RRL: Google Hangout

1. Do you like doing housework? 

     A. Which task do you like/hate the most? 

     B. In what way do you think housework is connected with bring in shape? 

     C. In what way has technology influenced housework (household appliances) 

     D. Would you hire a cleaning lady?

2. What subjects were you bad at school?

3. Do you like listening and telling jokes? Do you know any joke in English?

4. What would be some of the issues that would concern you about emigrating?

5. What do you think of hunting? Would you eat an animal that you killed yourself?

6. I gained a lot of weight in last few years. I want to lose at least 10kg. What should I do?

7. Do you think it is more important to make a lot of money or to enjoy your job?

8. Do you think it is more important to make a lot of money or to enjoy your job?

9. What is your proudest accomplishment so far this year?

10. What is your best memory of childhood?     

11. Do you like being busy?

12. Is there truth in advertising?

13. What is one of your favorite animals?

14. When do you usually listen to the radio?      

15. Do you think the future will be better or worse for your grandchildren? In what ways?

16. When out walking or shopping in the city, do you accept advertising fliers or free samples that are offered to you?

17. Have you ever fallen or stumbled in front of others?

18. Do you think there are too many ads in television? Why/why not?

19. Have you ever fainted?

20. When was the last time you watched a soccer match?

21. What is the greatest movie from the past year?

22. What's the most disgusting food you ever ate in a restaurant?

23. How could public transportation in your city be improved?

24. What are the gestures for "I don't know", "You are crazy", "money" and "come here" in your country?

25. What do you think is the most dangerous form of transportation? Why?

26. Who is the most interesting person you ever met? why?

27. Where in the world would you most like to visit? why?

28. What has been the most life-changing experience you've ever had?

29. What is the most spontaneous thing you've you ever done?

30. Who's had the biggest influence on your life? why?

31. What thing that you haven't yet done would you most like to do?

32. What is the best quality you've inherited from either of your parents?

33. From which person have you learned most in your life?

34. What historical figure do you most identify with? why?

35. If you could go back to another time and place, what time and place would you choose and why?

36. Do you have any tatoos? If so, tell about how you got them. If not, would you ever consider getting a tatoo? Why or why not?

37. Who's the most adventurous person in your family? Describe what they do.

38. If you were offered a trip on the space shuttle, would you go? Why or why not?

39. Have you ever picked up a hitchhiker? If so tell about it.

40. How much is life an adventure?

41. Tell about a road trip that you've taken.

42. Have you ever tried any of the following: bungee jumping, snowboarding, parachuting, hanggliding? If so, tell about it.

43. Would you want to climb Mt. Everest? Why or why not?

44. What's the most exciting thing you've ever done? Tell about it.

45. Are cats better pets than dogs or are dogs better pets than cats? Why?

46. If you could be any animal in the world, what would you be and why?

47. Do you think it's morally acceptable for scientists to do genetic experiments on animals? Why or why not? What about other types of medical research?

48. Do you have any pets? If so, tell about them.

49. What's the most interesting animal you've ever eaten?

50. What wild animals do you find most interesting? Why?

51. If you could observe an extinct animal for an afternoon, which one would you choose and why?

52. Would you like to go on an African safari? Why or why not?

53. How are humans like other animals? How are they different?

54. How many different pets have you had over your lifetime? Which was your favorite?

55. What do you like most about going to the zoo? What about least?

56. How can pets help people emotionally?

57. Tell about the last time you visited a museum. What did you see? Who did you go with?

58. When eating out, what's more important to you: the way the food looks or tastes? Why?

59. What is traditional art from your country like? How much do you know about it?

60. How have science and technology changed what crimes are committed? How about the way we solve them?

61. Should users of illegal drugs be put in jail? Why or why not? What about the people who sell them?

62. Do you think it's possible to prevent certain kinds of crimes? If so, which ones and how?

63. Why do you think that there have been so many school shootings at high schools in the United States?

64. What do you think are reasonable penalties for people who commit environmental crimes*?

65. How much does the media cover crime in your country? Do you think that they should spend less time or more time on it?

66. Do most people in your country prefer traditional medicine, modern medicine, or a combination of the two?

67. Do you think that teas and natural herbs can be just as effective or more effective for treating certain illness than modern medicine?

68. Should doctors be allowed to prescribe a lethal dose of medicine to patients who want to end their lives?

69. Do you consider alcohol a drug? Do you drink?

70. Should doctors be allowed to prescribe marijuana? If so, to whom and for what reasons?

71. Why do you think so many famous people use drugs?

72. What do you usually do on the weekends? What did you do last weekend? Do you have plans for this weekend?

73. What types of music do people listen to in your country? Is there any type of music that you can only hear in your country?

