Folk tales different countries

	Turkish Folk Tales "Keloğlan" and "Nasreddin Hodja"		“Lazarillo de Tormes”
Main characters	Keloğlan and Nasreddin Hodja		Lázaro González Pérez
Similarities	·           Both are poor. ·          Happy endings ·          Stories end with a marriage. ·          Reflect the poverty in more or less the same time ( sixteen- seventeen century)
Differences	Both are poor, although Lazarillo was a child and Keloğlan was a teenager.  Keloğlan was more innocent than Lazarillo, because in the first story someone tries to cheat him, and in the second case, the child is who cheats people to eat something.   In the Turkish story, Keloğlan wants a lot of money because he would like that his mum lives in better conditions. But, in the Spanish tale, Lázaro steals and cheats people in order to himself surviving. The first tale is more suitable for children than the second one, because the second it is a novel that talks about many aspects, but there is some version for children.   Children will find motivating and funny the first tale because the story talks about a treasure. On the other hand, the second tale children could find motivating and to be curious about the story, because the main character is a child.
Values/ Moral issues	Children can learn the family values in Turkey, and the relation between  mother and son.   Also, it is reflected respect among old and young people.	They can learn that the happiness should be inside you, not because of money.   They can know aspects about the culture in Spain in the sixteen century ( routine life, different jobs, several towns and cities).
Personal comments ( what we think about the tale)	I think it is good that the story talks about a treasure, because some way it develops children imagination; but in other side,  maybe the story should have more real aspects.	It is fascinating because children can read many adventures that Lázaro lives in the several cities , with different masters, and how his life is changing.  But there is a drawback, because children could find hard to read or even understand what is going on in the story. Also, this story is more suitable for older children than the Turkish tale.

Keloğlan

Nasreddin Hodja

Culture fix-point dialogue

One day in Copenhagen, María felt ill and she decided to go to the doctor.  So, it was raining heavily, and she hires a taxi. Inside taxi there was another woman , and both of them were going to the same direction : the hospital.  They started talking each other.

A is a person from Spain. Her name is María. She is 35 years old. She is not a believer. She divorced a year ago. She has two children: a daughter and a son.   Now, she is leaving alone in the city. She likes hanging out with her friends in the weekends. She is a businesswoman. She likes reading science fiction book and watching romantic comedies.

B is a person from Turkey. Her name is Elif. She is 41 years old. She is a Muslim person. Elif , but she doesn’t wear a scarf  that covers her hair. She is married with one child. She is a doctor. She doesn’t drink alcohol and she doesn’t eat pork. Elif likes doing sport, she really likes playing tennis, and she is very good at swimming.

A: Hi! Where are you going? Because I really need to go to the hospital.

B: Don’t worry, I have to go there too.

A:  Ok. So, what is your name? Mine is María.

B: Elif. Nice to meet you.

A: Me too. Are you new in the city? Because you don’t look like Danish people at all.

B: No…Actually, I am here 4 years ago. I am almost a Danish person!

A:  I’ve asked you, because in my case I ‘m a foreign person, from Spain. I moved on here a year ago, and it was really hard for me to get to use to this new country. It is so different…

B: Really? For me it was also hard, but step by step you are getting to use.

A: Where are you from?

B: I ‘ m from Istanbul, Turkey.

A: So, you are a Muslim, right?

B: You are right. Are you Christian?

A: Well… actually not, you know, I don’t believe in any religion. I’m atheist.

B:  Why don’t you believe in God?

A:  Because, in my opinion, I can’t believe in something that I couldn’t see.

B: Unbelievable! But in the way you said, you couldn’t see your brain but you know that you have…

A: It is not the same… Do you mind if I ask you something about Muslim culture?

B: Not at all. You can ask whatever you want.

A: Ok, if you are Muslim , why don’t you use scarf? It seems strange for me.

B: Well…Actually it is not necessary wearing a scarf, if your option as Muslim. Nobody can judge you if you don’t wear a scarf.

A: Really? I didn’t know that…But is there some restrictions about food or drinks , isn’t?

B: Of course. For example, I don’t eat pork and I don’t drink alcohol.

They arrived to the hospital, and María was waiting for the doctor. But, it was a surprise when suddenly she saw Elif with a white coat. She was her doctor!

In the lesson of "Democratic Citizenship" Ilknur and me created this dialogue after having a look at these the criterias for socratic dialogue made by Dorete Kallesoe:

Dialogue Teaching : 

The teacher should ask open questions which enables students to create a dialogue

The Teacher as the Leader of Conversation:

Teacher should be in the background, only structure the dialogue and summarize the argument.

Active Listening :

The students should listen to each other and talk each other in sensible way

Analysing Concepts :

Teacher should explain the definitions of concepts that are the base of the dialogue

The Importance of Argumentation :

The students should learn that they have to argue about their opinions and the teacher should ask students to challenge each others' opinions.

Answering Thomas's questions

• If you use Iben Jensens "Analytical model" can you somehow dissect the dialogue above into the elements in her model (cultural self-understanding and so forth).

The Spanish woman:

Cultural self-understanding	Cultural pre-understanding	Position of experience	Culture fix point
“I ‘m a foreign person, from Spain. I moved on here a year ago, and it was really hard for me to get to use to this new country. It is so different…”	“if you are Muslim , why don’t you use scarf? It seems strange for me.” "Are you new in the city? Because you don’t look like Danish people at all."	“Really? I didn’t know that…”	“ It is not the same… Do you mind if I ask you something about Muslim culture?”
“I don’t believe in any religion. I’m atheist”	“But is there some restrictions about food or drinks , isn’t?”	“…María was waiting for the doctor. But, it was a surprise when suddenly she saw Elif with a white coat. She was her doctor!”
“I can’t believe in something that I couldn’t see”	“So, you are a Muslim, right?”

