December 14 • Cultural Insight

Monkey Day

Monkey Day, created in 2000 and celebrated on the 14th of December, is an international day dedicated to monkeys and other non-human primates. The day raises awareness for primate conservation, habitat protection, and evolutionary biology.

Speaking Discussion

If you were king of the jungle for a day, what is the first rule you would change?
Should great apes (chimps, gorillas) be given human rights under the law?
Why are we more entertained by a monkey doing human things than by a human doing anything?
Is civilisation a successful experiment or a biological error?
If a monkey painted a masterpiece, who owns the copyright?

Activity 1: The Zoo Ethics Board

The Task: You must decide: 1) Keep the chimpanzees in a cage for education, or 2) release them to a sanctuary where no humans can see them. You have 3 minutes to argue for the sanctuary against a profit-Hungry manager.

Activity 2: Rapid Fire Debate

Justify in 30 seconds: 1. 'We are animals, and pretending we aren't is making us sick.' 2. 'Technology is the only thing that separates us from the dirt.' 3. 'A monkey in a suit is a perfect metaphor for the modern politician.'

Key Vocabulary

Evolution (N) The process by which different kinds of living organisms are thought to have developed and diversified from earlier forms during the history of the earth.
Primal (Adj) Relating to an early stage in evolutionary development; instinctive.
Sanctuary (N) A place of refuge or safety.
Ethics (N) Moral principles that govern a person's behavior.
Observation (N) The action or process of observing something or someone carefully or in order to gain information.

Fluency Catalyst

Native Phrase: When discussing impact, use: "To monkey around (to behave in a silly or careless way)."

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