Introduction
The Republic of Panama
Panama City is situated on the isthmus connecting North and South America, it is bordered by Costa Rica to the West, Colombia to the southeast, the Caribbean to the North and the Pacific Ocean to the South. Revenue from canal tolls continues to represent a significant portion. Panama has the second largest economy in Central America and it is also the fastest growing economy and the largest per capital consumer in Central America. Panama has a tropical climate. Tourism in Panama has kept its growth over the past 5 years due to the government offering tax and price discounts to foreign guests and retirees. These economic incentives have caused Panama to be regarded as a relatively good place to retire in the world. The arrival of tourists from Europe to Panama grew by 23.1% during the first nine months of 2008. The treaty between Panama and U.S.A. protects U.S. investment and assists Panama in its efforts to develop its economy by creating conditions more favorable for U.S. private investment and thereby strengthening the development of its private sector. Panama has its own coinage but uses U.S. dollars for all its paper currency. The country is dollarized.
Due to its unique geographical location, economic importance, and historical significance, Panama has become a blend of many cultures and ethnicitie
Panama has many different types of immigration visas and residency programs offering permanent residency, and in many cases, full citizenship with a passport.
Panama is considered and excellent country to life. There are some favorable and unfavorable aspects. Do you agree?
Task
After reading all the information about Panama City, its economy, social problems, etc, students should accomplish the following task:
- Work in group of 4 students per group
- Prepare a Debate with the advantages and disadvantes of living in Panama City
- Read all your point of view aloud in order to practice pronunciation
- Prepare a power point showing the important aspects of your point of view in respect to the topic
- Try to convince the audience or foreign people why they should move or not to Panama City
- Take into consideration the most important aspects of the country.
- You should illustrate your power point with relevant photos or graphics of the topic
Process
Students should take into consideration the following aspects to develop the task:
- Read carefully the introduction
- Look for more information about social, political, economics, ethnic, etc.
- Analyze the information and put all your ideas together to develop the Debate
- Each group should make a list of advantages and disadvantages of Panama city
- Benefits for foreign people (advantages)
- Disadvantages for foreign people
- Develop your power point using all the necessary tools
- Students can use several web sites such as:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Panama#Post-intervention_success
http://www.panama-offshore-services.com/immigration_visas.htm
http://web.stanford.edu/class/e297c/war_peace/americas/hpanama.html
https://www.google.com/#q=photo+panama+ethnic
Evaluation
|
|
CATEGORY |
5 |
4.5 |
3.5 |
1 |
|
Organization |
All arguments were clearly tied to an idea (premise) and organized in a tight, logical fashion. |
Most arguments were clearly tied to an idea (premise) and organized in a tight, logical fashion. |
All arguments were clearly tied to an idea (premise) but the organization was sometimes not clear or logical. |
Arguments were not clearly tied to an idea (premise). |
|
Use of Facts/Statistics |
Every major point was well supported with several relevant facts, statistics and/or examples. |
Every major point was adequately supported with relevant facts, statistics and/or examples. |
Every major point was supported with facts, statistics and/or examples, but the relevance of some was questionable. |
Every point was not supported. |
|
Understanding of Topic |
The team clearly understood the topic in-depth and presented their information forcefully and convincingly. |
The team clearly understood the topic in-depth and presented their information with ease. |
The team seemed to understand the main points of the topic and presented those with ease. |
The team did not show an adequate understanding of the topic. |
|
Presentation Style |
Team consistently used gestures, eye contact, tone of voice and a level of enthusiasm in a way that kept the attention of the audience. |
Team usually used gestures, eye contact, tone of voice and a level of enthusiasm in a way that kept the attention of the audience. |
Team sometimes used gestures, eye contact, tone of voice and a level of enthusiasm in a way that kept the attention of the audience. |
One or more members of the team had a presentation style that did not keep the attention of the audience. |
|
Respect for Other Team |
All statements, body language, and responses were respectful and were in appropriate language. |
Statements and responses were respectful and used appropriate language, but once or twice body language was not. |
Most statements and responses were respectful and in appropriate language, but there was one sarcastic remark. |
Statements, responses and/or body language were consistently not respectful. |
|
Grammar and Communication |
The spelling and grammar should be checked previously |
The debate should focusses on the topic and each student has to participate |
pronunciation will be verified |
Grammatical errors are not accepted |
|
Rebuttal |
All counter-arguments were accurate, relevant and strong. |
Most counter-arguments were accurate, relevant, and strong. |
Most counter-arguments were accurate and relevant, but several were weak. |
Counter-arguments were not accurate and/or relevant |
|
Use of Technological tools |
Power Point was well done. graphic and other elements were essential to task completion |
The use of web and link resources help the audience understand the topic. |
Graphics captured audience’s attention |
some graphic were not related to the topic |
Date Created: Nov 14, 2014 07:29 pm (CST)
Conclusion
Now, as you can see, the researches made by each group help you a lot. For example:
- Help you improve your knowledge
- You are able to speak about your country with a good comand of any topic
- You know what you can find in your country
- You have information about the growth of your country
- The importance of taking care of what beautiful things Panama has.
- Also you can share information with other of what you consider should be change in your country in order to have a better country.
- You can talk about politics, economic and social problems that affecting your country.
- In general you are able to discuss about advantages and disadvantages you found in your country.
Credits
Teacher Page
The main objectives of this class activity are the following:
- Make students to communicate
- Explain the importance of communication in relationships.
- Relate the four basic elements of communication to success in communicating.
- Demonstrate good active and passive listening skills
- Demonstrate techniques for effective speaking.
- Develop communicate skills
- Make students develop several researches
- The important of using technological tools
- Organize themselves in groups
- Work in collaborative groups
This Webquest is designed taking into consideration the following:
- Teach students how to use technology web 2.0
- Get students updated
- Students will be interested in knowing information about their country
- Students are able to debate with accurate information about the topic