11/26 Topic: College Students, Living a Good Life.

http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/life/2010-11/22/content_11585592.htm

1. Where did you live when you were in college, in a dorm or at home? Which do you prefer?

2. Have you ever had a roommate before? Do you like to live alone or not?

3. Do you support the idea to apply a system like the article mentioned to choose your roommate?

4. Do you agree that students can keep a pet in their room? Did you have the experience of this?

5. What's the last thing you can tolerate while living with someone else? Ex. Bring friends back very often or always leave dirty dishes in the sink... etc.

6. What's the most difficult things to live with others in your opinion? And what's the best thing?

11/19 Childhood obesity v.s. fast food

http://edition.cnn.com/2010/US/11/09/california.fast.food.ban/index.html?iref=allsearch


1.Do you think this policy is gonna work on decreasing childhood obesity?

2.As a consumer, is this policy what you are expecting? Or do you think it's parents' reponsibility to choose balanced diet for kids, not the government?

3.If your kids ask you to take them to the McDonald’s almost every single day, how are you gonna deal with it?

4.Are you or have you been a fast food goer? What makes you fascinated with it? If you are not, what stops you eating junk food?

5.Have you had any experience of spending money on something not for the product itself, but aiming at other stuff accompanying the main product?

Muslims

Please refer to the following links for further discussion:

1. http://www.afghan-network.net/Islam
2. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Islam_in_Brunei
3. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Islam_in_Malaysia

Discussions:

1. Do you know any Muslim friends in Taiwan or other countries? How do you think about them?
2. Do you know the distribution of the Muslims? Give some example of Islam countries.
3. Have you ever tried Muslim food? What do you think is the most special?
4. Do you know some Muslim traditions? Give some example.
5. As we saw a lot news in TV that Islam countries had war with western countries, do you know the reasons of the wars? Does this affect your point of view to Muslims?

This week we're going to talk about an environmental issue: Global warming. Please read the reference listed below.

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/11/04/business/energy-environment/04enviro.html?_r=1&scp=2&sq=global%20warming&st=cse

http://green.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/10/27/a-cultural-barrier-to-action-on-climate-change/?scp=1&sq=A%20cultural%20barrier%20&st=cse

1. Do you believe that the increase emission of carbon dioxide causes global warming? Can you feel the threaten of global warming?
   
   
2. What do you think about the confrontation happened in the U.S. Congress, which is mainly about whether to implement green policies?
   
   
3. Someone claimed that "Copenhagen Protocol" is just a political show of the powerful developed countries. Due to the attitude of green policies of the U.S. Congress, what do you think on that point?
   
   
4. Do you think that the temperature in public places like a KTV, a department store, or an office is usually too low? How can we reduce the waste? Please use your imagination to offer some ideas.
   
   
5. Once the government tried to ban the usage of plastic bags, but it didn't work out. But we can still see many good effects left behind. 7-11 offers a kind of new plastic bags which are recyclable, will you choose to shop in 7-11 more because of the act?
   
   
6. Do you often pay attention to environmental issue? Does your company or family do anything to follow the steps to reduce the emission of carbon dioxide?

Above are the questions, if there's anything you want to discuss, please feel free to add it.

The Asian style of education

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/09/12/weekinreview/12rosenthal.html?_r=1&scp=9&sq=Asian%20education&st=cse

1.      Did you feel comfortable with the education system back when you were in the school? What bothered you most when you were a student?

2.      In your opinion, what are the best and the worst part of Asian style education?    

3.      Are you approved of testing students frequently in order to push them to study?

4.      Do you think having children learn as early as possible will do good to their development?  

5.      If you are a parent, would you let your kids go to the normal schools like others, or would you send them to some special schools (ex. the forest school/ the American school)?

6.      As a Taiwanese, do you think degree matters in our country? If yes, in what ways?

7.      Do you believe that “No children left behind” is possible in any countries?

10/22: Homosexuality and same-sex marriage

http://www.newsweek.com/2010/10/04/what-makes-a-family-more-americans-say-gays-count.html

http://topics.nytimes.com/top/reference/timestopics/subjects/s/same_sex_marriage/index.html?scp=1-spot&sq=+gay+marriage&st=cse


1.What’s your point of view about homosexuality? Do you support same-sex marriage?

2.Will you change your thoughts about your friend when you discover he/she is homosexual? Will you treat them differently?

3. Do you think it is appropriate for gay/lesbian couples to have children? Why or why not?

4.If you have a homosexual friend who wants to be your kids god father or god mother, will you say yes?

5. Do you think the “partner relationship” which works in USA and Europe is feasible in Taiwan?

6. According to your own point of view, what makes a family?

10/8 Topic: Travel

Kelly mentioned a book named "不去會死" last week. The author of "不去會死" said that he chose to travel around the world by bike because it made him feel irreplaceable to arrive at the destination by bike rather than by train or by bus. Plus it enables him to contact with local people and nature better.




And it gave me an idea of talking about traveling experience with you. Everyone has his definition of an enjoyable trip, let's share it!




http://www.nytimes.com/2010/09/14/business/14alumni.html?_r=1&scp=1&sq=Expatriates&st=cse




This is an article I read on New York Times. Traveling is an exciting thing, but it can also be troublesome since we always want to obtain the most in many ways while spending least money. To start a trip, you should make a plan first which can include every details from the budget to the transportation and housing.




Let's discuss the following questions:




1. Have you ever been abroad? Where have you been?
   
   
2. What was the most interesting place you've every visited? Tell us your experienc.
   
   
3. What is your favorite country or city? Or what countries would you most like to visit?
   
   
4. Which do you prefer, to travel by joining a tour group or to travel independently? (or semi-independent travel 自由行(The agency only help you book the tickets and hotel, and you plan the rest.)Why?
   
   
5. Do you prefer to live in a hotel, a hostel or a B&B(bed and breakfast) ?
   
   
6. Do you travel with a lot of baggage or do you like to travel light
   
   
7. Are you afraid to travel alone? Do you have the experience?
   
   
8. If you're traveling in a city, and you don't have enough time to visit every site in your plan, will you choose to slow down and make the most of what you can reach, or make up your mind to visit every site even if you can merely take a picture of them?