Nepal—Crafting a Way

In this lesson we will learn about the country of Nepal and its people. Nepal is known to have some of the highest mountains in the world and its people are kind and for the most part lead happy lives.

Previewing Questions

1. Have you ever traveled abroad? Where did you go? Why?

2. Where is a country you would like to travel to in the future? Why?

Vocabulary ___/15 Directions: Before watching the video clip, try to match the words with their meanings. 1. magnet

a. something to remind you of a place you visited

2. generated b. someone who travels a long way to a holy place for a religious reason 3. rural c. a tall tropical plant with hollow stems 4. updating d. something relating to the home 5. traditional e. always having the same beliefs, behavior, attitudes, quality, etc. 6. development f. a period of time equal to 100 years 7. handicrafts g. a person or place that attracts many other people or things 8. centuries h. following the ideas or ways that have existed for a long time 9. consistent i. the process of improving conditions of a situation 10. impact j. the situation or experience of being poor 11. bamboo k. to add the most recent information or make something more modern 12. pilgrim l. effect or influence that an event or situation has on someone or something 13. domestic m. a product made from the careful use of your hands 14. souvenir n. to produce or make something 15. poverty o. relating to the countryside

Getting the Main Ideas

Directions: Watch the video segment and answer the following questions.

What is the story about?

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Who is the story about? ________________________________________________________________________________

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Listening for Details Directions: Listen a second time and circle the best answer that completes the statement.

1. Rural development in Nepal is not primarily enhanced __________.

a. by foreign tourism b. by foreign cash c. by foreign handicrafts

2. Nepalese handicrafts in rural areas are of __________, which results in few sales.

a. inconsistent quality b. low quality c. low quality and high price

3. Tourism in rural areas is primarily being used as a means to __________.

a. bring education to women b. show the world Nepali’s rich heritage c. improve living conditions

Questions to Consider and Discuss

1. Do you think rural areas are impoverished? Why or why not? _______________________________________________________________________________

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2. Do you think making handicrafts to attract foreign tourism and foreign cash is a good idea? Why? _______________________________________________________________________________

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Final Details Directions: Listen to details from the video segment and answer the following questions.

1. What do you think is the most important issue to be addressed in rural areas? _____________________________________________________________________________

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2. How would you propose to improve the quality of life for people living in rural areas? _____________________________________________________________________________

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[To watch the Nepal—Crafting A Way video-clip again, go to: http://www.tve.org/ho/series7/programme_4.html]

Internet Research ___/35 Do a google search or use the sites below and answer the following questions.

1. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nepal 2. https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/np.html

3. http://www.tve.org/ho/series7/04_taking_it_personally_reports/report5.html

1. Nepal is a great place to ____________.

a. go swimming in the sea b. go shopping in the big cities c. go trekking in the mountains

2. Nepal has the world’s _______ highest mountains.

a. 5 b. 8 c. 10

3. Nepal is governed by a _____________. a. Monarchy b. Constitutional monarchy c. Democratic republic

4. The capital of Nepal is_______________.

a. Kathmandu b. Lumbini c. Bagmati

5. What is the approximate population of Nepal? a. 20 million people b. 30 million people c. 40 million people

6. Nepal’s main crops (agricultural products) include _________.

a. oranges b. coconuts c. sugarcane

7. Nepal is the _______ independent country in South Asia. a. poorest b. newest c. oldest

8. What is the average life expectancy of Nepalis?

a. approximately 55 years b. approximately 60 years c. approximately 65 years

9. What is the main religion of Nepal?

a. Christianity b. Buddism c. Hinduism

10. Where is the birthplace of Buddha? a. Kathmandu b. Lumbini c. Bagmati

11. In your own words, write one thing you read in your Internet research that was interesting.

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Writing for Discussion ___/50

Choose one of the following questions and answer in your own words. Make sure you write about a topic that interests you.