74. What's the last movie you saw? When did you see it? What was it about? Did you like it?

75. What do you do for entertainment when you're on vacation that you don't usually do?

76. How often do you drink? What's your favorite drink? Where do you usually drink it?

77. What's the worst party you've ever been to? What made it bad?

78. Would you rather go to a bar, a party, or a nightclub? Why?

79. Do you think you have a generally healthy diet? What have you eaten so far today?

80. If you could only eat three meals for the rest of your life, what would they be?

81. What's the last meal you cooked for yourself? How do you make it?

82. What's a big holiday in your country? What foods do people typically eat on this holiday?

83. What foods do you think are most romantic? Why are they romantic?

84. What foods do you eat when you feel sick or depressed?

85. Are there any foods that you would not eat as a child that you now like? Why do you think this is?

86. Do you think that old buildings are more beautiful than new ones? Why or why not?

87. How important are monuments (like Big Ben or the Statue of Liberty) in defining a nation?

88. Describe your dream house.

89. What languages have you studied? How well can you read, write and speak each of them?

90. How do people who come from different regions of your country speak differently?

91. Do you think it's ever possible to speak a language like a native? Explain your reasons

92. What do you find most difficult to learn in English?

93. Why do you want to improve your English? For example: work, travel, pleasure.

94. How is your personality different when you speak another language? For example, are you more or less outgoing?

95. In what major ways is English grammar different from the grammar of your native language?

96. At what did you begin studying a second language? Do think age affects a person's ability to learn a new language?

97. What's the best way to learn a language?

98. Do you think you learn more English inside or outside the classroom? What do you on your own to improve your English?

99. What is the worst movie you have ever seen? Why was it so bad? What would have made it better?

100. Do you think movie stars should be paid millions of dollars? Do you think they are more or less entertaining than sports stars?

101. Which actor or actress do you think is the most overrated in Hollywood today? Which is the most underrated?

102. Do you listen to music on the radio? How often? Do you have a favorite station? Why do you like this station?

103. Why do you think English language music is so popular? Can a band be a worldwide hit if they don't sing in English?

104. Do you ever like to listen to loud music? When?

105. How has your opinion of good music changed over your lifetime? Is there anything you liked years ago that you would not like now?

106. In your opinion, how much should governments contribute to university education?

107. What type of information--if any--do you think a government should keep from its citizens?

108. What do you think is the most important political issue right now? Why is it important?

109. Tell about an important political event in your country's recent history.

110. Do you think it's important for a country to have a strong military? Why or why not?

111. What do you think of President Barrack Obama?

112. Who is the most famous scientist from your country? What did he/she do?

113. In what ways, if any, has science had a negative impact on society?

114. What do you think about evolution and other theories of natural selection?

115. What natural disasters occur in your country? Explain why they happen.

116. How do you feel about cloning? Do you think it's ethical for scientist to clone animals? What about human organs?

117. How has science influenced the way detectives investigate crimes?

118. What's your favorite branch of science? (For example, biology, physics, astronomy.)

119. Do you know how your computer works? If so, explain how.

120. How have you personally benefitted from developments in modern medicine?

121. What do you think will be the greatest medical breakthrough in the next ten years?

122. In your opinion what has been the most important scientific discovery ever? Why?

123. When do you think scientists will develop a cure for AIDS?

124. What was the last thing you bought for yourself? Where did you buy it? Why did you buy it?

125. What was the last thing you bought for someone else? Where did you buy it? Why did you buy it?

126. What's your favorite place to shop? Why?

127. Are you a price conscious shopper? What is your opinion of discount stores?

128. Do you compare prices at different stores when you shop?

129. How important is it for you to be up to date with the latest fashions?

130. What kind of clothes do you like best? Do you have a favorite type of fabric? Are a lot of your clothes one color or pattern?

131. Do you usually remember your dreams? Tell about a recent dream you remember.

132. Do you think that animals dream? Why or why not?

133. Have you ever slept outside for an entire night? If so, tell about the experience.

134. Are you a light sleeper or can you sleep on airplanes, trains, and buses?

135. Do you prefer to go to sleep late or wake up early?

136. Have you had dreams in other languages? How often do you dream in English? Would you like to?

137. Describe a nightmare that you remember from childhood.

138. How did your parents meet?

139. Describe your best friend from when you were a child.

140. How many friends have you kept from childhood? Tell about them.

141. In your language, is there more than one word for friend? If so, how are these words different?

142. When do you think people will visit Mars? What do you think they will find there?

143. If you could take a vacation to the moon, would you? Why or why not?

144. Would you like to be an astronaut? Why or why not?

145. Do you think people will ever communicate with intelligent aliens? Why or why not?

146. What can we learn about the earth from studying other planets?

147. Can you name the planets in English? Try.

148. What invention do you think has had the greatest impact on society? Why?

What do you think the world will be like a hundred years from now?

