Debate Speech (TCKs) [bonus task]

This house believes the benefits of being a TCK outweigh the difficulties

Third Culture Kids or TCKs are children that are creating their own sub-culture. They often relocate to new homes or countries, being exposed to different people and cultures. Where is the problem here? Have you an idea all the benefits that this can bring?

Being a TCK has many advantages, such as: they know an airport better than most people, they adapt quickly to unfamiliar countries and people, they are culturally astute, cross-culturally enriched, and less prejudiced. Imagine being a TCK, is like being from all countries at the same time.

There are some problems, like crisis of identity; you can say that a TCK frequently ask: “who am I?” But you have to think differently: who not am I? If you are a TCK you can be all you want, you also can to decide. For example, if you lived in the USA but now you are in Japan, you are from Japan AND the USA, or if the situation demands it, you can say you are American or you are Japanese.

TCKs are educational achievers, establish relationships quickly, are excellent observers of other people, can make great culture bridges, more mature in their social skills, more welcoming of newcomers into a community, etc. TCKs position themselves by integrating a huge pool of values, norms, behaviours, beliefs mannerisms and thoughts, and they have a deep understanding of human rights. Also they speak more than one language (often they speak three or four); can you imagine all the benefits of speaking two languages? Imagine four!

Maybe a challenge for TCKs is that they feel different from others, which is difficult in forming peer relationships; but they can have relationships with many people, learning more cultures, that’s the idea of being a TCK. Also some people say that a difficulty for them is the sense of belonging everywhere and nowhere; but where is the problem? You belong to everywhere, you are very cultured, and you can feel at home in different countries or continents.

Finally, I just want to say, imagine that you are a TCK, the world will be small for you.

Gypsies

Text 3.2: My Gypsy Childhood

Activity: Text 3.2 only presents part of Roxy Freeman’s story. She was 22 years old when she enrolled in college and 30 years old when she wrote this piece. What do you think happened to her in between? Write a diary entry talking about her experience at college (100-200 words).

18th of August of 2014

            Now I’m in college and I realize that everything is very different compared to what I’ve lived. I never went to school because formal education is not priority in my culture, but at age of 22 I decided to get it. I went to the Suffolk College asking to enrol. I remembered that the receptionist looked at me with disdain.

            I knew that this change would not be easy. In my first college days I suffered a lot, being discriminated, insulted and offended; I was treated as a different kind of person, like an alien. I was full of prejudices because I was a Gypsy.

            First days I was really sad, but now I’m better. Other people have already realized that I was like any other, but with a different background. I've gotten used to this place and I have made many friends.

Personal Response (TCKs)

"Some Third Culture Kids have nothing beyond their passports to connect them with their home country. TCKs lose and gain from the fact they grow up outside their passport country".

Third Culture Kids or TCKs are children that are creating their own sub-culture. They have only their passports to connect them with their home country. They lose and gain being a TCK but there are more advantages.

TCKs get used to live away home, so they feel the new country as their home country. For example, if you have Chinese parents, but you are living in the United States and have made friends there; you will feel USA as your home, not China. This demonstrates that TCKs actually have no relation with their real home country or just a little.

Being a TCK can bring problems, such as feeling different from others, or the sense of belonging everywhere and nowhere. But there are more advantages: they know more places and cultures, so they have more life experiences, they are more open-minded, culturally astute, cross-culturally enriched, educational achievers, observers, mature in social skills and also they can speak more than one language.

Concluding, I can say that I agree the stimulus given; there are TCKs that don’t really have a connection with their home country, because they never are there. Also they can lose and gain growing up outside their passport country, but I think that they gain more than they lose.

Book: English B, Course Companion, Oxford

Third Culture Kids

1.       Answer the following questions.

a)      What reason is given for the growing number of TCKs?

b)      Find two reasons why TCKs are different from other children.

c)       Dr. Ruth Useem has given two definitions of TCKs. In what way is the second definition different from the first?

d)      According to researchers Pollock and Van Reken, with whom are TCKs likely to form friendships?

e)      According to the writer, what advantages do TCKs have in terms of knowledge of the world?

f)       Although it is not expressly stated, why are these children called Third Cultures Kids? What are the three cultures to which they belong?

a) That more cities and companies become increasingly international

b) -They often relocate to new homes or countries

     -they are exposed to new cultures

c) In the first definition, TCKs are forced because of their parents work.

d) With others of a similar background

e) They know more countries and cultures. TCK builds relationships to all of the cultures. They represent many countries and cultures.  Also this make that they are more open minded. They have accumulated a host of cultural identities, lived in many countries and have been introduced to a variety of global people. TCKs integrate many values, norms, behaviours, beliefs, mannerisms and thoughts. Also they have a deep understanding of human right.

f) Because they are involved in three cultures: their parents, the place where they live and the mix of both.

Book: English B, Course Companion, Oxford.

Oscar Wilde, Aesthetic Movement and "The Picture of Dorian Gray"

Mind map about Oscar Wilde, his relation with the Aesthetic Movement and his book "The Picture of Dorian Gray" after reading first chapter.
Link: http://www.mindmeister.com/415437047/oscar-wilde

Beauty and Health

http://ensegundos.net/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/niño-obeso-gordo-hot-dog.jpg

What you can see on this picture?
Being physically not healthy, can you be mentally healthy?
Can you enjoy your body, even if it is not as you want?