Inspirational English, Issue 46

Being an EFL teacher for almost twenty years has had a huge impact on my teaching methods as well as my personal growth. I may not have had the chance to travel around the world but through my lessons I have been in an Eskimo’s igloo, celebrated the Moon festival in China and even explored darkest Peru. I have been blessed to teach students, who come from five different continents, and learn that *Sacura is not only a beautiful female Japanese name but it also means “cherry blossom”. *despite embracing modern technology, “playing cards” is still one of the most popular free time activities in China *it is the Three Kings, not Santa, who bring the Christmas gifts in Spain The new issue of INSPIRATIONAL ENGLISH explores the theme of CULTURAL DIVERSITY and there are plenty of ideas for you to get your teeth into. On page 20 Jeanne Bourne, an ESL teacher based in Greece, has some incredible suggestions on how to bring Culture into the classroom. Also, don’t miss the wonderful story and lesson plan THE GREEKS (page 25), kindly provided by their author Max Neil Maximchuk. With almost 70 pages, you’ll find that every culture tells a story. But what is yours?

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My own story has definitely been enriched by being in a classroom with students from over ten different countries, where we shared our traditions, cuisine, folklore to name but a few.

However, the most important thing that I’ve learned is that no matter where we come from, we all cry when watching an inspirational video, laugh at cracking jokes and enjoy eating delicious food. Although we do not have the same mother tongue, dance to the same rhythm or read the same books, we should celebrate life in all its colours.

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06 09 14 19 20 23 25 32

Every culture tells a story Lessons I have learned from exploring the world A crowning achievement A piece of advice Bring culture into the classroom Spice up your English lessons The Greeks Cultural Diversity- Speaking

40 Let's talk- Winter Festivals 44 International Video Competition 45 Reader's corner 49 Josie's poems 54 Easy English 62 Kids' corner 63 Fun with English

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Ian Reide More patience.

Martin Nikolov Absolutely nothing because all I have done has made me the teacher I am and I love it.

Mason Hajjar Never regretted a moment I had, yet I was starting from the very premises of phasing out any nuisances like grammar, and alphabet-no-phonics style

Deshka Petrova I would say that what helps me greatly in my work with children and I wish I would have

If you want to have your views published

realized it earlier is the belief that every child

in “Inspirational English”,

has "chosen" , directed, created a dream-like

answer our next issue's question:

life before it was born - including parents, relatives, teachers, social roles ... This philosophy keeps me respected by the personality of each child, helping me to communicate with him as a grown-up person!

In my opinion, the path a real teacher should follow is to respect the right and free will of each individual, including the child’s. Also, a teacher should contribute to Knowledge and

What’s the best teaching tip you’ve ever received?

Send your answer to: info@englishwithrussie.co.uk

mutual enrichment!

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I

moved to Spain in 2002 and most people I spoke to about it, both at the time and

periodically since, said about how lovely it must be to live where it is nice weather. Whilst it is certainly true to live in a better climate than the one you come from, if you chose the superficiality of the weather as the reason for living somewhere else there is so much you are missing out on. The Spanish culture is to be admired on so many levels, like how they have been eating healthily for hundreds of years and the dedication and priority they put on the family way of life, and the beauty of their language, that like so many Mediterranean countries can be traced back to biblical times.

I have long since been a student of the evolution of man and in time I plan to write a book on the subject. The reason us humans have evolved so successfully is connected to our interest and ability to adapt to what is around us and this is essentially the essence of what we call culture. There is a good reason why, for example, our near neighbours France are great lovers of unusual foods like snails and frogs legs, and it is likely that this was born out of the need to eat and the fact that these particular items were in abundance.

I always find it interesting when I see a documentary of tribal life in the African continent and how the film makers never fail to show footage of the females cooking in their hand made pots which is then eaten communally, and how afterwards they always seem to find a reason to dance to the rhythms of instruments and drums that the men have made from materials that are to hand. In general, this is related to giving thanks for there being enough food for everyone and the dancing to the music is the way they show their appreciation.

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Let’s now copy and paste that into the so called first world culture and we find that although we have refined the method of attaining and cooking the food, the end result is much the same, and similarly, mostly in the case of the younger people, going out and dancing afterwards remains part of modern day culture.

I was born in Edinburgh and although you can get from there to the south of the UK in a matter of hours, the cultural difference is considerable. When I first arrived in London as a 20year old, I was asked to repeat myself so often because of the way I spoke that to avoid the unpleasantness of confrontation I adapted my way of speaking and as a result began to fit in with the language culture of the south of England. But it only worked after I changed many words and the sound they made.

I lived in Austria for six months over a winter in 2004 in the beautiful town of Salzburg on the German border and was astonished at how many sausages the locals ate, at home, out walking around the market stalls, as well as in bars and restaurants. Like the German people the staple of the Austrian diet is the humble sausage. Another quite delightful cultural experience I enjoyed whilst I was there was when the bells chimed to announce that it was the New Year. Immediately after the twelfth bell struck a Strauss waltz was played on every radio station in the land and everywhere, adults and children alike, got up on their feet and danced to the music, an exhilarating moment that will be embedded in my memory forever.

Several years ago I was fortunate to spend a two weekholiday in Thailand and I recall asking the taxi driver when we set off for the day what he had for his breakfast, and he simply said noodles, every morning he and his family ate noodles for breakfast. He firstly took us to a crocodile farm and the sight of these majestic creatures was as exciting as it might be coming across to you right now. There were various small areas of land, islands, dotted around a very large pond and it was fascinating to see how groups of them congregated together on these islands laying on top of each other in what looked like an enormous hug-in.

After eating noodles for lunch, with our taxi driver, he then took us to a snake farm and a young lad of no more than 20 was handling poisonous snakes like they were puppy dogs. His assistant then brought out a small beaker with a gauze top then the lad picked up a python with a rattling tail and the crowd were in awe when they saw the snake bite into the gauze and how much venom was there in the cup. It was one of the most frightening and thrilling things I have ever seen.

Snakes are an integral part of far eastern countries cultures and are revered by the people of that part of the world for food as well as medical products, and like I saw with that young lad this has evolved through them knowing exactly how to rear and handle such dangerous animals.

The exciting part of this latest issues subject matter for me is that we have an opportunity to talk about culture and in the process of doing so we can reflect on how the things we do, say, eat and share are simply a passing down of information that, bit by bit, year by year, century by century become what we call localised culture.

Columnist, song-writer and playwright

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5 years ago, we began our adventure to explore the world as a family! We left our home and school in Italy behind to go on an open-ended journey to learn from the world and experience all of its magic!

72 countries (124 total with repeat visits), 6 continents, and 221 cities later, we are still on the road!

When we first set off on this adventure, I never in my wildest dreams imagined that all of these years later we would still be traveling and exploring the world with no end in sight. When I look back at the person I used to be, I realize just how far I have come and how much I have changed. This journey has been the most life-changing experience and I am so grateful for it.

