Week 15a: Monday, 15 December 2014

Posted by Zakumi on December 12, 2014

(1) Discussion on bad habits to continue.

Students don't have to comment on this as you have done it already.

(2) Compelling conversations: Talking about books and reading pleasures.

Please see the attachments. There are two lists of 18 questions each. We'll work in pairs and each partner will get a different list. On list 1, we'll answer only the following questions: 1 ("Did your mother read to you as a child?"), 5, 7, 8, 10, 17 and 18. On list 2, only the following questions: 5 ("What are some books you've read and enjoyed?"), 6, 12, 13, 14, 17 and 18.

For your comment, students can answer any of those questions, or tell me about a book you read and why you enjoyed it. You decide.

Compelling Conversations x1.pdf

Compelling Conversations x2.pdf

Compelling Conversations x3.pdf

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Replies

  • fengdongli December 18, 2014 15:05
    I was very happy you like to know some thing about SanMao .I want to have a tirp as i like ,just go where i want like her .And i want do a outstanding girl like her.Thinks teacher and i was sohappy for your reply.
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    • Zakumi December 16, 2014 14:05

      Thank you, Tiffany. Though you probably rushed to write this comment, at least it makes good sense what you said! I hope you believe that too!

  • fengdongli December 15, 2014 4:51
    My favorite book is The story of the sahara (desert).It was write by San Mao. It is about the real thing happed to her and her husband .I love the love btween them,and t want a amour like that .And i also love sanmao's character,if she love she will do it .Ihope every one can read it .
    • Zakumi > fengdongli December 16, 2014 14:24

      I missed you in class yesterday, Lily! I mentioned something about San Mao in class, as I remembered what you said about her (I read your comment not long before going to class). I read about her online as you made me curious about her. It appears that she was an outstanding writer. But she had so much tragedy in her life. First relationship didn't work out, and she left Taiwan for Europe. Then her Spanish husband drowned in a diving accident when she was only 35 (she married him in 1973 when I was in Grade 12 in High school), and years later, her German fiancé also died before they got married. And then she didn't get that award at the HongKong Film Festival (for her script of the movie "Red Dust"). Oh, and then she herself tragically died in 1991 at the age of 47 ... So sad; she was such a wonderful personality. That book you referred to, she wrote in 1976 when she and her Spanish husband lived in the Western Sahara (a small country bordering on to Morocco). She published more than 20 books. Yes, she was a great author. Thank you for telling about her.

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    • Zakumi December 16, 2014 13:57

      Thank you, Lyn. But you haven't read that book yourself, right?! At least not in English as it is too difficult, I know!

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    • Zakumi December 15, 2014 4:26

      I've heard of the Grimm's Fairy Tales, but have never read it myself; though I remember that their, "Hanzel and Gretel" was translated and we read that story about the brother and sister. I read about Guo Jingming who is still in his early thirties. Though he became famous for winning a writing competition and writing some books, I also read that he was found guilty of plagiarism when using another Chinese author's work is one of his books. But I think you are right that many of us go through stages in our lives and we get attached to different writing styles and genres and even writers; and that can change again later (like you not still hanging on to Grimm's Fairy Tales as you have outgrown it!). :)

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    • Zakumi December 15, 2014 4:31

      I am glad that your mother read to you as a child, Wu Ting, as it sounds like you're not into reading yourself! are you lazy, or are you just a dreamer?! I guess you like watching movies much, right?! I think your supposition at the end of your comment is totally correct; we should read more! That is one enjoyable way of gaining knowledge and getting another kind of pleasure out of life!

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    • Zakumi December 15, 2014 4:10

      Wow, you read Aesop's Fables, Zhang Tianjiao! He was living in the very first century! But they said of him, amongst others, that "he used humble incidents to teach great truths". I have never read it myself; but I am glad you enjoyed it in your childhood! It looks like "A Dream in Red Mansions" was prescribed to the Middle school students as I noticed here that many students referred to that book. Not nice to read a book with a sad ending ..!

  • Song Guang Xia December 15, 2014 1:12
    In my chidhood,I began to read book which is read comic books at first.I have a deep impression about my parents give us brought them.it's likely you get a swweet,Sometimes my parents would give us detail the books narritive.when I began to study school ,my teacher would tell some fariy tales as the courses,Especially Heinz Christian Andersen's novels,I remember this is my first read his book --<<The Little Match-Girl>>.His comic books mainly wrote to child,As I grow up ,I trend to read some enconomy books now ,we need more knowledge to engouh ourself ,no limited the literature,we need read more ,for example policial ,sport,finicial ,ecnonmy and so on.
    • Zakumi > Song Guang Xia December 15, 2014 4:02

      Hans Christian Andersen's books were very popular, especially the fairy tales for children. I guess you are referring to studying at Primary school when being introduced to his books, Song Guangxia?! But I am surprised you mention reading economical books; it must have been boring! I agree we should read more to gain more knowledge, but why do you want to read political books?! Politicians normally tell lies that they want others to believe; so, leave those books to the people who want to be fooled! Read books that you would enjoy too! :)

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