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August 1, 2002
International Web Sites
By Carol S. Holzberg
Personal visits are the best way for students to experience the visual wonders and cultural flavors of foreign lands. But school budgets can't accommodate fieldtrips to faraway places like: Paris' Eiffel Tower, Israel's walled-city of Jerusalem, Egypt's pyramids of Giza, Rome's Coliseum, or even Rio de Janeiro's favelas. Thanks to the Internet, however, children can take digital journeys to all of these places and to virtually any place in the world. They can consult information-rich fact sheets written in English, thus eliminating any language barriers.
French Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Take a virtual stroll down the Avenue des Champs-Elysýes or climb the steps of the Eiffel Tower for a grand view of the Paris cityscape at this English-language site hosted by the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Or skip the urban hustle and bustle and click the Discovering France link to learn more about French institutions, society and culture, to view 200 royalty-free photographs, and to tour villages and towns in the heart of baguette country.
Israel: Ministry of Foreign Affairs
A general information site prepared by Israel's Ministry of Foreign Affairs where you'll find a variety of English-language information resources about Israel. Topics include: Facts About Israel, which deals with questions like: What is Zionism, Why is Israel a Jewish state, What is the Holocaust, and What is anti-Semitism? There's also a pictorial essay entitled "Israel at 50 & Beyond." There are also links to: historical documents; peace process news clips; and biographies of presidents, prime ministers, foreign ministers and other national personalities.
At Akhlah: The Jewish Children's Learning Network an Israel page provides links to information about Israel's history, cities, and symbols. There's also an online quiz to test your knowledge of biblical and historical facts.
Windows on Italy
This site provides a well-rounded view of Italy from prehistoric to modern times. A click-able "hypermap" map connects to descriptive profiles of Italy's regions as well as demographic, environmental, and cultural country data. The text-based articles, however, will have limited appeal to very young children. For a more visual approach to the land of lira and the leaning tower of Pisa, check out the colorful map at InItaly Online and Italiavoice.com for links to news, regional information, cultural events, travel tips, general facts about Italy, a currency converter, and more.
Europa: European Union On-Line
Can you name the nations of the European Union? Do you know when the Union was established and for what purpose? Visit this Web site to learn more about the EU's 15-member countries. You'll also find information about EU activities and institutions (such as the European Parliament, Council of the European Union, Court of Justice, and the European Central Bank) plus maps of all EU member states and official treaties establishing the European community.
Government of Canada
The Government of Canada welcomes visitors in both English and French at its resource-rich Web site. Click the language of your choice and venture forth to explore and enhance your Canadian IQ with facts and plenty of statistics on various facets of Canadian society. You'll find maps, educational games and quizzes, information about arts, culture, climate, geography and weather, plus interesting tidbits on Canada's environment, history and people.
The Russia Journal
This English-language Russian newspaper (published in Moscow since 1998) features daily updates of national news, weather and stocks, plus analyses of Russian politics, economy and business. Presented in the style of a news magazine, it also includes opinions and comments providing insight into Russian culture and viewpoints, and news reports from around the world. Check out the link to Hot Topics for up-to-date coverage of current local events and issues of interest, and the Lifestyles link with information about Russian culture, music, cinema, health and fitness.
Chinatoday.com
The People's Republic of China ranks as the world's third largest nation in terms of land mass. (Can you name the other two?). Visit this comprehensive English-language cyber-resource for news and general country information about Chinese culture, politics and society. Topics include: Cities & Provinces, Culture & Tradition, Education & School, People & Society, History, Military, and more. While much of the information at this site is not updated on a timely basis, there is much to see and explore.
Virtual Trip to Brazil
It's the land of bossa nova, carnival, and the infamous favela squatters' settlements. An independent nation since 1822, Brazil boasts more Portuguese-speakers than Portugal. At this Web site you can click a city on an interactive map and travel to Porto Alegre, Sao Paulo, Rio de Janeiro, Brasilia, Natal, and several other Brazilian points of interest. Listen to spirited music clips as you explore links to contemporary culture, society, flora, and fauna. You'll also find historical facts, biographies of historical figures, information about Brazil's many regions, Portuguese words for common English expressions, and dozens of colorful pictures.
Kids Web Japan
This multi-lingual Web site presents a wealth of general information about Japanese daily life, politics, history, nature, climate, traditions and culture aimed at elementary school age children. Bright and colorful Web pages offer easy-to-read articles, monthly news updates, facts about Japan's many regions, language lessons, games, folk legends, and kid-oriented recipes.
CountryWatch.com
This "Website to the world" provides cultural, economic, political, and environmental information, plus current news updates for the world's 191 countries. Many of its resources can be accessed only on a fee-for service basis. But for each country, there are several free items including news stories, maps, statistics, and political history. Access to information about people, history, economy, agriculture, energy, metals, and environment is also free. Simply select a country from the list provided, or click one of six world regions and select a country from the regional list.
India by Kids
A visit to this online collaborative project prepared by children from many schools across India provides an electronic glimpse of the country, its land, people, and culturally-rich way of life - all from a child's point of view. It features numerous articles, hand-drawn illustrations, photographs, and audio-visual clips. General topic categories include: We are what we eat;; How we live; The social weave; and Culture 12 months a year. Several participating schools won awards for their efforts. The site India: Past and Present is also student-created, part of the ThinkQuest Internet Challenge of 1997. It introduces elementary school age children to India's 5000-year old culture with information related to language, religion, politics, history, and music and phrases in Hindi and Tamil (two of India's 15 national languages).
Egypt: The Complete Guide, Welcome
Facts and pictures abound at this English-language site developed by Egypt's Ministry of Tourism. For best results, click the Site Map link at the top of the page. Geared to young and old alike, this online guide offers information about Egypt past and present with links to articles about Ancient Egypt (its land, religion, and people), Antiquity News, a glossary of Egyptian Terms, contemporary Egyptian society and culture, recipes, places of interest, a coloring book, and a daily picture. Write your name in hieroglyphics, send an Egypt postcard, and follow links to places of interest, like Cairo, the city with hundreds of Mosques.
Carol S. Holzberg
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