We have been through deserts and canyons, mountains and oceans, seeing all that this incredible world has to offer. From traveling in planes or on camels, cruise ships to the back of pick-up trucks, the adventure has brought us down roads we could have never imagined – constantly pushing us outside of our comfort zones to become more of the people we were meant to be.

Through these adventures, we have made it a priority to fully experience the local cultures and to soak up all of the lessons and teachings that the local people can give us. By doing this, we have seen first-hand how so many people around the world are living with barely anything, struggling on a daily basis for food or basic supplies.

From the villages in Cambodia to the slums in South Africa, we have seen first-hand what poverty hardship

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means, opening our eyes up to the reality of the world. In doing this, we have learned to have such immense gratitude for the lives we have and the small things we take for granted sometimes. From the safety of a roof over our heads or food on the table each day, as kids we have learned to be grateful for everything we have and to appreciate them each day.

The most life-changing experience we had during all our travels was volunteering with Syrian refugees.

Volunteering changed my entire life and everything I thought I knew about the world. Helping Syrian refugee kids made me realize so many things about myself that I never knew I had in me, but the most important lesson was seeing the true meaning of kindness and family. These two things were reflected in every moment that I spent with the refugees. When initially we thought we were the ones going in to help them, they ended up helping us learn what it means to become a family with people you barely know and feel the pure joy of true kindness. Never before have I seen such incredibly kind, sincere, giving people who, even though they had lost everything in their lives, were still willing to go through so much trouble to give us gifts and host meals – always ready with a smile and a hug.

Over those months, we moved from being volunteers to being sisters, nieces, and best friends with people from a completely different culture and religion. Those experiences truly made me realize the

special bond of becoming a family with people from the other side of the world and that it doesn’t really matter where you are from or what language you speak.

As long as in your heart you have created a bond with one another, you can become like a family.

Not only did we feel this during our time with the refugees, but almost everywhere we have visited! 72 countries later, I still feel as though I have bonded with people everywhere we went and left a piece of my heart in each place. Every country we went to, we made it a priority to truly learn from the local people and understand their way of life and ideas. Every single culture has something wonderful to offer and teach us, if only we are open to listen.

Through the travels and soaking in the knowledge of every culture, I have learned how to fully appreciate the diversity that exists in our world. The variety of colors and spices, prayers and art, songs and poetry. The richness of this world is beyond compare and experiencing so many cultures has become magical. In our day and age, the love and appreciation for diversity has become so important and should be taught to every child! Experiencing these cultures first hand, my eyes were opened to how beautiful they are and how we cannot be quick to judge people different from us before getting to

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know them. From the souqs in Egypt to the temples in Thailand, the richness and beauty of the cultures of this world are beyond compare to what we could even imagine, and can teach us more than we could ever know.

Through seeing all of the diversity of this world, I have realized more than ever how similar we are. I have seen how in our hearts, we are all the same. No matter how different we may pray or the languages we speak, we are all human and dream of the same basic things for our life – love and happiness. I have visited places that many people consider ‘dangerous’ or the people ‘untrustworthy’ and have found nothing but kind loving souls who are no different than we are. Whether it was

Kaitlin’s family

Palestine or Tunisia, Lebanon or Israel, I have found that beyond the politics, the true people of the places are not as different as we may think.

Going around the world and experiencing its rich variety, I have felt this incredible concept of oneness with every place and every person on the planet. When you travel you realize how small the world actually is, and most importantly how connected it is. So much of society has become so caught up in discussing and focusing on borders and divided groups that we have forgotten to look at the bigger picture.

Travel has taught me that those things are so small compared to how connected we all are as human beings.

Travel has given me the passion for adventure. The dreams and desires to discover new places and do things that I have never done before. The thrill of adventure has been something that has pulled me forward in my travels, always looking for the next experience and fun journey. I have realized just how much life is one big adventure and that every day we live is a chance to

e h t h g u “Thro d n a s l e trav e h t n i g soakin of e g d e l know I , e r u t l u every c w o h d e n r have lea e t a i c e r p p to fully a t a h t y t i s r the dive r u o n i exists wo r l d . ”

have a life-changing memory to experience the magic of life itself.

One of my favourite quotes says, “The journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.” This is such a beautiful quote to live by that has inspired me to just take it one step, one day at a time and soon enough the journey will unfold.

Travel has given me the gift of curiosity. Curiosity is what has inspired me to keep traveling, to keep exploring and the thirst for knowing more. It has given me the thrill of digging deeper into stories and myths, history and culture, and inspired me to discover the true essence of a country. It pulls me forward in wanting to understand more and more about our great beautiful world and all that it has to offer. Everyday I want to discover more and more about a place or culture, and it has given me such insight that I never thought I could have.

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In being more and more curious, I have learned how to be more of a risk-taker and put myself out there. Although I still have a long way to go, travel has pushed me to be more of a self-starter and do things that are outside of my comfort zone. When I look back at the person I was 5 years ago, I realize just how much I have changed and how much I have grown as a person in becoming more open and empowered.

Through exploring and discovering the world, I have learned how to believe in myself. I have found out more of who I am and the person I want to become, and how to believe that I am good enough. I feel that so many young girls now a days feel that they aren’t good enough or don’t believe in themselves, and travel can completely change that. Through these adventures, I have seen just how our uniqueness and special characteristics are beautiful and valuable to this world. By traveling, you can completely reinvent the person that you are and create the person that you have always dreamed of becoming.

Over the past 5 years, we have bonded as a family and become closer than ever before. Having these experiences together have made us become so connected and understanding of one another. As a teenager, I have had the chance to spend so much quality time with my parents and siblings that in a normal school environment I would never have had!

These experiences have truly created the person that I am today and inspired me to give back to the world and make this planet a better place. My life has become so vibrant and alive with exploration, discovery, and beauty. Everyday has become magical and full of new experiences waiting to happen. I am so grateful for this lifestyle that I have been blessed with and can’t wait to see what adventures lie in store in the future!

Kaitlin and her family have been travelling around the globe for the last five years. She has started a non-profit organisation to help refugees and has also volunteered in many camps and schools around the world. The young woman aims to bring humanity together through the power of history, art as well as intercultural/interfaith dialogue.

You can find more about Kaitlin's project on her website http://www.travelinkait.com

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Too many people do not believe in magic. Yet in each one of us, dwell dreams and aspirations that can turn to magic. This is true because people, who have changed the course of history, just turned their dreams into reality. There are still in our world people like Nelson Mandela, Rosa Park, Martin Luther King to name but a few. A part of these people is still alive in many of us no matter what we do for a living. Each of us can make a difference, we are all special.

If so, what about teachers? It is said that teachers are not ordinary people and English teachers in Senegal are aware of that. The passion they have for the English language is undeniable today. As time goes by, young teachers of English get more and more involved in their community, in their students’ success.

