Two young pandas are adjusting to a new culture

           
Well it's been a snowy week here in Portland--quite a bit more than we're used to, actually, and I've had a lot of extra time to catch up on some reading. I'll be posting collections of articles over the next week or two.  But in the mean time, I thought I'd share a couple of snapshots of my snow-covered neighborhood. (Today's article follows.)
         
        

        
Topic:

         

This article is about two pandas who are experiencing culture shock after being moved to China from their birthplace in the United States.

         

       

Before reading:

          

General Knowledge:

• Can you find the country of China on a map? How about the city of Atlanta, Georgia, in the United States?
• What is culture shock? When does it happen, and why?

              

Speculate:

• In what ways might animals be affected by the "culture" of the humans around them? What are the biggest changes that the two pandas in this article might be experiencing?

        

          

Click on the embedded link below to read the article and see photos on the NPR website. Word count: 642.

        

Culture Shock: When Pandas And Pets Long For Home

After reading:

          

Review and discuss:

• Write a 3-4 sentence summary of this article. Begin your summary with "This article is about…".
• The article mentions a "panda diplomacy" program. What could this phrase mean? Why might pandas have been chosen for this role?
• The author contrasts the terms "natural home" with "cultural home". What does each phrase mean in this context?
• Why is it important that the author also mentions pets in this article? Do you think that culture shock for a dog, for example, would be different than culture shock for a panda in a zoo? Explain your answer.
• In your opinion, what was the most interesting thing mentioned in this article? Why?

           

Reflect and evaluate:

• The writer compares her own experience with culture shock to the pandas' experience. In your opinion, what are some other experiences or emotions that humans and animals might share? In what ways are humans and animals different? Give examples.
• Consider the author's explanation of the term "Mother Culture": "as we grow up, we're so steeped in the ways that things happen around us, we barely even notice how right they feel until we're confronted with (even shocked by) an alternative way of doing things". Have you ever experienced this? What emotions did you feel? What did you learn from the experience?
• 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 pandas: National Geographic: Giant Panda

              

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!

Welcome to 2017!

A new year offers an opportunity for a fresh start. And it can also be a time to think carefully about our lives and what is most important to us. That's the inspiration for today's post!
         
I've put together a free worksheet with 8 questions to help you reflect over the past year and prepare for the new year. These questions work great for journaling, or as conversation starters. So grab a notebook and a pen, or a couple of friends and a cup of coffee, and get started!
          
Click here to download the worksheet:
        

More South Korean mothers are hoping for girls

Topic:

        

This article discusses the growing preference for baby girls in South Korea.

          

       

Before reading:

          

General Knowledge:

• Can you find the country of South Korea on a map? What do you know about this country?
• In some parts of the world, boys have been valued more highly than girls. What are some reasons that this might happen? How can this affect the male-female balance in the population?
• What are some consequences of a much larger number of one gender than another?

           

Speculate:

• "To have two daughters wins you a gold medal" is a new saying in South Korea. What do you think it means? What does it suggest about South Korean culture?
• Some South Korean parents now hope to have daughters instead of sons. What might they feel is an advantage of having a daughter?

         

        

Click on the embedded link below to read the article, hear the audio report, and see photos on the PRI website. Word count: 952

        

In South Korea, parents are increasingly saying, 'we hope for a girl'

After reading:

          

Review and discuss:

• Write a 3-4 sentence summary of this article. Begin your summary with "This article is about…".
• Based on information in the article, what do you think are the biggest differences between the lives and preferences of young mothers now and those of young mothers one or two generations ago?
• Some of the cultural changes in South Korea are attributed to the fact that many people have converted from Buddhism to Christianity. In addition to religious values, what are some other forces that can cause change in a culture? What factors are most likely to influence change in your culture?
• Some South Koreans believe that daughters are better at caring for elderly parents than sons. What do you think about this? Do you agree?
• In your opinion, what was the most interesting thing mentioned in this article? Why?

           

Reflect and evaluate:

• The article mentions some traditional Buddhist rituals that included different roles for males and females. Can you think of any customs or traditions that are different for men and women where you live? Have these traditions changed over time, or have they stayed the same?
• The article says that women in South Korea still face challenges: pressure to conform to certain beauty standards, harassment, and sexism in the workplace, for example. How does this compare to your own culture? If you are a woman, have you experienced any of these things?
• 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!

Take some time to enjoy art this weekend

Over the last couple of months I've been working on a special project for an organization where I volunteer. It's a little bit different from our usual blog content, but I'd like to share it with you. Today I'm presenting three art-related topics to explore, starting with the latest Lively Exchanges free download! Take a look:

          

1. Take a "self-guided" tour of an art museum

          

Have you ever felt a little lost at an art exhibition? Do you wish you knew how to get more out of your museum visits? Well, try this free download! Take it with you to an exhibition and use it as a tool to help you deepen your art-viewing experiences. Enjoy your Self-Guided Art Walk!

         

            

           

2. See how film directors have been inspired by art

           

Take a look at two short clips titled "Film Meets Art". Filmmaker Vugar Efendi has compiled a series of film shots and placed them side-by-side with the paintings that they reference. How many of these paintings do you recognize? How many of the films have you seen?

         

Watch the first clip here: Film Meets Art, part 1

And the second clip here: Film Meets Art, part 2

          

       

3. Read about Italy's "art police"

            

You might have heard that Italy has been hit by several earthquakes recently. Rescuing people is a top priority after these powerful quakes. But next comes the art police. It's their job to save precious pieces of cultural heritage.

