Tag: Culture and Countries

Quitting UNESCO

B1 – Intermediate

The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) is a special part of the United Nations (UN). Its mandate is to promote peace and security through the promotion of collaboration among its member nations.

On the first day of this new year, USA and Israel have pulled out its membership of UNESCO.

Read more about this news through the link below:

https://breakingnewsenglish.com/1901/190104-unesco-2.html

Discussion Questions:

1. What is your opinion on US and Israel quitting UNESCO?
2. What do you think are its consequences on these countries and UNESCO itself?
3. Talk about some UNESCO World Heritage Sites in your city/country.

Covering Tattoos in Japan

B2 – Upper Intermediate

In some countries, tattoos are still viewed as a negative sign about a person and a lot of people are still offended by seeing people who have them. Japan is one of those countries that maintain a rather conservative view on tattoos.

Read more about the request made to tattooed rugby players ahead the Rugby World Cup next year in Japan.

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-45586210

Discussion Questions:

1. Do you agree with this request?

2. Would you consider having a tattoo?

3. Why do you think people want to get tattoos?

4. Is it accepted in your country?

5. How important is it to respect local customs?

What Japanese Prison Food is Like

B2 – Upper intermediate

Prisons all over the world have dark and sinister reputations. Living the life of an inmate is very hard to envision for most people. Just imagine eating prison food every day. What a nightmare it must be.

However, in a prison in Abashiri, Japan, the surroundings and even the food is quite different from what we all know.

Take a look at the video to find out more.

Discussion Questions:

  1. What is the video all about? Explain it in your own words.
  2. Do you know of anyone who has ever been to prison?
  3. Talk about prisons in your own country. What do you know about them?

Mad Cool Festival Chaos

B2 – Upper Intermediate

The Mad Cool Festival is a relatively new rock and pop festival held in Madrid in the summer. 80,000 tickets to the event sold out in a few days. Concert-goers were expecting 3 days of music, fun, and unforgettable moments. It was indeed unforgettable, but for entirely different reasons.

Read the article and find out what went “mad” at the Mad Cool Festival 2018.

https://www.thelocal.es/20180716/complaints-flood-in-over-madcool-festival-chaos

Discussion Questions:

  1. Explain the article in your own words.
  2. What do you think the organizers should have done differently?
  3. Have you been to a concert or music festival before? Talk about your own experience.

Japan Fans Clean Up After Game

B1 – Intermediate

Japan beat Colombia in a World Cup game. After the game, Japanese fans cleaned up the stadium. They picked up their wrappers and food bags and placed them in large garbage bags they had brought with them.

Experts on Japanese culture were not surprised that this happened. They say that in Japan people like to keep places clean. It is normal for them to pick up trash off public spaces. They also are proud to be good guests. And as guests in Russia, they wanted to be respectful of their host country.

The US and other countries can learn a lot from this event. In US culture, it is not normal to clean up after yourself in stadiums, movie theaters or other public spaces.

The Japanese weren’t the only ones cleaning up after themselves. Senegal fans did the same after their game against Poland.

Discussion Questions:

  1. What can you say about this kind of behavior?
  2. Talk about a behavior Spanish are proud about.
  3. What do you know about Japanese culture?

The Menstruation Taboo in Rural Nepal Can Kill

B2 – Upper intermediate

Through the centuries, the fight for women’s rights has always been a slow and uphill battle. Although steady progress and changing attitudes towards women have been very positive in a lot of countries, there are others who still cling to tradition and see women as second-class citizens. For instance, in some parts of rural Nepal, a woman’s “period” is bizarrely regarded as a time of shame.

Read the article to find out more.

http://www.thetimesinplainenglish.com/the-menstruation-taboo-in-rural-nepal-can-kill/

Discussion Questions:

  1. Explain the article in your own words.
  2. Talk about women’s rights in your country. What are some issues concerning women that are still regarded as taboo?
  3. What can be done to improve the plight of women around the world?

Spanish Habits That Are Hard to Master

B2 – Upper Intermediate

Whether you are planning to spend a few days or stay in Spain for good, it pays to know how Spanish live in their unique culture and identity.

They have some habits that a non-native Spanish would find it to be a little hard to pick up and master.