Over decades, the association of

century, technology is in the first

Dembele,

teachers of English in Senegal

place. The centeredness of the

English teacher and English club

ATES has done tremendous work

NTICs is worldwide. People have

leader in Dakar, has given

to support English teachers and

ever debated about the dangers

hundreds of young and seasoned

prepared generations of up-to-

and the different risks that

teachers in our country, a reason

date teachers who acquire the

technology is bursting with. This

to think differently as far as the

skills and knowledge needed to

issue of new technology is highly

use of the NTICs* is concerned.

carry on their mission. In the 21st

taken into account. Dramane

DembelĂŠ has brought together

a young dynamic

*NTIC: New Technologies of Information and Communication

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teachers of every level from

name THINK OUT LOUD (TOL)

together online reached the heart

kindergarten to college. He made

but not any kind of WHATSAPP or

of many of us, even retired

us understand that experience is

not the kind we have known and

deans. With more than a hundred

not just about the number of

been in. TOL is a special one.

committed teachers in TOL in just

years we spend doing something

Anyway the concept remains

half a year of existence, it was

but the number of mistakes we

virtual but the benefit it confers

time to go to the next level. We

make doing or trying to do

on its members is real. Teachers

understand that to meet our daily

something. Thanks to Dembelé’s

of English in Senega,l whether

challenges in our classes we had

know-how and his commitment,

they are in the public or private

an obligation to move from

ATES has another shoulder to

sector, whether they are in a

virtual to real life exchange while

lean on and make teaching more

kindergarten or high school feel

keeping the virtual concept. For

than a job but a real enjoyment.

right at home in TOL. Members of

the very first time in our country

All started in early February

TOL didn’t wait to make

a summer convention of English

2018, with the creation of a

themselves heard in every corner

teacher had to take place. It was

WHATSAPP GROUP. Yes, a

of the country. The concept of

on August 11, 2018. Who could

WHATSAPP GROUP with the

bringing teachers of English

believe that people, who just

know one another through

more issues related to our

chosen topic to end the

whatsapp, could organize

career,

show.

such an imposing event and

methodology

could only meet the very

students too. Later that day,

day

convention?

we designed a new weekly

TOLIANS believed it and

schedule to maintain the

they made it.

concept of virtual exchange

of

the

During the convention, new acquaintances were made and lots of things have been shared and delicious food given.

Young

teachers

and

shared

old their

experiences, discussed the difficulties, they had come across,

in

Wonderful

their

classes.

presentations

were given. We talked a lot about teachers’ professional development, English clubs, national exams and many

our

more

teaching and

our

essential.

That

goes

from

schedule

“problem solving” to “hot line”. In TOL every teacher

With the problem solving, any member of the group, unanimously

shares

a

problem they encounter in their classes, with some lessons and solutions to be be proposed by the other TOLIANS.

has a lesson to teach and a

In TOL, the passion that

life experience to share.

each member has for the

With

English

the

hot

line

on

language

is

the

Saturday nights, a teacher is

cement which seals our

listened and questioned by

shared idealism as teachers.

the rest of the members

It is fallen to all TOLIANS to

where the emphasis is put

tackle

on sharing life experience, a

teaching methodologies as

story related to the English

teachers

language, challenges and a

political and health issues as

issues

and

like

our

economic,

citizens.

“IN TOL, THE PASSION THAT EACH MEMBER HAS FOR THE ENGLISH LANGUAGE IS THE CEMENT WHICH SEALS OUR SHARED IDEALISM AS TEACHERS.”

D Dramane

embele

eng Djibril Di

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(Below are screen captures from the THINK OUT LOUD Whatsapp chat)

WE STAND TALL WITH TOL!

e Obama e S o D y Sa

Words and Photography: SAY DO SEE OBAMA / SENEGAL English teacher, ENGLISH CLUB Leader 18

Your job as the teacher is to bring the world into the If you, as the teacher experience the world first classroom. Every word that has been written, every

hand, the children will have a direct connection to

poem spoken, painting hung and song sung

the learning. You will validate their need to explore.

occurred on this big blue ball we call home.

“You are the bridge between the child and the

Your job as the teacher is to tell the story of the

knowledge”

earth and its inhabitants. The rocks, the rivers, the

Your experiences will build those bridges and the

mountains, insects, animals and humans have a

excitement in their eyes will allow them to cross.

story to tell.

My grandfather told me “If you’re having a boring

Find those stories, go into the hills and discover

day, get out of the house, go for a walk and talk to

what the earth has to offer and then grab it with

everyone you meet until your day gets interesting.”

both hands and bring it back into the classroom.

Not bad advice!!!

Show your children what you found, tell them your story and ignite their passion.

GAVIN MCCORMACK PRINCIPAL AT FARMHOUSE MONTESSORI SCHOOL, AUSTRALIA 19

Bring Culture into the Classroom

By Jeanne Bourne Foreign ESL teachers can bring more than just the last Thursday of November in gratitude their language to the classroom. Teaching

for the harvest and gifts we enjoy. Depending

about your native culture can open your stu-

on the level of the class, I find an article that

dents’ eyes to a new world and perhaps

explains the holiday and the traditions in-

change their minds about some stereotypes

volved like this one. I also like to show videos

they may have picked up.

like this or this. Once the students under-

I have been teaching English in a small town

stand what Thanksgiving is all about, I like to

in Greece for over 20 years. When I first

have a discussion or writing exercise about

started teaching, my students weren’t con-

what they are thankful for.

nected to the Internet, didn’t have access to

I would like to mention that I try not to de-

many foreign television series or films and

scribe only the positive cultural characteris-

hadn’t met many foreigners. When I told

tics, but I also give my students a realistic

them I was from the United States, they

look of my country. For example, with older

looked at me as if I were an alien. Fortunate-

students when I talk about Thanksgiving, I

ly, I quickly discovered that my students liked

also talk about Black Friday, which has be-

aliens! They wanted to know everything about come an extremely negative American tradime, my family, my home town and what life

tion. This ‘holiday’ takes place on the Friday

is like in America. I love to tell stories, so I

after Thanksgiving when most people have

constantly told my students about how I grew

the day off work. Many stores offer huge dis-

up, the schools I went to, and the lifestyle of

counts and crowds often wait hours in line

my home country.

and fight over the merchandise. Again, I show

One lesson my students really enjoyed was

videos which lead to discussions and essays

learning about holidays. A typical American

about overconsumption.

holiday is Thanksgiving. It is celebrated on

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BEYOND STORIES THERE ARE MANY OTHER WAYS TO BRING CULTURE INTO THE CLASSROOM CELEBRATE (OTHER) HOLIDAYS

TRADITIONS AND CUSTOMS

Halloween, Valentine’s Day and April Fool’s

Bring some of your traditions to the classroom.

Day offer fun ways to teach about culture.

