The Amish, 3

 
 
 

Vocabulary

sign (3)	deadline	pressure (2)
modest	dependent	time stands still
tri-	progress	community
require	movement	conservative
racket	disciplined	practice (2)
settle	to this day	incorporate
follow	agent (3)	convenience (2)
bible	ancestor	take for granted
skill	corporate	done by hand
thrive	ingrained	self-sufficient
satisfy	push (2)	Anabaptist
grow up	outsider	keep to themselves
lord (2)	sense (3)	environment
theme	generation	hand-me-down
instill

 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Video

 

 
 
 
 

Transcript

Deadlines, pressures, change, all signs of our modern times. We’re a society hungry for progress, dependant on technology.

But just an hour away from the Tri-State area is a completely different world. It’s a place where time stands still.

These are some of Indiana’s Amish. Nestled in their small community just north of Montgomery, four-thousand Amish live a simple and modest life.

The Amish still live as their ancestors did. They are conservative Christians who were part of the Anabaptist movement in Europe during the sixteenth century.

Their religious and social practices call for them to live in a closed, disciplined community.

The Amish first arrived in Pennsylvania in 1727. Just over a hundred years later, they began settling in Indiana. To this day, the Amish continue to incorporate their eighteenth-century way of living into their community.

Amish Man, One: “Oh, we don’t believe in electricity and cars. It’s not that we don’t believe in it; it’s just the way our grandparents were, we’re just following them around.”

The Amish use no modern conveniences, no luxuries many of us take for granted.

They believe the bible requires them to be an agent of the land: most of the work is done by hand, and it’s their farming skills that keep their corporate self-sufficient communities thriving.

Amish Man Two: “It’s an ingrained thing that people grew up with. It seems to be successful, and seems to satisfy everyone.”

Amish Man Three: “I like living on the farm; I wouldn’t live in town, even if I could.”

Journalist: “Why?”

Amish Man Three: “Well, there’s too much racket.”

Amish Man Four: “All my life that’s all I ever knew. It’s just farm.”

The Amish don’t push their beliefs on outsiders. They remain in a closed environment, keeping to themselves.

This church community creates a strong sense of family: fewer than fifty make up this community.

Amish Woman One: “We love each other. We work together. And most of all, we love the Lord.”

Amish Man Two: “It’s a hand-me-down generational theme that’s been instilled into the family. And as our children grow up, they see how this works.”

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Questions

1. In the same country and state, different people live completely different lives. True or false?

2. Has the life of the Amish changed much over time?

3. Are they a religious people? Does their religion strongly influence their lifestyle?

4. Have they lived in the United States for many generations?

5. In Amish households (homes), you can find refrigerators, TVs, dishwashers, radios. Is this correct or incorrect?

6. Were they born in the city and moved to the country and learn farming? Do they want to live in cities and enjoy city life?

7. Do they try to convert other people into their faith (religion)? Do they make friends with non-Amish?

 
 

A. I would like to be an Amish. Yes or no? Would your friend want to live an Amish lifestyle?

B. What are the advantages of living like the Amish? Are they any disadvantages of the Amish lifestyle?

C. Are there Amish-like communities in your country?

D. Should “regular” people adopt certain features of the Amish? Can modern people learn anything from the Amish?

E. What will happen in the future?