Listening

Warm Up

Helpful Words and Phrases

Listen and repeat.

  1. a fixture
    • ex. This 50-year-old bakery is a fixture in the community.
  2. unwind
    • ex. After work, she unwinds by listening to classical music.
  3. unprecedented
    • ex. The pandemic has led to unprecedented challenges to people’s daily lives and routines.
  4. drought
    • ex. The drought has caused problems in the country’s food and water supply.
  5. a restriction
    • ex. The travel restrictions during the pandemic affected the tourism industry.

Article

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Morocco’s famous public baths, or hammams, have been fixtures in the culture. Hammams are places where people gather to unwind. But Morocco has taken an important step to save water by requiring its hammams to close for three days every week. This decision comes after the country’s urgent water issue. The country faces unprecedented risks from climate change and a six-year drought according to officials.

The restrictions on hammams disappointed some hammam-goers and some politicians. They say that the government is giving favors to bigger businesses, including spas, pools, and hotels, but not to hammams. These businesses use larger amounts of water compared to hammams. Fatima Zahra Bata, a member of Morocco’s House of Representatives, said the restriction has no great benefit since hammams do not use the most water.

Bata also asked why the restrictions do not include spas, which are usually used by rich people and tourists. Bata warned that closing the public baths would affect hammam workers who earn only $200-$300 (¥30,261-¥45,391) monthly. According to a government agency, around 200,000 employees will be affected.

This material was based on an article by The Associated Press.

Discussion

Choose a topic and discuss the questions with your tutor.

Public Baths

  • In Morocco, hammams are places where people gather to unwind. How important are public baths in your country? Discuss.
  • Who enjoys public baths more in your country, older or younger generations? Why? Discuss.
  • Morocco’s famous public baths, or hammams, have been fixtures in the culture. What do you consider a fixture in your culture (ex. ashiyu, temples)? Discuss.

Drought

  • Imagine that you’re a government official. During a drought in your country, what will be your priority, protecting cultural traditions like public baths or saving water resources? Why? Discuss.
  • Morocco faces a six-year drought. Do you think your country is ready for a six-year drought? Why or why not? Discuss.
  • Climate change has brought some unprecedented events, such as snow storms and drought. What can you do to protect yourself from these unprecedented events? Discuss.