Job Discussion Forums

[Capergirl]

I have a geography question for my fellow educators on Dave's. In my technical English class this morning, my students and I got into a discussion about continents. The students, who are from Russia, insisted that there are five continents: Africa, Australia, Eurasia, America, and Antartica. I countered that there are seven continents: Africa, Australia, Europe, Asia, North America, South America, and Antartica. They told me that "Europe and Asia are different 'parts of the world', but one continent" and likewise for North and South America. In a previous (similar) discussion with a student from Kuwait, I was informed that there are six continents (no Antartica). My Kuwaiti student had never heard of Antartica and doubted its existence.

Now, granted, I'm not especially knowledgeable in the field of geography. However, I am now wondering if am I so geographically challenged that I don't even know the world's continents?

[veiledsentiments]

Well Capergirl,

As a fellow 'North' American, I was taught the same as you. But, I must admit that I was always a bit suspicious of the Europe / Asia split. When I looked at a map then and now, it all looks like one big blob to me - so why arbitrarily split into two - seemingly based on culture themes.

I can accept that North and South America are two because of the narrowness of the attachment - which has actually been cut by the canal. Because if you say that the attachment makes them one - what about the attachment of Africa to Asia where the Suez Canal was cut.

Seems to me that this is all wonderful fodder for classroom discussion with a mixed nationality classroom.

VS

[cimarch]

[lozwich]

I don't believe this! I had a huge argument with my TOEFL students last week all about continents! So much so, that I made a webquest about it!

Being fiercely proud of coming from the largest island/smallest continent, imagine how insulted I was that they suggested that Australia was part of a continent called 'Oceania'. I still maintain that they were thinking of the World Cup football divisions, but my interest was piqued, and I found out that nobody, not even geographers, agrees on what a continent is.

IMHO, there are 7: Australia (YAY!!), Antarctica, Europe, Asia, Africa, North America, South America. Other people say other things.

I've got a whole heaping pile of (well, about 10) web links about this, so if you want a URL, just let me know.

Have a great day,
Lozwich.

[Capergirl]

[VanKen]

[VanKen]