Chapter 11: More Surprises

In which Jimmy successfully blends both his heritage culture and his adopted culture.

Talking Points

1. Jimmy’s decision to talk to his parents about his problem required a leap of faith on his part and yes, he was fearful and they initially were skeptical but it all worked out in the end. Have your students ever been in a situation in which they felt fearful about trying something new only to have it work out in the end? Are any of your students the product of two cultures? In what ways have these cultures clashed? Have they found a way to blend them?

2. What does their decision to let Jimmy do both the recital and the race tell you about his parents and their own “Americanization”?
 

Activities

1. Ask your students to list some of the positive aspects of Chinese culture as they apply to Jimmy’s life. What makes them positive?

2. Ask them to list some of the positive aspects of American culture as they apply to Jimmy’s life. What makes them positive?

3. Have them create a class poster that lists the positive aspects of both cultures. Then have them give this new blended culture a new name.

4. Do some role playing. Ask one student to play the part of someone who is from a different culture and another student to play the part of someone who is from the home culture. See if a dialogue can be encouraged in which the two explore the differences and similarities in their cultures without resorting to teasing or insult.

5. You might extend this by asking your students to research the way other cultures – perhaps their own ancestral culture – raise children. What is good about that way? If they blended that culture and American, what kind of a list would that generate? What would they name this new culture?

Further Activities

On the last page of the book, there is a list of the animals of the Chinese zodiac. One is missing. Which one? Have your students add it.