Bliss English Club

Dear Blissers 

Welcome to independent thinking and a distinctive world view !

This coming Sat. on 5/19 , join me to read and learn more about my most respectful country – Germany .

There are always different voices regarding Mrs Merkel’s “open door” policy towards refugees , how about you ? Would like to hear your voice on this , too.

As usual, please read through this article before joining the meeting , and we will follow the meeting agenda below to have in-depth discussion toward this April cover story of the Economist together ~

Here’s the link of article or you may find word file here : https://www.economist.com/news/leaders/21740402-right-leadership-it-could-be-model-west-germany-becoming-more-open-and

Or, you can find the reading attachment for preview!

Meeting Agenda:

10:00-11:00  Q&A of the article, any question of the articles could be raised during

                        This one hour session

11:00 -12:00  Separate to 3 groups for guided questions discussion

12:00-12:10  Break

12:10- 12:50  Each group members takes terms to :

                          1)      make a summary of this article and

                         2)      Share the answers of the guided questions after your discussion

12:50- 13:00  Meeting Reflection and thoughts sharing :

                        Please share with what inspired you from this article or what the most important “one” idea you learned from this article ( or today’s meeting )

Guided Question for group Discussion :

1.  Both Japan and Germany are facing aging problem ( aging demographic issue: Japan 2^nd place & Germany 4^th place the most serious in the world ) , however, these 2 countries are having very distinctive approaches on their immigration policy .

In your personal view point , what makes them take such different policy and thus , the policy they take will have any impact on both countries demographic issue ?

2.  What are the images you have for "Traditional (or original)" Germany? Do you have worry that any good trait would weaken or vanish with its transformation mentioned in this article?

 Let's say Traditional Germany "during the past 20 years", on contrast to the "new" Germany expected to be seen with the transformation

3. From your point of view , an aging country like Germany , is it a good policy to lower the retirement age ? If yes, share with us why , and if it is not , why Mrs. Kermel still lower the retirement age ?

4. Why Mrs. Kermel highlighted Germany's true borders to North Africa, Ukraine and Turkey ?

5. In the article,  “Many of the country’s defining traits—its ethnic and cultural homogeneity, conformist and conservative society, and unwillingness to punch its weight in international diplomacy”

Why Germany is reluctant to punch its weight in international diplomacy ?

6. In the article , “Abroad, the new Germany could also become a different sort of power. It remains frustratingly prone to a small-country outlook: reluctant to spend enough on defence, to confront the imbalances caused by its trade surplus and to accept more burden-sharing in the euro zone.”

If you agree on country with trade surplus , which is doing good for the country …. why the Economist author identify such reluctance to confront the imbalances caused by German trade surplus is a “small-country” outlook ?

See you all soon this Sat morning and look forward to hearing your voice with intelligence !

Ellen with love

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