Abigail Washburn: Building US-China relations … by banjo

ABIGAIL WASHBURN: BUILDING US-CHINA RELATIONS … BY BANJO (00:00 – 06:34)

PRE-VIEWING TASKS

  1. Give a definition of public diplomacy.
  2. On the internet, find some examples of the US public diplomacy in China and China’s public diplomacy in the US.

WHILE-VIEWING TASKS

Listen to Abigail Washburn’s talk to answer the question:

What steps in Abigail Washburn’s life led her to building US-China relations by singing?

  1. ….
  2. ….
  3. ….
  4. ….
  5. ….

….

In your answer, make use of the following expressions:

  • to improve U.S.-China relations through top-down policy changes and judicial system reforms
  • to be obsessed with the mammoth richness and history of Chinese culture
  • the power of music to connect cultures
  • everybody has got a story
  • to roar with delight 
  • American selves, Chinese selves
  • to be mortals sitting together

POST-VIEWING TASK

Discuss in pairs:

  1. What does Abigail mean when she says that ‘U.S.- China relations don’t need another lawyer’? Do you think public diplomacy can be more effective than traditional diplomacy?
  2. What makes Abigail’s speech so moving?