Birthdays are one way. What do people in your

Christmas, and Easter are some of the more

country do on their birthday? In some countries

well-known holidays, but there are numerous

the birthday boy or girl expects other people to

other lesser known ones. Here’s a complete list

bring them presents or take them out, but in

of holidays by country:

other places they are the ones to treat their

https://www.timeanddate.com/holidays/. Do a

friends and family. Or do they celebrate name

bit of research and you can find something to

days instead, like in Greece?

celebrate (and teach) nearly every day.

WAY OF LIFE

MUSIC AND DANCE

Start discussions about daily life in your

Show videos of traditional music and dances

country. What are the popular past times? How

from your country. Or organize a

is housework shared among family members?

demonstration.

When do young people start driving, going out alone, working and getting married? Which side of the street do they drive on? How many hours of school do students have a day? What do they do after school? When do teenagers start working? Students love to hear this kind of information and it can be useful in various essays in which they have to compare their country to another.

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FOOD

FILMS

Can you make some sweets or other simple

ou may not have time to show full-length films,

dishes and bring them to class? Recipes are a

but there are shorter alternatives:

perfect way of teaching some grammar points

vimeo.com/channels/filmsforclass

(imperatives, numbers, giving instructions) as

moviesgrowenglish.com/Teacher.html

well as an important part of a country’s culture.

film-english.com fluentu.com/blog/educator-english/esl-shortfilms-lessons/

POETRY AND LITERATURE

OTHER RESOURCES FOR TEACHING AMERICAN AND BRITISH CULTURE:

Reading poems and giving students the

https://ielanguages.com/lessons-american-

opportunity to write their own may open their

culture.html

minds to a new way of seeing the world.

http://projectbritain.com/

Literature can also be found for students of every level.

Check out: english-e-reader.net or Lit2Go.com.

ONE OF THE BEST THINGS I HAVE EXPERIENCED WHEN TALKING ABOUT CULTURE AND MY HOME COUNTRY’S TRADITIONS AND CUSTOMS IS THAT MY STUDENTS HAVE TAUGHT ME ABOUT THEIRS. JEANNE BOURNE WRITES ABOUT TEACHER ESL AT FACEBOOK.COM/BOURNE4EFL

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p u e c i p r S u o Y h s i l g En ons s s le

From party games to board games, from TV show to card games, Larissa Albano adapts any playful activity to meet learners’ needs. The talented English teacher shares her knowledge and experince with educators all over the world through the workshops that she runs. For further information or to book your workshop, contact Larissa at:

THE GREEKS a story celebrating cultural diversity Teacher’s Guide This guide is a set of suggestions of what you can do with your students regarding the story, The Greeks. The steps to this lesson plan are as follows: 1) Set the scene - - A few lead-in questions to orientate the students Write the name of the town, ‘Flin Flon’ on the board. Elicit where they think it is located and what kinds of people live there.

2) Introduce the story - - Lead the students through the first three paragraphs, familiarizing the students with the story and the questions relating to it. Tell them that they don’t need to understand all the vocabulary in order to answer the questions or understand the story sufficiently to get something out of it.

3) Read the rest - - Let the students finish the story, then answer the remaining two questions.

4) Vocabulary look - - A quick look at some of the vocabulary appearing in the story which could be useful when speaking about it in the discussion. Get the students to do most of the explaining (or guessing) of the meaning.

5) Post story discussion - - Place the students in small groups (3 or 4) and have them share accounts of how they welcomed somebody or were welcomed by somebody into a group that was new. (This experience of entering a new group doesn’t have to be an ethnic group, but could also be starting a new job, going to a new school or moving to a different place.) If this has not been their experience, then they say how, ideally, they would like to see this happen, how somebody strange to a group can enter. They are to use the four vocabulary items in their speaking.

NOTE: It is recommended that the level of the students is at a minimum in the early stages of Advanced (they have already completed level B2 in Europe)

1. Set the scene •Write ‘Flin Flon’ on the board and ask the students in what country they would find this town.

You can explain that it’s an isolated mining community located many hundreds of kilometres from the nearest city. The winters are long and cold (-40 degrees and colder). And that it really exists. They can google it to check.

•What kinds of people would settle and work there?

Elicit different kinds of personality traits and different cultures or countries of origin such as Russia, Ukraine, Iceland, Sweden, etc. In fact these people do live there, but so do people from China, Chile, the Philippines, and many other countries. There is a variety of people but at the time of the story the small town culture was a strict and hard one, with little tolerance for differences from the accepted norm. Your origins didn’t matter so much. You just had to conform.

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2. Introduce the story

Part 1

•Give the students a copy of the story and the Student Handout.

•Have them read the italicized sentence and the first two lines of the story.

•Tell the students to answer the first two questions on the handout. They don’t have to write anything for these questions. They just tell you.

Q1: How old was the protagonist when he moved to the big city?

His late teens (Actually, he was 17 but this information doesn’t appear in the story, which is a true account of the author.)

Q2: How do you imagine he felt, living away so far from home? Almost anything would be acceptable here.

You want to encourage the students to speculate a little and back it up with some reasoning. This brief exercise here also helps the students to anticipate what is coming up in the story. Concerning his feelings about living in a strange new place, he could have felt lonely, for example, homesick, disorientated. However, “an impressive variety of people, all sorts of interesting mixes” strongly implies that it was likely to have been a very positive experience for him.

2. Introduce the story

Part 2

•Students read the rest of the first paragraph. If the students don’t have a very high level, give them a brief summary of the first paragraph before they read it. Tell them that he left his small town to go to southern Canada where the university was. He liked the variety of people there, especially because there was a high level of tolerance for people doing things in different ways. He felt right at home there.

•Tell the students that they are now to read the second and third paragraphs. When they are done they are to cover their papers and you will ask them a question or two based on what they have just read.

2 suggested questions: 1) Can you explain to me what a name day or a Saint’s day is?

2) Tell me what you remember from those two paragraphs.

3. Read the rest •Tell the students to read the rest of the story and answer Questions 3 & 4.

Q3: What preparation was needed before the Saint’s name day party could start? (4 things) 1) get permission from the director 2) remove the beds 3) put away anything glass or breakable 4) make sure everyone was wearing shoes

Q4: How did that young man feel before the party – timid but welcomed during the party – he enjoyed himself after the party – he felt accepted and part of something; he also felt he benefitted a lot from the experience 26

4. Vocabulary look •These 4 items are in the story. If the students know what they mean, they think of how they can explain them, especially in terms of how they relate to something in the story. If they aren’t familiar with them, they look at the sentences and the context they are in and try to figure them out. caricature (line 6) easy-going (line 27) to heartily welcome somebody (line 47) to fit in (in the afterword)

•After going over the pronunciation, give the students a few minutes to do the task.

(They can confer in pairs if they like.) Then ask different individuals to communicate the meaning.

5. Post story discussion •Suggested theme for discussion: See the lesson plan summary box. Encourage the students to explore the theme as much as they can and to use the recently covered vocabulary. Other possible themes to speak about: 1) How important is cultural diversity?

