Grade 8 Afro-Asian Quarter 2 Lesson 1

TRACING OUR ROOTS Grade 8 Quarter 1 Lesson 1

Which pictures can you connect with the country of Thailand?

Which pictures can you connect with the country of Thailand?

VIEWING • Watch the video about the culture and traditions of Thailand. ? Can you see some connections? Do you think we have similarities in terms of culture, beliefs and traditions? Explain.

READING TEXT: THAILAND

READING: Before reading the passage, read the questions below. 1 2 3 4 5 6

7 8

Which part of the world has influenced Thailand’s culture? ____________________________________ What type of work is done in most Thai villages? ____________________________________ What is the main ingredient in Thai food? ____________________________________ What kind of new businesses have opened in Bangkok? ____________________________________ What problem might tourism cause in the future? ____________________________________ Which island will party-lovers enjoy most? ____________________________________ What kind of animals can you see in Thailand’s rainforests? ____________________________________ What will you see if you visit Bangkok in the rainy season? ____________________________________

Thailand With over eleven million people visiting the country every year, Thailand is Asia’s most popular holiday destination. It is a country of great contrasts. Although there have been a lot of influences from the West, the typical Thai community is still a traditional farming village. Local people earn money from growing rice, the main ingredient in most Thai food. In the capital Bangkok, however, there are many new buildings, so modern shops and nightclubs sit alongside ancient temples and palaces. Thailand has beautiful beaches, and islands with white sand such as Ko Samui. Some people are worried that there will be permanent damage to the environment if so many tourists keep going there. But for now, the beaches and islands are still a great place to visit. Travellers who love backpacking should visit Ko Pha Ngan. For anyone who enjoys diving Ko Similan is the best area to visit. And if you want to party all night, then Hat Rin is the best place to be. The country also has an incredible variety of plants and animals in its rainforests: exotic fruits, flowers, tigers and elephants. Thailand has three different seasons – rainy, hot and cool – so visitors need to think carefully about when they visit. During the rainy season whole areas of Bangkok are flooded!

Fill in the blank with the correct word from the list below. • Thailand is one of the most fascinating places on earth. Known frequently as the "Land of Smiles", Thailand is famous for its (1) _________ people. The Thais' customary greetings include bowing and greeting in a cheerful (2)____________ and this has led many (3)_________ to describe it as the friendliest place on earth. Thailand is also blessed with many soft-powdery beaches and majestic hills with great (4)_________ of the sunrise or sunset. • Thailand is also a shoppers' (5)__________ with its many night markets and shopping malls. There are several unique markets in its capital, Bangkok, especially the floating market. Shoppers board a little boat and (6)____________ along the canals to buy goods off other boats or houses built along the canals.

• However, traffic jams in Bangkok are (7)__________. Traffic slows to a crawl during (8)__________ hours, and many residents leave their homes at four in the morning to get to school and work on time. As a (9)_________, they eat their breakfast, do their homework, say their prayers and spend precious family time inside their (10)_____________! While it can be inconvenient, many of them have gotten used to it, and some even enjoy it! (A) tourists

(B) paddle

(C) common

(D) scenes

(E) courteous

(F) result

(G) cars

(H) rush

(J) fact

(K) manner

(L) paradise

(M) views

(N) position

(P) houses

(Q) other

TASKS 1. Research on the Do’s and Don’ts that one should observe when visiting Thailand. 2. Prepare a report on the characteristics of Thai food and cuisine. 3. Create a collage that highlights Thai customs and traditions. 4. Research on the similarities of Thai and Filipino values.