Turkish TV has plenty of fans in South America

Topic:

         

This article is about the popularity of Turkish TV dramas in South America.

        

Before reading:

          

General Knowledge:

• Can you find the country of Turkey on a map? How far is Turkey from South America?
• Do you watch television dramas? What types of dramas do you like most? Give examples.
• Are any foreign television programs popular in your country? If so, why do people like them?

       

Speculate:

• In this article, some people in South America talk about their dislike of TV dramas from the United States. What might they not like about these programs?

          

          

Click on the embedded link below to read the article and see photos on the BBC website. Word count: 889

         

An unlikely story: Why do South Americans love Turkish TV? - BBC News

After reading:

       

Review and discuss:

• Write a 3-4 sentence summary of this article. Begin your summary with "This article is about…".
• Marcela Mera appreciates that Turkish TV programs "don't have the Hollywood cliches and stereotypes". What might she mean by this?
• Sales of Turkish TV programs have increased a lot in a short period of time. What might be some effects of this for people working in this business in Turkey (like actors, for example)?
• Burhan Gun says, "A lot of the Turkish TV shows explore the topic of migration from rural villages to cities and the challenges of urbanisation". What does this suggest about life in Turkey?
• Based on information in this article, how do you think Turkish TV dramas might affect relationships between Turkey and South American countries?
• In your opinion, what was the most interesting thing mentioned in this article? Why?

               

Reflect and evaluate:

• Have you ever seen a drama from a country or culture that is different than your own? Discuss what you've watched.
• In the article, some South American people felt that their cultures shared similarities with Turkish culture. Is there another culture that you feel has things in common with your own? Explain your answer.
• In your opinion, is television a good way to teach people in one country about the culture in another? Explain your answer.
• 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 this 2013 BBC News article about the popularity of Turkish TV in the Arab world: The rise of Turkish soap power

            

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!

Ready for something interesting to read?

Choose your favorite from the four topics below. Pick whatever interests you most. After reading through an article (or two!), download this Lively Exchanges free worksheet and use it to help you think about 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!

          

Article choices:

1. People in many small, rural towns in Alaska survive off of wild plants and animals. But climate change is destroying their way of life. This article describes the changes affecting these communities, and explains why going to the grocery store just isn't an option.

          

"The debate here isn't over whether climate change is happening. For these rural communities, the question is whether they can continue to survive there."

           

In Alaska's Remote Towns, Climate Change Is Already Leaving Many Hungry
          

2. This article offers insight into the Korean tradition of kimchi-making, and explores how strong an influence the dish has in the country's culture.

         

"And even as the government supports its citizens in opening Korean restaurants around the world, it pays special attention to promoting that most ubiquitous of Korean foods: kimchi."
         

How South Korea Uses Kimchi To Connect To The World - And Beyond

          

3. This next article has a special, more personal significance to me: it's about how my hometown is preparing for a large earthquake that is predicted to strike soon. In a region where tremors are rare, this article touches on the huge task of preparing a city for something it has never experienced before.
          

"When preparing for a natural disaster, training matters. But can you train an entire city?"
           
West Coast tests how it would respond to a big quake

         

4. Politicians as superheroes? It might seem like a stretch…and maybe even a little strange. But Marvel Comics has done exactly that: Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has become a hero in one of its latest editions.
         

"Justin Trudeau has had a number of careers: schoolteacher, snowboard instructor, and since last year, prime minister of Canada. Now he's an action hero."
            

Can A Canadian Prime Minister Be An Action Hero? Marvel Comics Thinks So

     

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.

Changing perceptions about people with disabilities

Topic:

This article is about a café that only employs people with disabilities.

       

Before reading:

          

General Knowledge:

• Can you find the country of Kazakhstan on a map?
• What does the word "stigma" mean?
• What are some kinds of "disability"?
• What are some kinds of discrimination that disabled people face? Why?

         

Speculate:

• In the article a woman says, "In Kazakhstan, people with disabilities are forced to exist within tight boundaries". What might she mean by "boundaries", and why might those boundaries exist?

            

        

Click on the embedded link below to read the article on the PRI website. Word count: 630

           

Kazakhstan cafe uses employment to fight disability stigma

After reading:

        

Review and discuss:

• Write a 3-4 sentence summary of this article. Begin your summary with "This article is about…".
• Zhuldyz Abdykarimova, a waitress at Training Café, says she has learned a lot while working there. What are some of the things that she might have learned?
• While providing important employment opportunities, the Training Café is also a place where people with disabilities interact with other members of society. What might be some effects of bringing people together like this?
• The article also mentions that a movie starring people with disabilities was recently released in Kazakhstan. By choosing these actors, what do you think is the message to the audience? How might this movie change public perceptions about people with disabilities?
• Why don't more places like Training Café exist, in Kazakhstan and in other countries around the world?
• In your opinion, what was the most interesting thing mentioned in this article? Why?

         

Reflect and evaluate:

• In your country or culture, what are some attitudes about disabilities? Are people with disabilities treated differently than others? Are there many opportunities for people with disabilities to find jobs?
• Explain why it is beneficial for people with disabilities to have opportunities to work. List as many advantages as you can think of. Conversely, what are the problems with not providing opportunities?
• 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:

• For some people, it might be challenging to know the best way to communicate with people who have disabilities. This guide offers some helpful tips: Communicating Effectively with People who Have a Disability
• Open Society Foundations is one of Training Café's financial supporters. Find out more about this organization here: Open Society Foundations

            

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!

Costa Rica becomes host country to thousands of migrants

Topic:

       

This article is about how the country of Costa Rica is handling the arrival of large numbers of migrants.

         
          

Before reading:

         

General Knowledge:

• Can you find the country of Costa Rica on a map? What do you know about this country?
• What have you heard about immigration in the news recently? Which countries are dealing with an influx of immigrants, and why? Which countries do large numbers of immigrants come from, and why?
• What does "deportation" mean?

           

Speculate:

• Costa Rica has recently become the host to tens of thousands of migrants from all around the world, but authorities are not focused on sending them back to their home countries. Why might deportation not be the solution they choose?

        

        

Click on the embedded link below to read the article, see photos, and listen to or download the audio file on the NPR website. Word count: 747

         

After reading:

          

Review and discuss:

• Write a 3-4 sentence summary of this article. Begin your summary with "This article is about…".
• Costa Rican authorities say that deporting the migrants back to their home countries is not the right decision "morally". Why might they feel this way?
• Some officials believe that many of the migrants who say they are from Congo may actually be Haitian. Why might Haitian people need to lie about the country they come from? Why might they say they are from Congo, specifically?
• Why might the US government be so eager to help Costa Rica?
• Choose a side, and write your opinion. Do you think A) Costa Rica should continue to support the migrants as they arrive, or B) the government should focus less on supporting the migrants and pay more attention to Costa Rican citizens who need help? Support your choice with 3 reasons.
• In your opinion, what was the most interesting thing mentioned in this article? Why?

          

Reflect and evaluate:

• Compare Costa Rica with your own country. Are attitudes about immigration similar or different? Explain. What could your country learn from Costa Rica's example?
• Immigration has been a hot—and sometimes controversial—topic in the US recently, and this article about immigration was posted on an American news website. Why might this article be meaningful to Americans now?
• 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. And don't forget to share this post with your friends!