2) If you were the Minister of Culture and were given a budget of 50 million euros to promote cultural diveristy in the coming year, how would you plan to use it?

•Another idea for further speaking: Go to http://maxenglishcorner.com/more-lessons/todays-theme-homepage/todays-theme-2-culture/ There you will find 3 different themes related to the theme of culture with materials and lesson plans provided.

About Max Neil Maximchuk The author of the story and the accompanying activities which teachers can use in class comes from the small but interesting town of Flin Flon, Manitoba, Canada. Growing up there and later exploring beyond its boundaries has led him to numerous adventures and experiences which have shaped the many perspectives he holds and occasionally writes about. He has found his calling in teaching and deeply exploring this challenging profession has led him to even more rich and fulfilling adventures.

You can find other stories with lesson plans at http://maxenglishcorner.com/ 27

THE GREEKS a story celebrating cultural diversity Written by Max Neil Maximchuk

maxenglishcorner.com HST story 12 The Greeks Š2017

You can travel to new worlds even in your own country. I discovered this by going to university.

28

maxenglishcorner.com HST story 12 The Greeks ©2017 Sometimes we define ourselves in terms of our relations with others. We are not always fortunate to be in the company of people who accept us, no matter what. In relationships, at home, at work, even our neighbourhood, these are all places we fit in, or don’t, to some degree. To feel welcomed, accepted, to be part of something bigger than oneself, has always, always helped me come to better terms with who I am. Living in the residence of Saint Andrew’s was one of the best sets of experiences I have ever had, and it came at a most opportune time during those formative years of my youth.

The story and the lesson plan have been kindly provided by their author Max Maximchuk.

Find more teaching ideas by the author on his website: http://maxenglishcorner.com/ This one can be found under HST Narratives in S'MORE STORIES.

THE GREEKS a story celebrating cultural diversity Student Handout A few questions Q1: How old was the protagonist when he moved to the big city?

Q2: How do you imagine he felt, living away so far from home?

Q3: What preparation was needed before the Saint’s name day party could start? (4 things)

Q4: How did that young man feel before the party – during the party – after the party –

Vocabulary look These 4 items are in the story. If you know what they mean, think of how you can explain them, especially in terms of how they relate to something in the story. If you aren’t familiar with them, look at the sentences and the context they are in and try to figure them out.

• caricature (line 6) • easy-going (line 27) • to heartily welcome somebody (line 47) • to fit in (in the afterword)

The story and the lesson plan have been kindly provided by their author Max Maximchuk.

Find more teaching ideas by the author on his website: http://maxenglishcorner.com/ This one can be found under HST Narratives in S'MORE STORIES.

30

FCE/CAETalking about Cultural Diversity

s h p a r g o P ho t

Look at these two photographs. They show people wearing different national costumes. Compare the photographs and say how important the role of the costume could be in these situations.

: When your partner has finished, describe briefly a national costume from your country. ( 20 seconds)

Look at these photographs. They show people celebrating something.

Compare the photos and say what they could be celebrating and how they may be feeling.

Once your partner has finished, describe a celebration you have taken part in. ( 20 seconds)

32

Part 3 I'd like you to imagine that your school is taking part in an international project which involves schools from Slovenia, Mexico, Israel and France. A big meeting of participants from all countries will take place in your school next month. Your class is in charge of choosing a gift for each foreign guest. Discuss with your partner all suggestions below and then choose one which would be the most appropriate gift.

a hand-made souvenir a fridge magnet

a CD with folklore music

Choose the best gift a painting from a local artist

a doll wearing a national costume a recipe book with national dishes

Part 4 1. Has your school ever been involved in an international project? If so, would you tell me about the project?

2. Why should schools participate in international projects?

3. Do you have penpals from other countries?

4. What surprised you when you met people from other countries?

5. If you could change one thing about your culture, what would that be?

6. What advice would you give to foreigners who come to visit your country?

33

FCE

Let’s write

You’ve received this letter from your English panpal. Read the text carefully. Where was Kay last week? What is she preparing for? How can you help her?

Write an article about your culture in order to help Kay prepare for her talk in Bristol.

Dear…, How are you? I am sorry that I haven’t had the chance to write to you for so long but I have been very busy.

Last week I went to Bulgaria. Have you heard about this beautiful small country in Eastern Europe? The people there are so hospitable and friendly. I visited a few towns in the southern part of the country which I have to admit are quite different from my hometown of Canterbury in England. I was really impressed by the versatile lifestyle, the local cuisine and ancient sights.

The main reason I went to Bulgaria was because I had been invited to take part in a folklore festival which featured national costumes and music from various European countries. The festival took place in the lovely town of Plovdiv, which struck me with its unique architecture. If you go to that neck of the woods, I recommend visiting the Roman amphitheatre and the old part of the town. By the way, Plovdiv has been chosen to be the European capital of Culture for 2019 so you should consider paying it a visit.

What I would like to share with you is how rich Bulgarian folk music is. The people pride themselves on their traditional songs and dances. I tried dancing “horo”, where the dancers hold hands in a straight or curved line. Unfortunately, I was not very good at it, even though I had a wonderful teacher. The steps seem to be quite quick and complicated. As you know I am a keen dancer but … “horo” is definitely a dance which requires a lot of practice and patience. Never mind, that’s on my “to do” list for my next visit.

I’m back in England now and getting ready for an international conference in Bristol where experts from different walks of life will give a talk on Cultural Diversity. I would appreciate it if you send me a short article( 120-150 words) in which you could explain what defines your culture and also give examples of the local folklore, music and costumes. Your article will really help me to prepare for my talk.

It’s getting late here so I’d better go to bed. I have an early start tomorrow morning.

Take care, Kay PS. Can’t wait to read your article. � Don’t forget to add a few photos.

35

Find the answers on page 59.

37

Helsinki, Finland

Last m o nt h I asked yo u t o sh ar e yo ur favo ur it e Wint er F est ival. T h ank yo u fo r all yo ur int er est ing ent r ies- it w as a p leasur e t o r ead ab o ut t h o se sp ecial w int er d ays t h at b r ing yo u j o y.

Her e'r e t h r ee o f t h e m o st ex cit ing st o r ies.

r e t n i W

ce i t s l o S

I had always thought that it is only the Europeans who celebrate the winter solstice until I saw an article about the festival in China. So, today, I want to talk about this Chinese celebration.

The solstice is the beginning of daylight’s return. In Chinese culture daylight means “Yang”, the night means ”Yin”.

“Yang” can make our body strong while ”Yin” makes it worse, so the returning of daylight means the health of our body is recovering. Of course, there is no science evidence showing that the theory is correct.

The winter solstice in China is also a day when people join together. That’s because not long after the solstice the New year comes. Eating dumplings is also a way to celebrate the winter solstice; in fact Chinese eat dumplings at almost every festival. However, in some places the diet is different.