149. In what ways has technology improved our lives? In what ways has it made life worse?

150. Which of the following do you own: a VCR, a DVD player. a microwave oven, a computer, a cell phone, and an electronic dictionary? Which do you use most often?

151. Do you turn off the water when you brush your teeth?

152. In your opinion, what can cities like Sao Paulo and Los Angeles do to improve their air quality?

153. How often do you read the paper or watch the news on TV? How importantis it for you to keep up with current events?

154. In your opinion, what has been the single biggest news item from this pastyear? How did the media cover this event?

155. How do you feel about censorship? Are there times when the news shouldbe censored?

156. What's happening in the news right now, both in your country and abroad? Where did you hear about it?

157. Do you believe in ghosts? What are they? Have you ever seen or felt one?

158. What numbers are lucky in your country? Unlucky? Do you have a lucky number? Unlucky?

159. What do you for good luck? Do you think it works?

160. What sign are you? Do you think your personality reflects this?

161. Do you read your horoscope? If so, how seriously do you take it?

162. Have you (or anyone you've heard of) ever had an out of body experience? Do you believe there are people who can see things hidden from view?

163. Describe the best trip you ever took. Where did you go? Who did you travel with? What did you do?

164. Where did you spend your last vacation? What did you do?

165. What three countries would you most like to visit? Why?

166. Do you prefer winter vacations or summer vacations? Why?

167. Have you ever taken a package tour? If so, tell about this experience?

168. Have you ever hitchhiked? If so, where were you and how was this experience?

169 What three countries would you least like to visit? Why?

170. What's your ideal job? Why?

171. How has technology changed business? Do you think it's created more work or less?

172. Is it typical for men and women to have the same jobs in your counrty?

173. Do you think office romances can be successful? Why or why not? Do you know of any couples who have met at work?

174. Describe the first job you had for money.

175. In your opinion, which jobs are most prestigious? Why?

176. What three things are most important for you in a job? Why?

177. If you could own your own business, what would it be?

Problématica del Mundo Contemporaneo: Final

Unidad 1: Cultura y Transformación Social

1a. Génesis Social de la Idea de Cultura
En resumen, la "cultura" como término encontró en Francia el lugar más importante para su el desarrollo de su significado, pasando luego por un proceso de construcción semántica que involucró un debate - a veces conflictivo - entre franceses y alemanes, y también algunas idas y vueltas con el concepto de "civilización".

En forma más detallada, la palabra "cultura" ingresa al idioma francés con su significado propio del latin, el cual significa el cuidado de los campos o del ganado.

• En el siglo XIII cultura designa a una parcela de tierra cultivada;

• en el XIV a la acción de cultivar.

• Luego en los siglos XVI y XVII la palabra empieza a ser usada con el sentido figurado de cultivar una facultad.

• En el siglo XVIII se la usa acompañada de complementos como en las frases: "cultura de las artes", "de las letras", "de las ciencias", etc.

• Más adelante, la palabra empieza a ser usada sin esos complementos y se la afirma como opuesta al concepto de "naturaleza".

En esta fase la cultura se define como "la suma de saber acumulados y trasmitidos por la humanidad en el curso de la historia". Con la ideología propia de siglo de las luces imperante en la época, el término cultura se asocia con la idea de progreso, educación, razón, etc. Así, se acerca al la palabra de boga de aquel tiempo: "civilización".

Mientras tanto, en Alemania la traducción "Kultur" aparece en el siglo XVII y tiene más éxito que en Francia ya que no comparte protagonismo con el concepto de "civilización".

De todos modos, la palabra "civilización" es más tarde utilizada en contraposición de cultura. Debido al enfrentamiento entre la burguesía intelectual y la aristocracia de la corte, se abren dos sistemas de valores en donde, por un lado, todo lo auténtico y enriquecedor es denominado como "cultura"; por otro, todo lo de apariencia brillante y superficial es denominado "civilización". Para la burguesía alemana la aristocracia carecía de cultura.

Con el correr del tiempo, el término civilización pierde su connotación aristocrática y evoca más bien a Francia y a las potencias occidentales. Del mismo modo, "cultura" deja de ser característica de la burguesía y se convierte en una marca distintiva de Alemania. En el detrás de escena de este cambio, existen las mismas raíces de relación de inferioridad que sentían los burgueses con respecto a los aristócratas, solo que ahora representada en la relación de una Alemania débil y una Francia poderosa.

