Although previous Iraqi governments have actively caused the destruction of the marshlands, Azzam Alwash says that the current government has made a commitment to protect this area. What does this imply about the current government?
• In your opinion, what was the most interesting thing mentioned in this article? Why?

          

Reflect and evaluate:

• Can you think of any traditions in your culture that have remained unchanged for a long period of time? Why do you think this tradition hasn't changed?
• Does your country have any sites with World Heritage status? What makes these places special? Have you been to visit any of them?
• Like the Iraqi marshlands, are there natural areas in your country that have been destroyed by humans? What were the effects of the destruction? How were people and animals affected by the destruction?
• 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 successful efforts in China to convert land back into forest. But this success, as it turns out, is a double-edged sword: What China's successful reforestation program means for the rest of the world

             

Join the conversation: add your thoughts about this article in the comments section below. Like Lively Exchanges on Facebook, and don't forget to share this post with your friends!

Helping refugees, one plate at a time

Topic:

         

This article describes a project in France that involves pairing chefs from different countries for a humanitarian purpose.
        

       

Before reading:

       

General Knowledge:

• Can you find France on a map?
• What do you know about Middle Eastern food? How about French food?
• What is "fusion" cuisine?

           

Speculate:

• A French organization is helping refugee chefs to partner with French chefs. What might they hope to accomplish?

           

Click on the embedded link below to read the article and see photos on the NPR website. Word count: 666

          

In Paris, Where Food Is King, Refugee Chefs Show What They Have To Offer

After reading:

          

Review and discuss:

• Write a 3-4 sentence summary of this article. Begin your summary with "This article is about…".
• The two chefs featured in this article don't have a common language, but chef Jégo says that "they are able to communicate through food". What does he mean by this? What sort of ideas might they be able to communicate?
• Why might cuisine be an effective way to influence the way that people feel about refugees?
• Marine Mandrila says that one of the goals of her organization is "to show that these people had real lives and professions before". Why is this important? If this goal is achieved, how might it be helpful to refugees?
• In your opinion, what was the most interesting thing mentioned in this article? Why?

            

Reflect and evaluate:

• Mohammad El Khaldy says that Syria has a "big food culture". Does your own country have a big food culture? Explain.
• El Khaldy identifies different regions in Syria which are each famous for their own culinary specialties. How about where you live? What are some examples of regional dishes?
• 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:

• Have you ever tried Syrian food, or other cuisines that are different from yours? Search for restaurants or food festivals in your area, and try something new!
• Explore Syrian dishes, and maybe try a recipe or two from one of these pages:
  Syrian Cooking, or 9 Syrian Recipes to Excite Your Taste Buds
• Check out the website for Food Sweet Food, the organization that inspired the refugee chef project in Paris: (website in French) http://www.foodsweetfood.org/

          

Also in the news:

• In Denmark, local people and refugees are creating music together: These African and Scandinavian musicians create sweet sounds in Copenhagen
• Another group in Paris is hoping to bring locals and refugees together by hosting a dance party in a park: Paris hosts a 'Migrant Ball,' but it wasn't just for migrants
• France isn't the only place hoping to unite locals and refugees through food. Read about a similar effort in Budapest: Budapest Foodies Hope Cuisine Can Help Heal Anti-Migrant Prejudice

        

           

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!

Summer photo exhibition: Week of July 11th

Our first photo was sent in by Megumi, from Japan:         
                      

           
Category: Festivals
      
Location: This photo was taken in my hometown
          

Comment:

           

This picture is from a summer festival ("Natsu-Matsuri") in my hometown. There is a shrine in my hometown and annually the summer festival is held.

           

In the morning, people go to the shrine with portable shrines (called omikoshi). In my town there are two omikoshi. One is for adults and the other is for children. They hold the ceremony to move the god to get on the portable shrine.

          

People carry it on their shoulders and walk around through the town.  Many spectators walk along with them. It takes around a half day to go through the town. At every stop, some foods and drinks are served to the people, including spectators. Matsuri is open to everyone!

                 

         

*****

Our second photo was sent in by Nao, from Tokyo, Japan:
         

          
Category: Culture
     
Location: My home

Comment:      

The Chinese Peony is one of my favorite flowers. It's an elegant, graceful flower. In floral language it means compassion and bashfulness, according to some websites. In Japanese, there is an expression to describe a beautiful woman:

Tateba shakuyaku, suwareba botan, aruku sugata wa yurinohana.

("She stands like a Chinese peony, sits like a peony, and walks like a lily.")

This expresses an elegant woman's style. Ladies, if you are told that, you will be happy, won't you?

         

From June to the beginning of July is the season for this flower. It's so popular in season: flower specialty shops sell a few kinds of colors such as red, pink and white. The supermarket has them in stock as well.

