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!

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!

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!

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!

Naoshima: a getaway for contemporary art lovers

An outdoor sculpture on Naoshima

         
Topic:

      

This article is about a small Japanese island that has become the home of a world-class art collection.

        

Before reading:

       

General Knowledge:

• Can you find Japan on a map? How about the island of Naoshima?
• What is public art?
• What are the characteristics of places that rely on tourism?

       

Speculate:

• This article tells us about a large company that built museums on a small island. How do you think this affected the people who live there?

        

       

Click on the embedded link below to read the article and see photos on the NPR website. Word count: 819

      

How Art Transformed A Remote Japanese Island

After reading:

        

Review and discuss:

• Write a 3-4 sentence summary of this article. Begin your summary with "This article is about…".
• What might have happened to Naoshima if Benesse Holdings had not decided to house its collection on the island?
• What do you think it is like for the local people of such a small island to live in a place where so many tourists come to visit?
• If you were a member of Naoshima's tourist board, what would you do to attract tourists that aren't interested in art?
• What do you think Naoshima might be like 20 years from now? 50 years? Explain your answer using information from the article along with your own ideas.
• In your opinion, what was the most interesting thing mentioned in this article? Why?

             

Reflect and evaluate:

• Mr. Okuda says that some Naoshima residents were initially skeptical about the project, but over time they have been able to see the benefits. Has anything like this ever happened in your country or community? Can you think of a time where something changed, but it was hard to see the advantages until after some time had passed?
• People who live on Naoshima are surrounded by art in their daily lives. How about you? How often do you have the opportunity to appreciate works of art?
• 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 Naoshima by visiting one of these pages: Benesse Art Site Naoshima, Naoshima Travel Guide, or Naoshima Travel Information.
• Is there any public art in the area where you live? Find out.

              

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!