En el siglo XIX la cultura se vincula cada vez más con la idea de "nación". En este momento histórico la cultura es definida como "conjunto de conquistas artísticas, intelectuales y morales que constituyen el patrimonio de una nación".

Retornando a Francia, con todo el desarrollo que el término "cultura" tuvo en Alemania, esta palabra se enriquece con una dimensión colectiva asignando un conjunto de características de una comunidad. Sin embargo, a largos rasgos la concepción francesa de la cultura seguirá siendo universalistas, mientras que la alemana se mantendrá en su posición particularista.

1b. La Evolución Hasta el Concepto Científico del Término Cultura
El concepto científico del término cultura comienza con la reflexión positiva que se adopta sobre el hombre y la sociedad, la cual se manifiesta principalmente a través de la etología. Esta ciencia consistía en pensar la diversidad dentro de la unidad del hombre, la cual no era posible llevar a cabo desde el punto de vista de la biología.

El antropólogo británico Edward Tylor define por primera vez el concepto etnológico de la cultura, calificándola como "complejo que comprende el conocimiento, las creencias, el arte, la moral, el derecho, las costumbres, etc adquiridas por el hombre en tanto miembro de la sociedad". Con esta definición Tylor es considerado el inventor del concepto científico de la cultura. Para él, la cultura es la expresión de la totalidad de la vida social del hombre, la cual es adquirida y no heredada en forma biológica. Este autor sostiene que no hay diferencias en la naturaleza de primitivos y civilizados, sino distintos grados de avance cultural. Esto fue probado por medio de la observación de la cultura de pueblos primitivos que habían sobrevivido entre otros civilizados en México.

Por otro lado, Franz Boas es el inventor de la etnografía. Sus investigaciones se basaban en la observación directa y prolongada de las culturas primitivas a través de un método inductivo e intensivo. Para él, el etnólogo tiene que adentrarse de lleno en la cultura que estudia, lo cual significa que debe conocer su idioma, entrevistarse con sus integrantes y hasta escuchar conversaciones privadas. Una de las conclusiones derivadas de sus estudios es que la diferencia fundamental entre los grupos humanos es de orden cultural y no racial, ya que las razas no son más que un conjunto de caracteres inestables y de constante mutación.

Durkheim, quien es de la misma época que Boaz, contribuye a la expansión del término cultura en Francia. Su intención era comprender lo social en todas sus dimensiones. Para él, en toda sociedad existe una "conciencia colectiva" formada por ideales, valores y sentimientos compartidos por los miembros de una sociedad. Al igual que Tylor y Boaz, Durkheim no concebía una diferencia de naturaleza entre primitivos y civilizados.

Más adelante aparece Levy-Bruhl, quien se mostraba en desacuerdo con algunos postulados de Tylor y Durkheim. Este autor trabajó para refutar la teoría evolucionista unilineal. Para él no todos los humanos evolucionavan paralelamente, sino que el avance era desigual entre las diferentes culturas.

1.c Estudio de las Relaciones entre CulturasEs una realidad que ninguna cultura existe en estado eternamente puro, sino que éstas se ven constantemente influenciadas por agentes externos. Cuando se habla de agentes externos penetrando en una cultura, se habla de relaciones entre culturas en donde una ejerce influencia sobre la otra. Algunas conceptos claves con los cuales se estudia sobre este tema son el la aculturación, sincretismo (que es la mezcla de las culturas), y el mestizaje cultural.

La aculturación es definida como "el conjunto de fenómenos que resultan del contacto continuo y directo entre grupos de individuos de culturas diferentes y que inducen a cambios de modelos culturales". Roger Bastide habla de dos tipos de aculturación: la formal y la material. La primera hace referencia a la psiquis, la cual es un conjunto de estructuras inconscientes arraigadas a la cultura; la segunda a lo que es "materia", que es constituida por echos perceptibles como por ejemplo valores o representaciones observadas en rituales.

Bastide sostiene que en el análisis de toda situación de aculturación hay un grupo dominante y uno dominado, pero que aun así no hay cultura que sea únicamente "dadora" o únicamente "receptora", sino que la transferencia de elementos es bidireccional. Este autor propone en forma general tres tipos de aculturación:
a. una espontánea, en donde el cambio se debe simplemente al contacto libre y natural;
b. una organizada pero forzada, en donde un grupo es sometido a los intereses del grupo dominante, como en el caso de la esclavitud o la colonización;
c. un planificada, la cual se plantea como sistemática y es a largo plazo.