          

When Cultural Heritage Is At Risk, Italy's Art Police Come To The Rescue

       

     

Which of these activities did you try? Tell us about it in the comments section below. And don't forget to share this post with your friends!

Let's revisit some favorite topics

All right, everyone! It's time to take a second look at some of our previous posts. Today we'll get the chance to explore some themes from a new angle. Maybe you'll see something here that catches your attention?

Pick an article (or two) from the selections below to talk about with a friend or in a study group. Or write down your reflections in a notebook. Do these new articles change the way you thought about anything? How do they help you understand the topic better? And don't forget to download this free Lively Exchanges worksheet to help you analyze what you have read.

        

        

Topic #1: Food waste

       

Back in March—in the post "Denmark shows the world how to reduce food waste"—we looked at what a Danish supermarket was doing to reduce food waste. Now, read about a successful program in the UK that has taken a different approach to the same problem. (Hint: it involves smaller portion sizes.)

      

In Fight Against Food Waste, Brits Find A Worthy Battlefield: The Home

        

        

Topic #2: Unique programs in education

         

In the original post "A 'first class' high school at JFK", we read about a high school in New York with an innovative plan for on-the-job-training for its students. This new article is about a community college with a program that is the only one of its kind in the United States:
     
Glassblowing Program Trains Students To Craft Tools For Science

        

      

Topic #3: Guaranteed Basic Income

        

In the post "What if robots take our jobs?", we were introduced to the topic of a "guaranteed basic income" and we considered some of the implications of the system. This week, we'll read once again about how advances in technology are leading to questions about how we'll earn a living in the future:
     
As Our Jobs Are Automated, Some Say We'll Need A Guaranteed Basic Income

        

       

Topic #4: Darkness

         

And finally, in a post titled "Darkness and Starlight", we read about one of the darkest spots on the planet and looked at some of the benefits of darkness. Next, try this article about how a little more darkness in Iceland allows people to enjoy a lot more of a beautiful natural wonder:
     
Reykjavik Turns Off Street Lights To Turn Up The Northern Lights

      

      

Thanks for reading along with us!  Share your thoughts in the comments section below, and don't forget to like the Lively Exchanges page on Facebook!

Egypt's financial crisis takes a toll on marriage rates

Topic:

         

This article is about how Egypt's economic situation is making it difficult for many young people to marry.

         
       

Before reading:

          

General Knowledge:

• Can you find the country of Egypt on a map? What do you know about this country?

          

Speculate:

• What are some reasons that it might be difficult for people to get married if they don't have much money?

           

          

Click on the embedded link below to read the article and see photos on the NPR website. Word count: 846

          

In Egypt, The High Cost Of Romance Is Crippling Hopes Of Marriage

After reading:

          

Review and discuss:

• Write a 3-4 sentence summary of this article. Begin your summary with "This article is about…".
• The article mentions that in Egypt, marriages are negotiated between families. What does this suggest about Egyptian culture?
• Sharouk's mother feels that people were "less demanding" in the past than they are now when they were discussing engagements. What are some possible explanations for this change?
• In Egypt, what might be some of the effects of many young people delaying marriage in order to save money?
• In your opinion, what was the most interesting thing mentioned in this article? Why?

          

Reflect and evaluate:

• In your culture, what are some traditions that are part of getting married? Do people exchange gifts, like in Egyptian culture?
• How did you feel when you read about Sharouk's situation? Why?
• Two of the people interviewed for this article are 20-years old, or around the age of university students. How does this compare to the age when people get married in your culture? If the ages are different, what are some possible explanations for the difference?
• 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!

Italy's government wants to boost teens' cultural education

Topic:

          

This article is about a program in Italy which offers 18-year-olds money to spend on cultural activities.
         

The Colosseum in Rome

          

Before reading:

          

General Knowledge:

• Can you find the country of Italy on a map? What do you know about arts and culture in this country?
• Visiting a museum is one example of a cultural activity. What are some other examples?
• What does "highbrow" culture mean?

           

Speculate:

• The Italian government is sponsoring a program offering 18-year-olds money for cultural activities. What might be some goals of this program? In other words, what might the government be hoping to achieve from this?

          

            

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: 648

           

After reading:

          

Review and discuss:

• Write a 3-4 sentence summary of this article. Begin your summary with "This article is about…".
• In order to receive the 500 Euros, 18-year-olds must "register online and download an app". Why do you think the government chose this method for reaching young people? Will this method prevent any young people from accessing the benefit?
• The article also mentions Italy's high youth unemployment rate (40%). Why do you think the government chose to spend money on cultural education, rather than on boosting employment? What does this choice suggest about the government's priorities?
• The government's program "doesn't distinguish between pop culture and highbrow culture". What do you think about this policy?
• Explain why Barak Mendelsohn doesn't think the Italian government's plan will work.
• One of the Italian government's goals for this program is that it will help young immigrants integrate into Italian culture and society. Besides this program, what are some other ways that integration might be accomplished?
• In your opinion, what was the most interesting thing mentioned in this article? Why?

           

Reflect and evaluate:

• If you had $500 to spend on cultural activities, how would you use it? Explain your choices.
• What do you think: is cultural education a good plan for fighting against extremism? Explain your position.
• Is your country very concerned about integrating immigrants into society? Why or why not?
• 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!