The Reflection briefing will include presentations in small groups or individually. Students will listen to the podcast of their choice from the list below, and present to the rest of the program participants. Podcast episodes are selected to teach about an event or person in history which exemplifies the difficulty of cross-cultural interactions.
Your presentation should answer the questions:
- What cross-cultural interaction took place, and what was the context?
- Who was involved?
- What fatal cultural mistake was made, if any? What cultural success took place, if any?
- What can we learn from this event today?
“Captain Cook’s First Voyage” You’re Dead To Me
Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Acast
The hosts of this comedy/history podcast discuss the British explorer’s encounter with the Polynesian Islanders. Who learned from whom?
“Ngola Nzinga” AfriWetu
This warrior queen in 17th century West Africa held off Portuguese colonial rule for decades. How successful was she? Very successful.
“The Translator, Malintzin” What’s Her Name?
Was she a translator, a traitor, or a dutiful wife? All of the above?
“The Viking Conquest of Normandy” The French History Podcast
Website with full text, Spotify, Apple Podcasts You need only to listen to the intro, and chapters 1 and 2, approximately until 1:13.
How the Vikings took over a part of France and made it their own. Plus: Rollo, more than a delicious chocolate!
“The Backwaters of Kerala” Wonders of the World Podcast
Usually when we think about trade with the East, we think China and camels traveling through deserts. But pepper was where it started, and India was the place to get it.
“Robert Hart, Chinese Customs” Chinese Characters
Modernising China was, in part, the work of a boy from Northern Ireland. Wait, what?