Week 4: Future Outlook

Is the global economic crisis coming to an end or just starting? What is the local, regional and global future outlook? These are some of the questions we'll be exploring in our next class.

In preparation for Tuesday's taped conference call, please take a few minutes to:

• Review language strategies and grammar from this term as well as last term.
• Practice vocabulary and idiomatic language.
• Take a look at the following resources about HSBC, as well as Costa Rica's future posted below:
  

Tico Times, November 14, 2008

Week 3: The global economic crisis and its impact on Costa Rica

The Tico Times article below came out two weeks ago, but it's still timely and can give us a bit of a road map for our discussion.

To get us started: According to the article, what challenges will Costa Rica face? Do you agree, or disagree? (click image to enlarge) See you in the comments section!

Week 2: Latin America Feels the Pinch

In your opinion, is Latin America reacting to the global economic crisis in a timely and effective manner? Why, or why not? Post your comment below and check back to respond so that we can create a dialogue!

Next week, we're going to look at the crisis from a regional perspective. Please take a look at this excellent article focusing on Latin America published in the Los Angeles Times. (Read article here) Select a reading circle role and be prepared to discuss the article on Tuesday.

Note: You are encouraged to find at least one additional resource to support your point of view. This will help us develop next week's language strategy: presenting facts.

Week 1: When fear takes over

What happens to market confidence when fear sets in? Read more.


Homework:

• read above article link and post a comment
• read your colleague's comments and respond
• complete Reading Circle duty
  

Week 1: Global Economic Crisis Overview

This week we're going to get an overview of the global economic crisis and explore its causes and effects. Take a look at this short video clip, which is the first of an interactive video timeline called: “Five Weeks of Financial Turmoil," and get ready to share what you know about the current crisis. Watch video.

Today and over the next five weeks, we'll be referring to the regularly updated New York Times Credit Crisis Web page. This week, we'll be focusing on the "overview" section.

Your turn to comment: Briefly comment on an idea one of your colleagues shared today that you found interesting and/or surprising.

Reading Circles

Connector: Your job is to find connections between the article and blog comments about the article and your own life, what happens at work or in the community, similar events at other times and places, or other people or problems.

Summarizer: Your job is to prepare a summary of the reading. Don’t tell the whole article, just focus on the important parts. The other members of your group will be counting on you to give them a quick statement that tells about the article (the summary), and the key points. (Remember language strategies for summarizing.)

Discussion Director: Your job is to write a list of questions based on the reading that your group might want to discuss about this article. You also want to keep the discussion on track and moving along.


Vocabulary Enricher: Your job is to look for a few important words in your reading. Turn on the vocabulary option to help you more easily learn new words. When your group meets, help members understand the word in context of the article and one new, work-related context.

Language Enlightener: Your job is to find a few interesting grammar points in the article (how verb tenses are used, unusual or difficult to understand structures, use of make/do, or whatever calls your attention in terms of HOW the language is used). Be ready to offer an explanation to your discussion circle.


Blog Luminary: Your job is to choose one or more blog comments in reference to the article to discuss with your group. Your purpose is to help other students by spotlighting an interesting, powerful, funny, puzzling, or important blog comment. Include reasons for picking them.