Check here often for discussion content from sources such as Ted Talks, Public Broadcasting, Voice of America, ShareAmerica, and ECA’s 22.33 Podcast.
Podcasts
Podcasts are becoming increasingly popular in the United States. A podcast is an audio recording on just about any topic that can be downloaded on most devices and listened to at anytime. Podcasts are relatively easy to create and are a tool for American Spaces to promote media literacy, journalistic skills, and press freedom.
The Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA) has published this guide on how to create your own podcasts. This is a great resource for journalism and podcasting clubs.
ECA has also created the 22.33 podcast on exchange stories. Below are discussion guides for some of these podcasts.
- Season 1, Episode 8: Call Me Teacher – This discussion guide (PDF 1 MB) pulls out the theme of stereotyping across cultures.
- Season 1, Episode 64: Spaceship Earth: The Ultimate Exchange (with Cady Coleman) – This discussion guide (PDF 662) focuses on how our perceptions influence how we see others and ourselves.
- Connecting through Isolation Episode 1 (PDF 421 KB)
- Connecting through Isolation Episode 2 (PDF 371 KB)
- Connecting through Isolation Episode 3 (PDF 502 KB)
Voice of America/USAGM
The United States Agency for Global Media (USAGM), formerly known as the Broadcasting Board of Governors, is an independent agency of the U.S. government that runs news agencies around the world through five networks: Voice of America, Cuba Broadcasting, Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, Radio Free Asia, and Middle East Broadcasting Networks. This page outlines ways you can incorporate USAGM resources at your American Space.
TED Talks
TED is a nonpartisan nonprofit devoted to spreading ideas, usually in the form of short, powerful talks. TED began in 1984 as a conference where technology, entertainment, and design converged, and today covers almost all topics — from science to business to global issues — in more than 100 languages.
- TED Talk: Why Domestic Violence Victims Don’t Leave
Microsoft Word (623 kb)
Year of Talk: 2012
Length: 15 min. 53 sec.
English Level: Medium
Theme: Gender-Based Violence; Women’s Empowerment - PBS Story: How Media Literacy Can Help Students Discern Fake News
PDF (330 kb)
Story Date: June 6, 2017
Length: 7 min., 31 sec.
English Level: Medium
Theme: Media Literacy - TED Talk: A Taboo-Free Way to Talk about Periods
Microsoft Word (1.2 mb)
Year of Talk: 2015
Length: 11 min. 11 sec.
English Level: Medium
Theme: Girls’ and Women’s Education and Empowerment; Menstrual Education - Highlights from State Interactive Program: Athletes Without Limits
PDF (556 kb)
Theme: Disabilities Inclusion, Sports Diplomacy, Women’s Empowerment - TED Talk: Ancient Wonders Captured in 3D
(PDF 371 kb)
Speaker: Ben Kacyra
Year Made: 2011
Length: 12:20 min.
English Level: Medium
Theme: Cultural Preservation, Science & Technology - TED Talk: The Unexpected Challenge of a Country's First Election
(PDF 1 MB)
Speaker: Philippa Neave
Year Made: 2016
Length: 11 min.
English Level: Medium
Theme: Election Principles, Democratic Values - TED Talk: Why Ordinary People Need to Understand Power
(PDF 1 MB)
Speaker: Eric Liu
Year Made: 2013
Length: 17:15 min.
English Level: Medium-hard
Theme: Civic Engagement, Democratic Values - Anti-Corruption
(PDF 597 KB)
TED Talk: What Really Motivates People to be Honest in Business?
ShareAmerica Video: Company Gets Unfair Access – What’s the Harm? - How We Can End Sexual Harassment at Work
(PDF 617kb)
Speaker: Gretchen Carlson
Year Recorded: 2017
Themes: Sexual harassment, gender-based violence, and workplace quality
Duration: 15 min