Learning Objectives:
- Students will be able to listen to and understand a story about life in a Cambodian floating village.
- Students will be able to identify key vocabulary related to water, village life, and daily routines.
- Students will be able to answer comprehension questions about the story.
- Students will be able to discuss the unique aspects of living in a floating village compared to other types of communities.
Materials:
- Audio recording of the story “The Floating Village” (see script below).
- Optional: Images or videos of floating villages in Cambodia to aid visualization.
- Worksheet or whiteboard for comprehension questions and vocabulary review.
Audio:
Script:
Hello! My name is Neary, and I live in a floating village on the Tonle Sap Lake in Cambodia. Our village is made up of houses built on stilts or floating platforms.
Every morning, I wake up to the sound of the gentle waves lapping against our house. I step outside onto the wooden deck and look out at the vast expanse of the lake.
We have a small boat that we use for transportation. I take the boat to school every day, paddling through the calm waters. Sometimes, I see fishermen casting their nets and children playing in the water.
Life in our village is closely connected to the lake. We fish for our food, we wash our clothes in the lake, and we use the water for cooking and cleaning.
During the rainy season, the lake swells, and our houses rise with the water level. It’s amazing to see how our village adapts to the changing environment.
In the dry season, the water recedes, and we can walk on the exposed lakebed. We plant vegetables and fruits in the fertile soil left behind by the receding water.
Living in a floating village is a unique experience. We have a strong sense of community, and everyone helps each other. We rely on the lake for our livelihoods and cherish its beauty and abundance.
Vocabulary:
- stilt (noun): one of a pair of upright poles used to support a building above ground or water.
- deck (noun): a floor of a ship, especially the upper, open level extending for the full length of the vessel.
- vast (adjective): of very great extent or quantity; immense.
- expanse (noun): a wide, continuous area of something.
- recede (verb): go or move back or further away from a previous position.
- exposed (adjective): not covered or protected.
- lakebed (noun): the bottom of a lake.
- fertile (adjective): (of soil or land) producing or capable of producing abundant vegetation or crops.
- livelihood (noun): a means of securing the necessities of life.
- cherish (verb): protect and care for (someone) lovingly.
Tasks:
- True or False:
- Neary lives in a house on land. (True/False)
- Neary walks to school. (True/False)
- The lake is important for Neary’s village. (True/False)
- The water level in the lake stays the same all year round. (True/False)
- Answer the Questions:
- What is Neary’s village made of?
- How does Neary get to school?
- What do people in the village use the lake for?
- How does the village change during the rainy season and the dry season?
- Vocabulary Matching: Match the vocabulary words with their definitions.
- Discussion:
- What do you think would be the advantages and disadvantages of living in a floating village?
- How is life in a floating village different from life in a city or a traditional village on land?
- Would you like to visit a floating village? Why or why not?
Answer Key:
- True or False:
- False
- False
- True
- False
- Answer the Questions:
- Houses built on stilts or floating platforms.
- By boat.
- Fishing, washing clothes, cooking, cleaning.
- In the rainy season, the houses rise with the water level. In the dry season, the water recedes, and people can walk on the exposed lakebed.
- Vocabulary Matching: (Answers are provided above)
- Discussion: (Open-ended questions to encourage student participation)
Outro:
Floating villages are a unique and fascinating part of Cambodian life. They offer a glimpse into a way of life that is closely connected to nature and the rhythms of the seasons. By learning about different ways of living, we can expand our understanding of the world and appreciate the diversity of human experiences.