          
If you buy it as a bud before it opens, you can enjoy seeing the peony blooming at home. They show several kinds of faces until they bloom. This is my favorite point. I also recommend you buy it in a supermarket if you want to get it, because it's affordable. The price in the supermarket is half or two thirds less than in the flower shop.

         

About three years have passed since I started to decorate with fresh flowers in my home as much as possible. I began to feel more seasonal than before. Now flowers are essential for my life.

          

***
       
Thanks to Megumi for sharing a glimpse of your hometown, and also to Nao, for teaching us something new about Chinese peonies!
         
        
(Would you like your photo to be featured on the blog, too? Get information about the Summer Photo Exhibition here: Get Your Cameras Ready!!)

Another round of weekend reads:

It's time for our next edition of Weekend Reads!

       

Choose your favorite from the four articles below. Pick whatever interests you most. After reading through it, download the most recent Lively Exchanges free worksheet and use it to help you assess what you have read.

       

Up for an extra challenge? Create some of your own discussion questions for the article you chose and discuss the topic you chose with your study group, friends or classmates!

Take your pick from the following list:
        

Topic #1: Some international cuisines have a reputation as being healthier than others. In the US, a Mediterranean diet (think dishes with lots of veggies and olive oil, as well as some fish and red wine) has been associated with certain benefits. But how about foods from other parts of the world? This article discusses how a group of people is trying to improve the way people in their community eat by teaching how to cook African dishes. (Bonus: this article includes a recipe for something yummy!)

          

"'There are alternative foods that other cultures have historically eaten that could be slightly shifted, for a whole different perspective of what is healthy and what is nutritious.'"

         

Forget the latest diet fad - here's a class that teaches how to eat better with traditional African dishes

        

        

Topic #2: Did that first article make you hungry? Then try this one, too! In May, the bison was chosen as the national mammal of the United States. And in Yellowstone National Park, it's also a popular menu item…

          

"Whether it was buttermilk biscuits smothered in buffalo sausage gravy, petite buffalo sliders, bison carpaccio, bison bratwurst, or hot-off-the grill buffalo ribeyes, it turns out bison is a breakfast, lunch or dinner kind of protein."

           

Beyond Bison Burgers: Around Yellowstone, The National Mammal Is Local Cuisine

           

         

Topic #3: Depending on who you ask, a zoo might be educational or entertaining. It might be a place that helps animals at risk of extinction. Or it might be a place that keeps wild animals in captivity, causing concern for animal welfare. A recent decision by the Buenos Aires Zoo to close down and re-house their animals in natural reserves has caused many people to reconsider the role of a zoo. This article presents 10 reasons that the current system for housing animals on public display might be ready for an overhaul:

         

"'This situation of captivity is degrading for the animals, it's not the way to take care of them.'"

         

As A Major Zoo Closes, 10 Reasons To Rethink The Concept

          

          

Topic #4: World markets have seen a lot of turmoil over the past few weeks, but people in Venezuela have been suffering much longer. Dependency on oil exports has left the country in a crisis. And yet, while many people cannot buy basic necessities, other people are well-off. This article looks at what is causing such inequality:

         

"'There's less than half the goods on the market now than in 2012. You can imagine how that impacts people's well-being.'"

            

Venezuela's Economic Implosion Exacerbates Inequality

        

          

And finally...
         

Let us know how your discussion went! What did you talk about with your group? Did your discussion increase your understanding of the article? Post about your experience in the comments section on the blog.

Summer Photo Exhibition: Week of July 4th

Today's photo was sent in by Joji, from Tokyo, Japan:
    
              

      
      
Category: Culture
     

Comment:
      
"This is a special festival called Sen-nichi Mairi, which is translated to One-thousand-days Worship. When you worship at a shrine during this festival, you are blessed with as many benefits as that of one-thousand-days of worship.
    
"This picture is taken at Atago Shrine on top of Mt. Atago, in Tokyo where ground cherries are sold to worshipers. So this festival is also called Hooziki-ichi, Ground Cherry Market.  The stairs to the shrine are long and steep. These stairs are compared to the corporate ladder. This shrine is said to bring in the blessing of promotion. If you want to get promoted, it is worth visiting the shrine."

***
      
Thanks, Joji, for sharing your photo with us!
         

(Information about sending photos for the Summer Photo Exhibition can be found here: Get Your Cameras Ready!!)

11 Questions for Analyzing a News Article - free worksheet download!

We cover a lot of exciting topics here on the Lively Exchanges blog, but there are plenty of other news stories that might pique your interest. Today's free download is a worksheet that will help you dig a little deeper when you read news stories on your own: we've got 11 questions for analyzing news articles.

Get your copy and give it a try!