The Turkish woman

Cultural self-understanding	Cultural pre-understanding	Position of experience	Culture fix point
“Unbelievable! But in the way you said, you couldn’t see your brain but you know that you have…”	“Are you Christian?”	“and María was waiting for the doctor. But, it was a surprise when suddenly she saw Elif with a white coat. She was her doctor!”	“Actually it is not necessary wearing a scarf, if your option as Muslim.” “Why don’t you believe in God?” “Nobody can judge you if you don’t wear a scarf.”
“I don’t eat pork and I don’t drink alcohol.”

• Do you think it is it a good way of analysing communication? And why

Yes, I consider that analytical model is a good way because you can discover what we think about other cultures ( such as prejudices or stereotypes), how we consider within our own culture ( self-understanding), and the main difference between our culture and others. In that sense , we can comprehend better what is going on when people from different nationalities are speaking: what is said (explicit) and what is thought ( implicit).

• The way of telling a fictional story is that an easier way of discussing cultural issues? Are there some things to be aware about when doing it?

As far I'm concerned, I think that inventing a story is easier in order to be much more aware of pre-understandings. When you imagine other situation, you are trying to be less subjective and more objetive, that is the aim: to clarify our self-understanding, prejudices, etc. 

A Spanish folk tale

The life of "Lazarillo de Tormes and of His Fortunes and Adversities" (better known as "Lazarillo de Tormes") is an anonymous Spanish novel, written in first person  It is an autobiographical story about a child called Lázaro de Tormes, in the sixteenth century, from birth and childhood to his marriage, and also in his adulthood.

The reason why Lázaro is called " de Tormes" is because Lazarus was born in Salamanca, right next to the river Tormes( Spain). Below you can see where is Salamanca in a spanish map:

 He was very poor and since childhood had to fend for himself, since he lost his father and his mother could not maintain him. He did not live in a happy world: but he was smart and witty.

In the tale Lazarus had to serve a number of masters who had to cheat in order to survive, so we spent a lot of hunger and hardship. 

This novel was written for adults, however, there are many things in it that may appeal to children, because a child is the protagonist. But there is a lot of adaptions to children. 

We have chosen one of them. Here you can see the page http://www.anayainfantilyjuvenil.com/catalogos/capitulos_promocion/IJ00196001_9999990314.pdf

A history that has survived many years being one of the most widely read books of all time. A book I like and entertains, it also shows how people lived at that time, making young readers appreciate what they have.

It is therefore a highly recommended book for ages 9 to 12.

The tale has seven chapters:


Chapter 1.-Lazarus and the blind. The central idea is the evolution of Lazarus, who goes from being an innocent child, without knowledge of life, to become the paradigm of "rogue" young boy must fend for himself in life to eat each day. A constant reference will be the "hunger".
 Lazarus devotes all its efforts to deceive the blind, a man very clever, to get some food or wine each day. At the end of the treaty, Lazarus , after he tricked his master and leaving him alone.

Chapter 2.-Lazaro and Maqueda cleric. The clerics is petty and miserable, that refuses to adequately feed his servant, and he is keeping few foods that are in his house in a locked chest. Lazarus, once again gripped by hunger , he decided to be more clever if he wants to gain a piece of bread to put in their mouth. Finally, the cleric aware of the deception and theft decided prescind from his services.

Chapter 3.-Lazarus and a squire. The squire is a low level noble who is living in the poverty but that still tries to maintain a false image of tranquility, respectability and wealth. Lazarus does not understand the pretensions of him master, but feels sorry for him and feed him many times. Due to bets, the squire flees from the city. So, this time the master leaves Lazarus.

Chapter 4.-Lazarus and a friar of the Merced. Lazarus talks about his new love, a friar of the Merced no friend of the duties of a priest and spent the day attending to and fro "certain businesses" whose nature is never clarified. In addition, the treaty concludes: "For these and other things that do not count, I left my master." This ending leaves all possibilities open: what are those "little things" by Lazarus decided to leave the friar?

Chapter 5. - Lazarus and a pardoner. The pardoner was a priest who used to walk the parishes selling bulls, papal indulgences that allowed those who had not bought that meet certain religious precepts (like fasting, abstaining from meat during Lent, etc..). Lazarus describes the dirty tricks used by the priest  without any real religious feeling just for getting good profits.

Chapter 6. - Lazarus with a chaplain. Again, the master of Lazarus is a religious. In this case, the chaplain allows Lazarus to work as a water carrier for the city. Once the boy has managed benefits and may have changed his clothes, Lazarus decides to leave the job in order to find a new master.

Chapter 7. - Lazarus account the reason for your letter. After working with a sheriff (police) job that seemed too dangerous, Lazarus is at the service of an archpriest, who suggests that marries one of his servants. At last, Lazarus gets married with a servant. But there is some gossip about her.

Lazarus, who knows the rumors, prefer not "hear" them. He has achieved "happiness" and some popularity in the city, yes, in exchange for giving up their honor and to allow his wife's infidelities.

Here, you can find the whole novel http://www.elhuevodechocolate.com/cuentos/cuentos6.htm. There is also a english version : http://www.lazarillodetormes.com/ingles.htm