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Living Happily Together: Tram Chim

Tram Chim—a national park in Dong Thap Province, Viet Nam—was established in 1999 to preserve the valuable submerged inland ecosystem. It is home to many fish and plant species, and a frequent destination for birds such as red-crowned cranes and herons.

Unfortunately, human activities around the park are threatening it. More and more shrimp ponds are being constructed. While bringing money to farmers, they prevent fertile floodwater of the Mekong River from entering the park. The lack of nutrients in the water, together with the common practice of overfishing and cutting down trees in the park, has put a large number of species in danger.

The local government has found a solution to this problem in ecotourism. Together with a number of national and international organizations, they are persuading local residents to make a living from the park in a more sustainable way. Families receive training and equipment to provide tourists with homestay services and local specialties. They also row wooden dinghies to bring tourists into the park for birdwatching during the day or to enjoy a rare experience of nocturnal sounds after sunset.

It is not easy for these farmers to tum into hosts and guides, though. To talk to foreign tourists, for example, they have to use body language frequently due to the language barrier. Luckily, those conversations end with hearty laughter most of the time. It may be hard for the farmers, but they are willing to learn how to make themselves, the tourists, and the park happy altogether.

submerged inland ecosystem (noun phrase) the

ecosystem of an underwater area within land boundaries

Answer:

Tràm Chim - một công viên quốc gia tại tỉnh Đồng Tháp, Việt Nam - được thành lập vào năm 1999 để bảo tồn hệ sinh thái ngập lụt quý giá. Nó là nhà của nhiều loài cá và thực vật, và là điểm đến thường xuyên của các loài chim như sếu đầu đỏ và cò.

Thật không may, các hoạt động của con người xung quanh công viên đang đe dọa nó. Ngày càng nhiều ao tôm được xây dựng. Trong khi đem lại tiền cho nông dân, chúng ngăn ngừa nước lũ màu mỡ của sông Mekong vào công viên. Sự thiếu dinh dưỡng trong nước, cộng với thói quen cá lắm và chặt cây trong công viên, đã đẩy một số lượng lớn các loài vào nguy hiểm.

Chính phủ địa phương đã tìm ra giải pháp cho vấn đề này trong du lịch sinh thái. Cùng với một số tổ chức quốc gia và quốc tế, họ thuyết phục người dân địa phương kiếm sống từ công viên một cách bền vững hơn. Gia đình được đào tạo và cung cấp thiết bị để cung cấp dịch vụ homestay và đặc sản địa phương cho khách du lịch. Họ cũng chèo thuyền gỗ để đưa khách du lịch vào công viên để quan sát chim vào ban ngày hoặc để trải nghiệm âm thanh về đêm hiếm hoi.

Tuy nhiên, không dễ dàng cho những người nông dân này trở thành chủ nhà và hướng dẫn viên. Chẳng hạn, để nói chuyện với khách du lịch nước ngoài, họ phải sử dụng ngôn ngữ cử chỉ thường xuyên do rào cản ngôn ngữ. May mắn thay, hầu hết những cuộc trò chuyện đó đều kết thúc bằng tiếng cười thân thiện. Có thể đối với những người nông dân, điều đó khó khăn, nhưng họ sẵn lòng học cách làm cho bản thân, khách du lịch và công viên đều hạnh phúc.

A. MY WORLD. Do you like to do things in nature while traveling? Share your ideas in small groups.

(Bạn có thích làm những việc trong tự nhiên khi đi du lịch? Chia sẻ ý tưởng của bạn trong các nhóm nhỏ)

Answer:

I would definitely love doing things in nature while traveling. One of my favorite activities is hiking, as it allows me to explore the beauty of nature on foot and get some exercise at the same time. I also enjoy wildlife watching, especially in national parks or nature reserves, as it gives me the opportunity to see animals in their natural habitats. Another activity that I love is kayaking or canoeing, which allows me to paddle through rivers or coastlines and experience nature from a unique perspective. Finally, I enjoy nature photography, as it allows me to capture the beauty of nature and preserve it for future enjoyment. These are just a few of my favorite things to do in nature while traveling, and I believe that being in nature can provide a sense of peace, tranquility, and rejuvenation that is hard to find in everyday life.

