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!

Eat like Arnold Schwarzenegger

Topic:

            

This article is about efforts in China to reduce the amount of pork in people's diets.

         

          

Before reading:

         

General Knowledge:

• Can you find China on a map?
• What are some examples of "diet-related diseases"?
• Vocabulary: Do you know the meaning of these initialisms? Look them up if you aren't sure.
• The WHO
• USDA
• PSA

       

Speculate:

• An advocacy group in China is trying to convince people to eat less meat. In addition to health benefits, what might be some other advantages to reducing meat consumption?
• What challenges might the advocacy group encounter during their campaign?

         

Click on the embedded link below to read the article, see photos, and watch a YouTube video on the NPR website. Word count: 632

        

Can Arnold Schwarzenegger Persuade China To Eat Less Meat?

After reading:

        

Review and discuss:

• Write a 3-4 sentence summary of this article. Begin your summary with "This article is about…".
• Re-read the first sentence of the article. Why might the writer have chosen to begin by identifying similarities between the US and China? How might this comparison affect the way the audience perceives China?
• Why are celebrities often chosen as spokespeople for campaigns?
• What is the importance of reducing greenhouse gas emissions? What are possible consequences of failing to reduce emissions?
• Jeremy Haft doesn't think the media campaigns will be successful. On the contrary, he thinks Chinese demand for meat will increase. If media efforts fail, what are some alternative strategies that could be used to convince people to change their meat-eating habits?
• In your opinion, what was the most interesting thing mentioned in this article? Why?

         

Reflect and evaluate:

• What do you think about the choice to use Arnold Schwarzenegger for this particular campaign? What are some possible reasons that he was chosen?
• In your country or culture:
• Is obesity a concern for many people? Does the government make balanced nutrition a priority?
• Is meat a big part of your local cuisine? What kinds of meat are most common?
• Are celebrities (from the US or other countries) often used to promote certain campaigns? Give an example. Do you think this strategy is effective? Explain.
• Are there any dishes that signal social status, like eating pork in China?
• 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:

• Learn more about the WildAid organization: wildaid.org
• Check out some examples of different food guidelines in countries around the world: Food-based Dietary Guidelines

        

Also in the news:

• In the United States, celebrity endorsements of unhealthy food have made headlines recently. Take a look at this article: This Is How Much Celebrities Get Paid To Endorse Soda And Unhealthy Food

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!