In Shan Dong people mostly drink mutton soup. In Tai Wan people normally eat sticky rice.

What is really interesting about the winter solstice in China is that it has no religious background. This might be the only festival in China without a legend. I believe that is the reason why I have never heard of it. After all, legends spread much faster than a festival.

To sum up, I think the winter solstice in China is an amazing holiday. But there aren’t many people who celebrate it. In my opinion, the festival should really be “recovered”, just like “Yang” at the day.

Momo Yan, China

40

Winter teaches us to wait… What do people in Belarus wait for from November till March most of all? The end of winter!

The tradition of Maslenitsa is a special way to say farewell to winter and welcome spring. This holiday is celebrated for a whole week. During the week of Maslenitsa, meat is already forbidden for Orthodox Christians, and it is the last week during which eggs, milk, cheese and other dairy products are permitted, leading to its name of "Cheese-fare week" or "Crepe week". The most characteristic food of Maslenitsa is bliny thin pancakes or crepes, made from the rich foods still allowed by the Orthodox tradition that week: butter, eggs and milk. Maslenitsa also has its traditional activities. For example, on

Maslenitsa

Monday – the welcoming of “Lady Maslenitsa” (the community builds the Maslenitsa effigy out of straw).

The last day of the week is called "Forgiveness Sunday".

Relatives and friends ask each other for forgiveness. At the culmination of the celebration

Sergeenko Ksenia (9 years old) What is

This is such a holiday. For this holiday Maslenitsa? pancakes are baked.

It is only in winter.

Why is Maslenitsa Because on this holicalled Maslenitsa? day they bake everything with butter.

Why people bake pancakes on Maslenitsa?

people gather to "strip Lady Maslenitsa of her finery" and burn her in a bonfire.

No less important is this holiday for children. We conducted a mini-interview for 15 children "What is Maslenitsa?" and some of the results were very positive:

Kremko Svyatoslav Loznyukha Angelina (10 years old) (9 years old)

Rolya Ksenia (10 years old)

Yes.

Maslenitsa is the It's the last day you transition from win- can eat sausages and ter to spring. it's my birthday.

A lot of oil.

Buttered pancakes. Because on this holiday cook pancakes.

A pancake - a sym- Pancakes are associ- A pancake - a sym- Because pancakes bol of good. ated with the sun. bol of good and the characterize spring. sun.

Why people burn a I did not see an effi- For a good harvest. An effigy is burned - They do it so that gy. everything bad is everything would be scarecrow on burned in this year. good and grew a lot Maslenitsa? of cucumbers.

Is the holiday of Yes. No. Maslenitsa conSubmitted by: Iryna Piniuta, Viktoryia Akulik, Alina Dzerman, Marina Svyatoshchik nected with sunBaranovichi State University flower oil?

41

Kukeri

Kukeri is an old Bulgarian tradition, which is usually celebrated on 1st January in many villages and towns. On this day boys and men dress up in animal skins and put scary masks on their faces. Most of them also tie huge bells around their waists. The Kukeri dance around in order to chase evil spirits away. It is believed that the Kukeri monsters are so ugly that any real monster would run away screaming.

Peter Ivanov, Bulgaria

42

Kazimierz Pulaski University of Technology and Humanities in Radom, Poland is running an international video competition. They would like to invite middle school/high school students and university students to create a 3-minute video on the topic:

The task is to record a short video to show the way of life of typical students in their hometown. Students can choose the whole day, starting from the morning till the evening or a typical school day.They need to upload their videos onto a video-sharing site (YouTube or Vimeo, etc.) and send the links to video.contest@wp.pl.

There are two categories: middle school/high school students and university students.

A gift card with a value of not less than 150 euros, a board game REGIPIO, books and gadgets from the publishers: Oxford University Press, Macmillan and Express Publishing.

A gift card with a value of not less than 150 euros, a board game REGIPIO, books and gadgets from the publishers: Oxford University Press, Macmillan and Express Publishing.

For more information, visit: https://www.uniwersytetradom.pl/art/display_article.php?id=8303 44

READER’S CORNER

I AM I am a warrior.

I believe in myself.

I don’t care about other people’s words, no matter if they discourage me or not I am the queen of my life When there’s hope, I catch it When there’s failure, I move on Nothing can stop me, even if it is a impossible mission.

The power in my thoughts is always with me I am victorious I am strong I have the potential to overcome difficulties I believe As long as I believe I am sure that I will succeed.

Irina Sun, 15 Shanghai, China 45

I AM Who am I? Where am I? What am I doing?

I'm a bird, flying through the clouds.

I'm a snail, crawling on a leaf.

I'm a whale swimming in the sea.

I'm a star, shining in the sky.

I'll sit on a rainbow to find out who I am.

When difficulties come, don't worry, my friend!

If I fall, I have wings.

If I fail, I have my friends.

If I hurt, I have sweets in my pocket.

I can't change the world, but I can change my life.

Because I believe in myself.

Christina Chao, 11 Shanghai, China 46

&

are looking for

Do you know any inspiring children,

and we will share their story. Just send

who are making a difference in your

us the story of your nominee (letter,

school or community? Nominate

video, artwork, poem, etc.) and why

someone to become a Hope Hero

they are inspiring to you!

Send your entries to: kaitlin@kidsunite4hope.org info@englishwithrussie.co.uk 47

Welcome to

Josie’s Poems

49

Within the ocean’s watery depths, In country lanes, in city park, On mountains, valleys, fields and plain, Live creatures of the light and dark.

Planet earth gives habitat For creatures of the land and sea – For those that swim, for those that fly; For large and small, for you and me.

The tiny snowdrop in the lane; The giant, stunning copper beech;.

The bilberry growing on the moors; Or on the tree, the luscious peach.

The elephant and the tiny ant; The birds that in our gardens sing; The flowers that bloom in autumn’s sun; The hardy blooms of early Spring.

Small fish that dwell in coral reefs; Those making Arctic seas their home; The streamlined whales of mammoth size That freely round our planet roam.

For human beings from different lands Diverse in colour, race or creed – The farmers, doctors, teachers, friends, Fulfilling others’ daily needs –

by Josie Whitehead 50

, e p y t s e i p h y T t t a th You meet them on the underground.

And pass them on the street.

You watch them in the office And react to those you meet.

You spot them in the supermarket,

Well, being human as we are, What do you think we do?

We need to classify them all Like creatures in a zoo.

We do not even know them yet,

The church or at the bank.

But split them into “kind”.

They’re often at the filling station

We feel the need to label them

Filling up their tanks.

You scrutinise their clothing: Think: “Are they young or old?”

You listen to their accents And take in what you behold.

In our world of humankind.

We judge and then we categorize The others that we see, But, beware of appraising others – They’re surveying you and me!

by Josie Whitehead 51

Based on the speech by Martin Luther King

“I have a dream” of a world that is fair Well, it’s more than a dream, it’s really a prayer.

A small seed was set when these words were saidBut from a small seed grew an oak tree instead.