 

Let’s read the article and start a discussion about it. Click the link below:

https://www.thelocal.es/20170719/seven-spanish-habits-youll-never-quite-master

Discussion Questions:

1. Does the article define a true Spaniard?

2. Which among the habits mentioned do you also have?

3. What unique habits do you observe from other countries?

The Growing Threat of Creationism

B2 – Upper Intermediate

Have you ever thought how the Earth was created or formed?  The controversy over the creation of Earth still puzzles and confuses many of us and the topic on the theory of creationism and evolution has been debated for the past century.

Read the article below about creationism and evolution and be ready to answer the questions that follow.

How old is the Earth? Is it billions of years old, or a significantly younger several thousand? The debate between the theory of evolution and creationism continues, primarily in the US. It’s a dispute fueled by politics, cultural differences, and religion.

The theory of evolution holds that plants and animals changed slowly, generation after generation, over billions of years. Helpful traits were passed onto offspring, while harmful ones grew rare. Creationism, however, supposes that God created the Earth in six days, exactly as depicted in the Bible, only a few thousand years ago. Intelligent design, which has been labeled as a form of neo-creationism, points to the complexity of some animals as an indication that God guided their development.

In the US, numerous conservative leaders have opposed the teaching of evolution in the classroom. Others have striven to get creationism taught side-by-side with evolution, as an alternative and equally-valid theory. Kansas, for example, has flip-flopped on the issue several times over the past few years. Courts, however, have repeatedly ruled creationism, as well as intelligent design, a form of religious teachings. It should have no place in the public classroom.

Although creationism in Europe hasn’t achieved the number of adherents as it has in the US, numbers are increasing. Therefore, the Council of Europe’s Parliamentary Assembly will debate a resolution to declare creationism a form of religious extremism. An Assembly member commented that different religious views exist, yet creationism isn’t science. It shouldn’t be presented as such in the classroom. Furthermore, the resolution views creationism as an attack on science and human rights.

Source: headsupenglish.com

Discussion Questions:

1. Based on the text, why do you think more and more people in Europe believe in creationism?
2. Should creationism and evolution be taught side-by-side in the classroom? Why/not?
3. Is creationism a threat? Why/not?

The Country Where Fun is a Way of Life

B2 – Upper Intermediate

Have you ever been to Thailand? Thais have actually made having fun a way of life – something we could all learn from.

Find out more why having fun is of utmost reverence in this country.

http://www.bbc.com/travel/story/20151119-can-thailand-teach-us-all-to-have-more-fun

Discussion Questions:

1. What is sanuk?
2. How do the Spanish have fun?
3. In Thailand, people resign from a good-paying job because it’s not fun. What are your thoughts on this?
4. Is there a similar holiday in Spain as Thailand’s “Songkran”?

Stop Picking On Santa

B2 – Upper Intermediate

Santa Claus has been popular for a very long time. He’s called by different names and always portrays a loving soul. But do you think it’s time to give him a make-over?

Read the article below and be ready to answer the questions that follow.

Do-gooders and political correctness nuts have gone too far, having attacked Santa Claus and the Christmas tradition. For hundreds of years, jolly Santa has slaved away each year, prodded (nicely) his elves to get all those toys completed on time, and checked his naughty and nice list twice. On Christmas Eve, he has managed without fail to circle the globe and visit every home. His “ho ho ho!” resounds through the night, while his belly jiggles like a bowl full of jelly. Yet some have now suggested that an overweight Santa portrays an unhealthy image for kids. Equally ridiculous, “ha ha ha!” may be preferential to “ho ho ho!” because the latter term denotes a prostitute in American slang.

Let’s face it: It comes down to mom and dad’s eating habits, not Santa’s, which have a far greater influence on kids. Regardless of the trend among many First World countries to produce obese children, which in turn creates alarming health problems, few kids express the desire to have a spare tire to emulate Santa. Parents and educators should assume greater responsibility for the diets of the young, and understand that healthy choices should be advocated as well as practiced.

Equally troublesome are the attacks on Santa’s laugh. Although “ho” may have negative connotations, only an adult would understand the reference. What’s more, it’s American slang, so kids (and possibly adults) elsewhere in the world won’t likely understand all the fuss. If a child still gives credence to the big guy, then it seems unlikely there will be any association apart from a very distinct laugh.

Will this madness never end? Leave Santa Claus’s sacrosanct weight and laugh alone.

Source: headsupenglish.com

Discussion Questions:

1. What do you think of political correctness?
2. What would you do if Santa’s image were changed?
3. If Santa’s image were modernized, would it somehow change Christmas?
4. Do you agree that parents and educators should assume more responsibility for children’s health?
5. Which has a greater influence on children, parents, educators, or the media?