B. Read the article. Answer the questions.

(Đọc bài báo. Trả lời các câu hỏi)

1. How do shrimp ponds threaten Tram Chim National Park?

2. What are some examples of ecotourism services at Tram Chim?

3. Do you think the farmers and the tourists can understand one another? Why?

Answer:

1. How do shrimp ponds threaten Tram Chim National Park?

• Shrimp ponds prevent the fertile floodwater of the Mekong River from entering the park, which results in the lack of nutrients in the water. This, together with the common practice of overfishing and cutting down trees in the park, has put a large number of species in danger.

2. What are some examples of ecotourism services at Tram Chim?

• Tram Chim offers ecotourism services such as homestay services, rowing wooden dinghies for birdwatching during the day or to enjoy a rare experience of nocturnal sounds after sunset.

3. Do you think the farmers and the tourists can understand one another? Why?

• It might be challenging for the farmers to communicate with foreign tourists due to the language barrier, but they are willing to learn and make themselves, the tourists, and the park happy altogether. The article suggests that the conversations often end with hearty laughter, which implies that despite the language barrier, both parties can understand each other on a basic level and enjoy their time together.

C. Match the words with the correct definitions.

(Nối các từ với các định nghĩa đúng)

Answer:

1. pond - c. a small body of still water

2. homestay - a. (tourists) staying in the home of a local family

3. dinghy - d. a small boat

4. heron - e. a large fish-eating bird

5. nocturnal - b. occurring at night

D. Work with a small group. Discuss the questions.

(Làm việc với một nhóm nhỏ. Thảo luận các câu hỏi)

1. What do you think local people need to participate in ecotourism?

2. What are some possible challenges for them in providing ecotourism services?

3. Would you like to visit Tram Chim National Park sometime? What could you do to help people there?

Answer:

1. What do you think local people need to participate in ecotourism?

• Local people need training and support to provide ecotourism services, including knowledge of their local culture and environment, language skills, and customer service. They also need financial assistance and access to equipment and facilities to ensure that their services are of high quality and meet the expectations of tourists.

2. What are some possible challenges for them in providing ecotourism services?

• Some possible challenges for local people in providing ecotourism services include language barriers, lack of experience or training, and limited resources. They may also face cultural differences and expectations from tourists, as well as competition from established tourism operators.

3. Would you like to visit Tram Chim National Park sometime? What could you do to help people there?

• Yes, I would like to visit Tram Chim National Park sometime. Visiting Tram Chim National Park can be a great way to support local people and help preserve the park's ecosystem. Tourists can choose to stay in homestays provided by local families, buy local products, and participate in ecotourism activities to contribute to the local economy. Additionally, tourists can learn about the park's ecosystem and the challenges it faces, and share this knowledge with others to raise awareness and support for conservation efforts.

Goal check

Follow the steps with your group.

(Thực hiện theo các bước với nhóm của bạn)

1. What problem is everyone in your group concerned about? It might be a global problem or a local problem in your country or city.

2. What is a realistic solution to your problem?

3. What are 3-4 steps you could take toward realizing your solution? Make a list.

Answer:

1. Our group is concerned about the problem of plastic waste and its impact on the environment.

2. A realistic solution to this problem is to reduce the amount of plastic we use and dispose of properly. This can be achieved by raising awareness about the problem, promoting the use of reusable alternatives to single-use plastic, and implementing proper waste management practices.

3. Three to four steps we could take towards realizing our solution are:

• Educate ourselves and others about the environmental impacts of plastic waste through research and sharing information with our communities.

• Take action to reduce our own plastic consumption by using reusable bags, bottles, and containers, and avoiding single-use plastic products.

• Advocate for policy changes to reduce plastic waste, such as implementing plastic bag bans or taxes, or supporting recycling initiatives in our local communities.

• Volunteer with organizations working on plastic waste reduction efforts, such as beach cleanups or community recycling programs.