1. Think about a country you would like to visit and consider what you would do there. 2. If you could help an impoverished community, what would you do? 3. What are some benefits of living in a developing country? 4. What are some problems of living in a developing country? 5. Other: _________________________________________________________________

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Nepal—Crafting a Way Vocabulary (15%) 1. magnet g. a person or place that attracts many other people or things 2. generated n. to produce or make something 3. rural o. relating to the countryside 4. updating k. to add the most recent information or make something more modern 5. traditional h. following the ideas or ways that have existed for a long time 6. development i. the process of improving conditions of a situation 7. handicrafts m. a product made from the careful use of your hands 8. centuries f. a period of time equal to 100 years 9. consistent e. always having the same beliefs, behavior, attitudes, quality, etc. 10. impact l. effect or influence that an event or situation has on someone or something 11. bamboo c. a tall tropical plant with hollow stems 12. pilgrim b. someone who travels a long way to a holy place for a religious reason 13. domestic d. something relating to the home 14. souvenir a. something to remind you of a place you visited 15. poverty j. the situation or experience of being poor

Listening for Details 1. Rural development in Nepal is not primarily enhanced c. by foreign handicrafts 2. Nepalese handicrafts in rural areas are of a. inconsistent quality, which results in few sales. 3. Tourism in rural areas is primarily being used as a means to c. improve living conditions. Internet Research (35%)

1. Nepal is a great place to ____________. c. go trekking in the mountains 2. Nepal has the world’s _______ highest mountains. b. 8 3. Nepal is governed by a _____________. c. Democratic republic 4. The capital of Nepal is_______________. a. Kathmandu 5. What is the approximate population of Nepal? b. 30 million 6. Nepal’s main crops (= agricultural product) include _________ . c. sugarcane 7. Nepal is the _______ independent country in South Asia. b. newest 8. What is the average life expectancy of Nepalis? c. approximately 65 years old (Note

that wikipedia states just under 59, while factbook states around 65) 9. What is the main religion of Nepal? c. Hinduism 10. Where is the placebirth of Buddha? b. Lumbini

11. Summary (15%)

Nepal—Crafting a Way Transcript The Himalayan Kingdom of Nepal has long been a magnet for foreigners. And the income generated by visitors is vital for the country’s economy. Most Nepalese living in rural areas see little of the income as it’s concentrated in the capital city. But by updating their traditional skills, many villages are now bringing foreign cash and development to the countryside. Traditional handicrafts rely on centuries old techniques. But as Tara Magar has found out, turning these skills into cash isn’t easy, as a lack of consistent quality leads to few sales. Tara Maya Saru Magar: I can send the children to school. It would be easier if sales were good. We should make them attractive, right from the beginning. The sisters in our village have not made them properly. If they were more attractive buyers would want them at first sight and they would sell well. For others, the challenge has been finding a market for their products. Now TRPAP, the Tourism for Rural Poverty Alleviation Programme, managed by the UNDP (United Nations Development Programme) and supported by DFID (Department for International Development), is providing training for producers marketing the products to tourists. Ramhari Devkota: The rural tourism program is designed to give the local people the maximum benefit out of tourism. The programme is having a real impact. Lal Bahadur Giri: I’m making bamboo handicrafts now. We use locally available raw materials. Bamboo and Nagola bamboo, and so on. 80% of the materials used to make bamboo handicrafts can be bought from the local market. Lumbini in the southern plains is another poor rural district. But as the birthplace of the Buddha, it has a rich heritage which attracts pilgrims and tourists, offering more opportunities. Shiva Shankar Kurmi: We already make money from this. And nowadays, when we have spare time, after our domestic work, we make statues. We can make some money. We take the statues to TRPAP into the Lumbini flower shop. There are other places as well, and gradually we are building a market. The finished products are destined to be shipped all over the world as souvenirs. Rajnder Poudel: The impact of rural tourism in Nepal is quite appreciable it should be promoted to reduce poverty.