This issue is discussed in Working Teens (Issue 8). Some people think it is okay for teens to work part-time while they are in high school; other people disagree. Readers of Topics express their opinions. I believe that a teenager should voice his or her opinion in this matter. I am currently in eleventh grade, and I … Read more
Alicha (Meat Stew) Tesfanesh Abate from Ethiopia Ageresh Abate and Awoke Abate, also from Ethiopia, helped prepare the dish! Alicha is like a stew or casserole, and the Ethiopian name for this is a wat. Stews are very popular in my country. Alicha, a more delicately seasoned Wat (stew), contains no berbere(chili). It is often eaten at home, and … Read more
Can you imagine exchanging the glamour of city life for a quiet life in the countryside? Many people want to move from the country to the city because they think that life in the city is more exciting and better than in rural areas, especially younger people who like new, modern things. Often people like … Read more
The Yangko Dance is a traditional Chinese folk dance created by the farmers when they worked in the rice field hundreds of years ago. Many Chinese people like the dance and take it as an important method of relaxing, no matter when there is a spring festival or when there are some special celebrations. Before … Read more
In just about every country, children, especially boys, have played with tops. Usually, the object is to knock over the other players’ tops with your top or to knock them out of a circle. In Venezuela, the traditional top is made of wood. In Indonesia, a bamboo top whistles as it spins, and the object is to … Read more
In this story, an old fisherman receives something wonderful, but then his greed for more good things leads to grief. There was once an old man who liked fishing. He always fished in a lake, which was near his house. One day, the old man brought his fishing rod and fishing tackle and went out … Read more
In the Andean region of Táchira, Mérida and Trujillo, the celebration called La Paradura del Niño is focused on Jesus as a baby. It is celebrated around the 6th of January. It is a procession in which the baby in the manger is placed on a large handerchief and each corner is held by a person who … Read more
California community colleges have very flexible entrance requirements. As a result, students who are still learning English can enroll in classes with native speakers. Even ESL classes may mix students who have great oral fluency with students whose spoken English is still developing. What’s it like for ESL students to take college-level classes with more … Read more
If you want to feel Russian spirit, you ought to go to the Russian restaurant, “Stoli Grill.” Entering the restaurant, you’ll see a large hall with tables and cabinets along the wall. Also, you will hear the sound of live piano or violin music or songs being performed by real singers. Usually they sing famous … Read more
Around the world, children have enjoyed drawing grids on the sidewalk or on the ground and then jumping or hopping from one end of the grid to the other. They draw different kinds of grids. Some are like the one in the photo. Others are round and curl in a circle. Still others are a … Read more