Interculturales I - Vietnam War

The Vietnam War was a conflict in Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia from 1 November 1955 to 30 April 1975. It was one of the major conflicts of the Cold War as it was officially fought between North Vietnam (supported by the Soviet Union and China) and South Vietnam (supported by the US and other anti-communist allies). 

During the course of the war a large segment of US citizens became opposed to U.S. involvement in the war. Many young people protested because they were being drafted, while others were against because the anti-war movement grew popular among the hippie counterculture. 

High-profile opposition to the war increasingly turned to mass protests to shift public opinion. These anti-war protests ceased after the Paris Peace Accords and end of the draft in January 1973, and the withdrawal of US troops.

The year is 1968 and you are a 22 year old man who is a civil rights activist and a ‘flower child’ who is also trying to avoid the Vietnam War draft. Unfortunately the evasion was unsuccessful. So now you are writing a letter to a loved one to let them know about the war and your feelings towards it.

What can you write about your situation? (Use all the links provided in the process)

1. Look at the useful phrases for letters and match them with their purpose (send your answers to rodrigoscalise22@gmail.com) 

That reminds me,... Why don't we... I'd better get going... Thanks for your letter... Please let me know... I'm really sorry... Love, Could you do something for me? Write soon... Did you know that.. I'm happy to hear that...

·        to finish the letter ·        to apologize ·        to thank the person for writing ·        to begin the letter ·        to change the subject ·        to ask a favor ·        before signing the letter ·        to suggest or invite ·        to ask for a reply ·        to ask for a response ·        to share some information

 

2. Reorganize the paragraphs (send your answer to rodrigoscalise22@gmail.com). Use the example and following links to help you:

https://learning.cambridgeinternational.org/classroom/course/view.php?id=4501

 

https://learnenglishteens.britishcouncil.org/exams/reading-exams/put-paragraphs-correct-order

 

Example:

11-Sept.-69

Dear Mom and Dad,

Getting short, Mom, coming home pretty soon. Going to quit flying soon, too much for me now. I went in front of a board for sp/5 will know soon if i made it. I have now 20 oak leaf clusters and some more paper for you. I have flown 1500 hours now, and in those hours I could tell you a lifetime story. I have been put in for a medal again, but this time I have seen far beyond of what ever you will see. That is why I'm going to quit flying. I dream of Valerie's hand touching mine telling me to come home; but I wake up, and it's some sergeant telling me I have to fly. Today I am 21, far away but coming home older.

Love,

Larry

Reorganize:

 

We have been looking at two-bedroom flats near West Hampstead, in the same area where we live now. It turns out that, despite London’s extortionate prices, the average rent is quite affordable with our two incomes combined.

Have you considered moving in with Bas before? If so, where would you be looking to rent?

50ª Chandos Road, London, United Kingdom

Lots of love,

This will be the first time I have moved in with a partner, but at least we’ve had a few months of practice during my break from full-time work.

19 January 2018

I can’t wait to hear from you. Send my regards to Bas, as well!

It’s been a while since I’ve heard from you. How have you been? I was thrilled to see the photos of your holiday with Bas on Facebook – did you enjoy your time away? I’m writing to you with some good news: Amir and I are going to move in together!

Lola

Dear Meie,

 

3. Read about the Vietnam War and the Flower Power movement and take notes.

https://www.britannica.com/event/Vietnam-War

 

https://michiganintheworld.history.lsa.umich.edu/antivietnamwar/exhibits/show/exhibit/draft_protests/the-military-draft-during-the-

 

https://thehistoryofrockandroll.net/flower-power/

 

4. Watch the video to learn more about the Flower Power movement.

https://www.britannica.com/video/195543/flowers-peace-symbol-love-hippie-movement

 

5. Watch the video and read the lyrics to the song ‘The Flesh Failures/Let The Sunshine In’ from the 1968 musical called Hair to get insight on what it was like to be drafted. (Hair is a musical about flower children/draft evaders where the main character is forced to go to war. This song specifically is sung from the point of view of Vietnam War soldiers).

https://www.letras.com/hair/223016/

 

6. Read the letters written to and from Vietnam War soldiers, find useful words or expressions.

Use the letters as examples for yours.

http://www.vietvet.org/letters.htm

 

	Alcanzado	En Proceso	Pendiente de logro
Task	La actividad final y las tareas intermedias se abordaron de forma completa.	La actividad final y/o las tareas intermedias están incompletas.	Es evidente que se ha dedicado poco esfuerzo al desarrollo de las tareas.
Process: Contenido	Demuestra conocimiento pleno del tema.	Demuestra conocimiento del tema.	Demuestra conocimiento de algunos aspectos del tema.
Process: Originalidad	Las ideas expresadas en la carta demuestran un alto grado de originalidad.	Las ideas expresadas en la carta son en su mayoría originales.	Las ideas expresadas en la carta demuestran un bajo grado de originalidad.
Gramática, Ortografía y Formato	El trabajo final no contiene errores gramaticales, ortográficos ni de formato.	El trabajo final contiene entre 3 y 5 errores gramaticales, ortográficos y de formato.	El trabajo final contiene errores importantes de gramática, ortografía y formato

 

Reflect on what you have read and write your thoughts about the protest methods used at the time of the Vietnam War. What kind of impact do you think they had at the time? 

Can you think of examples of protests in our country at any point? Are there any differences or similarities between them?