Actividades estudiantiles para De Adentro Hacia Afuera y de Regreso Otra vez
Inside Out and Back Again Summary
The story begins on Tet (Vietnamese Lunar New Year) in 1975. Young Hà is celebrating the New Year with her family and praying for good fortune to follow them in the coming year. She is ten years old and lives with her hard working and gentle mother, her older brother Vu who studies engineering, her older brother Quang, still in high school who enjoys the culinary arts, and her brother Khoi who loves animals. All three brothers tease their little sister but as Hà's mother says, "They tease you because they adore you.” The family is grieving the loss of their father who went "missing in action" on a mission for the South Vietnamese Navy nine years ago. Their mother prays for his return each day.
Hà's family faces a difficult choice as the North Vietnamese army closes in and Saigon is at risk of being overtaken. They do not want to leave their homeland. They would have to leave everything behind except what can fit in a few small backpacks. In addition, they feel anguished over leaving without their father, who they dream will return one day. But the family is convinced by their Uncle that the danger is too great to stay. They flee aboard a Navy ship that is repurposed for refugees.
The family boards the crowded ship along with hundreds of others crammed together and makes the slow treacherous journey with very little food and water. They make it to Guam and from there to America along with other refugees who have been sponsored in the United States.
The family is ignored for days until they change their religious status to "Christian". Then, they are taken in by a kindly "Cowboy" who lives in Alabama. Hà imagines that because he wears a cowboy hat and boots that he must own a horse like in the American movies she's seen. His wife is not as generous and scowls at the family, making them feel unwelcome. She is not the only one; the neighbors slam their doors in their faces and make racist remarks. The family faces many uphill battles making their way in an unfamiliar and unfriendly place. At school, Hà has difficulty learning English as it is so different from Vietnamese with completely different grammatical rules and sounds. The students in her class ostracize her and tease her. One boy in particular bullies her regularly. Hà manages to find comfort in two kind friends at school and one neighbor, Mrs. Washington, a retired teacher who tutors her. Hà had always done well in school and excelled in math but in the United States she is made to feel as if she is "stupid". Despite it all, the family faces their many challenges with grace, dignity, and courage.
Author Thanhha Lai wrote the semi-autobiographical story in free verse poetry. Lai said "One day I just started jotting down exactly what Hà would be feeling, lonely, and angry on the playground. The words came out in quick, sharp phrases that captured her feelings in crisp images. These phrases reflected what Vietnamese sounded like. Remember, Hà was thinking in Vietnamese because she hadn't learned English yet. Then I knew I would be able to penetrate her mind by writing in phrases choked with visuals." Readers will come away wiser and more empathetic for gaining a glimpse into the refugee experience through the eyes of the children and families that lived it.
Essential Questions for Inside Out and Back Again by Thanhha Lai
- Who are the main characters in Inside Out and Back Again and what challenges do they face?
- What are some of the symbols and motifs present in the novel? How does the symbolism help you better understand the characters and their motivations?
- What are some of the themes present in the novel and what lessons does the author try to impart to the reader?
- Every refugee or immigrant experience is unique. However, there are some common themes that are universal to humanity and the refugee experience. What are some common emotions one would feel leaving their homeland and moving to a new country with a new language?
- What did you learn about the Vietnamese War and refugee crisis?
Cómo aprender a girar de adentro hacia afuera y viceversa, de Thanhha Lai
¿Cómo podemos hacer que los estudiantes sientan empatía por los refugiados mediante escritura creativa?
Anima a los estudiantes a escribir un poema corto o una entrada en un diario desde la perspectiva de Hà, enfocándose en sus emociones y experiencias como refugiada. Esta actividad inmersiva ayuda a desarrollar comprensión y empatía hacia quienes enfrentan desplazamiento.
¿Cómo discutir los sentimientos comunes que experimentan los refugiados en un país nuevo?
Dirige una lluvia de ideas en clase o una discusión en grupo enumerando las emociones que los refugiados pueden sentir, como miedo, esperanza, confusión y soledad. Usa ejemplos del libro para conectar la literatura con experiencias reales.
¿Cómo comparar las propias transiciones de los estudiantes con el viaje de Hà?
Pide a los estudiantes que recuerden una vez que se sintieron fuera de lugar o que tuvieron que adaptarse a algo nuevo. Guíalos para que escriban o compartan cómo su experiencia es similar o diferente a la mudanza de Hà a Estados Unidos, fomentando conexiones personales.
¿Cómo celebrar la diversidad cultural compartiendo tradiciones?
Invita a los estudiantes a compartir tradiciones de sus propias familias o culturas en pequeños grupos. Relaciona esto con la celebración del Tet de Hà, destacando cómo los antecedentes diversos enriquecen el aula y fomentan respeto mutuo.
¿Cómo usar imágenes para ayudar a los estudiantes a entender el escenario?
Muestra imágenes del período y los lugares del libro, como Saigón y Alabama. Permite que los estudiantes creen dibujos o storyboard que capturen escenas clave para profundizar su comprensión visual de la experiencia del refugiado.
Preguntas frecuentes sobre "Inside Out and Back Again" de Thanhha Lai
¿De qué trata Inside Out and Back Again?
Inside Out and Back Again es una novela de ficción histórica escrita por Thanhha Lai que sigue a la niña de diez años Hà y su familia mientras huyen de Vietnam, devastada por la guerra, y comienzan una nueva vida en los Estados Unidos, enfrentándose a desafíos como el racismo, las barreras idiomáticas y la búsqueda de pertenencia.
¿Quiénes son los personajes principales en Inside Out and Back Again?
Los personajes principales son Hà, su madre y sus tres hermanos: Vu, Quang y Khoi. Juntos, enfrentan las dificultades de dejar su tierra natal y adaptarse a la vida como refugiados en Estados Unidos.
¿Cuáles son los temas principales en Inside Out and Back Again?
Los temas principales incluyen familia, resiliencia, duelo, identidad, adaptación y la experiencia del refugiado. La novela explora cómo Hà y su familia afrontan la pérdida, el cambio cultural y los desafíos de comenzar de nuevo en un país extranjero.
¿Cómo presenta Inside Out and Back Again la experiencia del refugiado?
El libro ofrece una mirada auténtica a las luchas emocionales y prácticas que enfrentan los refugiados, como dejar a seres queridos atrás, aprender un nuevo idioma, enfrentarse a prejuicios y adaptarse a una nueva cultura, todo narrado desde la perspectiva vívida de Hà.
¿Por qué es una buena opción para las clases en el aula Inside Out and Back Again?
Inside Out and Back Again utiliza poesía en verso libre y personajes con los que los estudiantes pueden identificarse para involucrarlos, fomentar la empatía y promover discusiones sobre historia, inmigración y multiculturalismo, lo que lo hace ideal para lecciones de K–12.
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