Segregation by race, was deep in his heart.

Segregation by race keeps nations apart.

Exclusion, separation, rejection by others Not sharing God’s world as sisters and brothers.

“I have a dream” which led on to a march In the hope it would lead to a triumphal arch.

“I have a dream.” Oh, I too, have a dream Where humans show others respect and esteem.

“I have a dream” where equality reigns; Where freedom flows freely through everyone’s veins.

Where exclusion by colour, by class or by creed Is changed by attention to each other’s need.

How would you complete the sentence below:

I HAVE A DREAM ...

“I have a dream” - where a slave is no more, And hope for one’s future can knock on each door.

Where chains that restrain can be torn into shreds And freedom from bondage is granted instead.

“I have a dream” - - - - oh how time has fled And the dreamer long since joined the ranks of the dead.

A shot from a gun - - - - - and was his dream killed, Or in the world of today, is it being fulfilled?

by Josie Whitehead 52

Chapter 16 Hi everyone, We have just enjoyed a lovely boat ride on Xuan Wu Lake. It was really relaxing to see the beautiful scenery and magnificent statues. I have to admit that I am feeling a little tired and I am thinking of heading home when Mrs Lee says: “Oh, I almost forgot. I have signed up for a workshop at Confucian Temple. It promises to be really interesting. Would you like to come along?”

Russie and I look at each other and I see that she is not willing to go.

“But I won´t be able to understand a word. “she tells us with a note of disappointment.

“Oh, don´t worry. The temple is extremely popular with foreign tourists and students so they always provide audio guides.” Mrs Lee explains.

So it does not take us long to decide to join our kind hostess.

An hour later we arrive at the temple and the first thing that we notice is the massive bronze Confucius statue. We are running a little bit late so we go straight in and queue to get our tickets.

It is packed with a lot of young people who have come from the local university. They have formed groups and talk quietly waiting for the workshop to start.

Soon we enter a cosy hall where a nice lady hands out an audio guide to those who need it. Russie is happy to get one and she makes sure that it is working. We find our seats and luckily we do not have to wait long before the opening.

A smartly-dressed gentleman goes at the front and introduces himself as Mr Wang, a professor at Nanjing University. He begins by telling us about the life of Confucius and the great importance of his work.

We are shown a book which consists of a collection of some of the most popular quotes of the Chinese philosopher. I decide to buy one for my mother after the workshop as I know she highly respects such types of literature.

After the short 54

Continued from previous page

Frank and Russie’s Little Big Adventures

introduction Mr Wang turns on a projector

even encouraged me to become an English

behind him and reads out one of

teacher.”

Confucius´s quotes:

Then Russie butts in: “I remember Confucius once said that

CHOOSE A JOB YOU LOVE, AND YOU WILL NEVER HAVE TO WORK A DAY IN YOUR LIFE.

wherever we go, we should go with all our heart. This is another example that everything we do in life, should be done after we´ve listened to what our heart tells us. “ I look at the big monitor in front of us and

He asks us to work in small groups and

see that the professor is showing another

discuss what the meaning of the quote is. I

quote:

turn to my friends saying: “Oh, I know what Confucius wanted to say.

We have to choose a job that we feel passionate about, then we´ll always look forward to going to work.”

WE HAVE TWO LIVES, AND THE SECOND BEGINS WHEN WE REALIZE WE ONLY HAVE ONE.

Mrs Lee nods her head and says: “You´re right, Frank. Unfortunately, I´ve seen many parents who force their children

I see Russie´s eyes fill with tears. This quote

to choose a job just because it will make

must have brought sad memories for her.

them rich or famous. “

In a few minutes, she decides to tell us what

“Sadly, many of my classmates confess

has upset her.

this, “I add, “they feel the pressure to go to

“Many years ago I used to work in a public

university just to make their parents

school, “Russie tells us, “I loved my students

happy.”

and work very much, however, the head

“How about you, Frank?” Russie asks me.

teacher was a really nasty person. She

“I´m quite blessed because my parents

would yell at everyone at the school. What´s

have told me to follow my heart´s desire. I

more, everything had to be done her way

want to become a psychologist despite the

and teachers and students´ rights were not

fact it´s not a popular job in my country. “

respected. Unfortunately, I was not the only

“That´s wonderful that your parents

one who detested her but I was the first one

support your choices, Frank.” Mrs Lee tells

to decide to leave. It was scary because I

me, “I was fortunate as well because my

didn´t know if I would be able to find

parents knew how much I loved English and

another job but my family supported me so

55

Continued from previous page

Frank and Russie’s Little Big Adventures

I felt that resigning was the best thing for

I read the quote and say:

me to do. “

“Oh, I know what Confucius meant. We

My teacher pauses for a moment. She gets should never give up even though it could tearful so we give her a moment to

be challenging.”

compose herself.

“Yes, you´re right, Frank.” Mrs Lee says

“Who gave you the courage to leave,

with a smile. “When I retired last year and

teacher?” I ask.

had more free time on my hands, I decided

“It was my father who supported my

to take up Tai Chi. “

decision and reminded me that I had only

“Sorry to interrupt

one life to live. I knew he was right and I

you, Mrs Lee, but Tai

could not let the head teacher treat me like Chi is the ancient this anymore. I felt my light was slowly

form of martial

diminishing and had to make the move.”

art, which

“So what happened later? Were you able to many find another job soon? Mrs Lee asks her.

senior

“Fortunately, a language school in my town citizens were looking for an English teacher so in

practise

two weeks´ time I was back in the

in

classroom where I belonged and was able

the

to shine.”

parks every morning, isn´t it? “Russie asks.

“It seems that was the right thing for you

“That´s correct. It is extremely popular

to do, teacher! My mum always tells me

with elderly people because this sport has

that I should not let other people mistreat

a lot of health benefits.” Mrs Lee explains

me. We have only one life and need to

patiently. Then she continues, “When I

make sure that we live it fully and happily.”

joined the Tai Chi class last September, I

Suddenly I hear the other participants

found it very hard because I did not have

talking loudly and I notice that there´s

the strength and stamina. My muscles

another quote on the big screen.

were aching after every class. I told my

IT DOES NOT MATTER HOW SLOWLY YOU GO AS LONG AS YOU DO NOT STOP.

instructor that I was thinking of giving up but she calmly convinced me that I should not because soon my body will get used to the strain. Leaving the sports centre that day, I saw the very same quote on the wall.

56

Continued from previous page

Frank and Russie’s Little Big Adventures

I read it and thought that I should give the

there but that´s one of the few places in

sport and my body another chance. “

the country where we can see our national

“So are you still practising Tai Chi, Mrs

symbol. Do you know what it is? I´ll give

Lee?” I was curious.

you a clue:

“Oh, yeah, that was one of the best decisions in my life. Now a year later I can still feel some tension when I do the poses,

I know it is not hard to guess it. Yes, we

however, my health has improved

are going to see pandas. Russie hopes she

tremendously so I

will be allowed to play with them but I have

look forward

to disappoint her and tell her that no one

to every

can touch these cute mammals.

Tai Chi

When we arrive at the zoo, it is almost

class

closing time so we quickly run past the

every

first cages where we see some lions and

week.”

tigers walking around. And here it is, the

“This

enclosure where the pandas are looked

must be the

after.

reason why the

It is quite busy so we wait impatiently for

Chinese are famous for their longevity,

our turn to feed the animals. There´s a

“Russie comments. “I believe that western

man nearby who is selling bamboo leaves

people should be introduced to more Asian

so I buy some. I tell my teacher that a

sports such as yoga and Tai Chi.”

grown up panda usually eats about eighty

“Oh, definitely. It will help them combat

pounds of bamboo daily.

everyday stress and anxiety, “Mrs Lee

“Can´t they eat meat, Frank? It must be

adds.

more nutritional for them.”

Suddenly it gets noisy in the hall and I

“We studied in our biology lessons that

realise that the workshop has ended. It

pandas eat bamboo mainly because they

was such a great experience for all of us

have no umami taste receptors. It´s

and I can´t wait to go back home and

interesting that meat tastes bland to

share what I have learned with my

them.”

parents.

“You must grow a lot of bamboo trees

We say Goodbye to Mrs Lee because she

then in China,” Russie concludes. “So why

needs to go to her Tai Chi lesson. Then we

aren´t there many pandas in the wild,

head off to the nearest station to get a

Frank?”

bus to Hongshan Forest Zoo. You may

“Sadly, it is because of us, teacher, “I try

wonder why I have decided to take Russie

to explain. “When the country experienced

57

Continued from previous page

Frank and Russie’s Little Big Adventures

the population boom in the 1950s, a lot of

“Oh, this looks like a man dressed up like

forests were destroyed so that new towns

panda, Frank. Don´t you think so?” Russie

and roads could be built. So many

points at the strange creature.

animals, including pandas, were

“Oh, that must be a researcher,” I say.

accidentally killed or forced to move.”

“They are obliged to wear a panda

“That´s terrible, Frank.”

costume when they work with the cubs. In

“Another reason is poaching. A panda fur

this way, they won´t distract them.”

is worth between $60,000 and $100,000 on

Soon our turn to feed the pandas comes.

the illegal trade market. So a lot of these

The keeper tells us that we have to wear a

cute animals have been killed by greedy

special outfit because the animals could

poachers.” I know it is hard for me to tell

be infected easily. So we change quickly

Russie the truth but I decide to be honest

and head to the cage.

with her.

I can see Russie wants to stroke mummy

We are suddenly distracted by some

panda but I kindly remind her about the

commotion in the cage. An unusually big

sign which warns us not to touch the

panda, carrying a bucket, is roaming

animals. There is a long queue of people

around. The children start laughing.

so we have only a couple of minutes to give some bamboo to the pandas. They

Continued from previous page

Frank and Russie’s Little Big Adventures

look so sweet and unaware of the

and has already invited Mrs Lee to go and

excitement they´ve caused.

visit her in England.

Regrettably, we have to leave the zoo. It´s getting dark and we want to go back to

In our next chapter we will explore one of

Mrs Lee´s house and cook a special meal

the ancient places in the country. I know,

for her. It is our last night at her place. She you want a hint… here it is: has been such a wonderful hostess and we want to thank her for her hospitality. It

So where are we heading to? :)

seems that Russie has found a new friend

Read the story and decide if the statements are True, False or Not given: 1. Frank has signed up for a workshop at Confucian Temple.

2. A lot of English students visit Confucian Temple.

3. There's an audio guide provided for anyone at the Workshop.

4. Mr Wang tells the participants about Confucius' life.

5. Russie decides to buy a book for her mother.

6. Frank's parents are happy for Frank to become a psychologist.

7. Mrs Lee has been doing Tai Chi for a year.

8. Pandas do not like eating meat.

9. A lot of forests were destroyed by a great fire in China in the 1950s.

10. Visitors who want to feed the pandas can wear whatever they want.

Tai Chi -a Chinese system of exercises consisting of sets of very slow controlled movements a psychologist- a scientist who studies and is trained in psychology longevity-long life a mammal-any animal that gives birth to live babies, not eggs, and feeds its young on milk an enclosure-a piece of land that is surrounded by a fence or wall and is used for a particular purpose umami-a taste found in some foods that is neither sweet, sour, bitter nor salty a poacher-a person who illegally hunts birds, animals or fish on somebody’s else’s property nutritional connected with the process by which living things receive the food necessary for them to grow and be healthy

59

Sort the words from the APPLE under the headings 4 syllab

1 syllable s lable l y s 2

3 syllables

les 5 sy

llabl es

WINTER FESTIVALSQUIZ ( PAGE 38) THE ANSWERS 1-b, 2-c, 3-a, 4-a, 5-b

60

Across 1. to manage to control your feelings or expression 4. a woman who has people staying at her home 6. having a strong desire to know about something 7. becoming weaker 8. to a very great degree

Down 1. sudden noisy confusion or excitement 2. the ability to do something dangerous 3. the physical or mental strength that enables you to do something difficult for long periods of time 5. the act of trying to persuade or to force somebody to do something 9. very large, heavy and solid 10. sadness because something has not happened 61

But then a name po pped into her head and she asked: “Can I call you Sher ry?

“I love this name!” the girl said. “Whe re I come from nobody has th is name so I’ll take it.” “…and where do yo u come from?” Ang ela asked quietly.

“Oh, my home coun try is far away from here. I don’t think about it, Angela.” you’ve ever heard “I’d love to learn m ore about this plac e. Pl “Oh, it is the most beautiful place in th ease, tell me about it.” e universe. There ar where birds chirp ev e many old trees ery day. And pretty flowers adorn the m “That sounds magic eadows. “ al. I want to go ther e.” Angela exclaim “You’ll find out mor ed loudly. e about it when the time is right. Be pa why were you crying tient. Now, tell me, when you came ho me today?”

“How do you know I was upset? “ Ang ela replied quickly. anyone to find out She did not want about her problem s at school.

“I know everything ," Sherry said with a big smile on her For some reason, A face. ngela felt that she could confide in he on her bed and told r new friend. She sa Sherry about her cl t assmate Andy who her for months. Sh had been bullying e mentioned all th e times when he ca and ridiculed her in lled her bad names front of everyone at school. Angela’s be with tears while sh autiful eyes filled e was sharing her sa d story. It was clea painful for her to ta r th lk about it. at it was quite Sherry was listening quietly and couldn ’t help hugging the to console her. She crying girl in order knew she had to do something in orde into Angela’s life. r to bring happines s

62

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Across: 2- itinerary, 4-caressing, 6-commotion, 7-signify, 8-twigs Down: 1- pilgrims, 3-insomnia, 5-adorn

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