(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.
Replies
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!
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 ..!
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! :)
I noticed that quite a few of your classmates have read Jane Eyre, Yang Xiaoyan. I guess it must have been a great book then! Some of my school mates have also read the book as I remember them referring to it; it was also a prescribed book of literature in some classes in my school days. What I know about the book, I've read online! I know that the author is Charlotte Bronte. And the protagonist was Jane who fell in love with Rochester, but Rochester married another girl! But after she died, and after the fire, she still accepted her beloved Rochester despite (as you mentioned) his blindness and disability from the fire. Jane is a great example to most of us who always want to marry the perfect person ... Yes, I agree that one can strive to have her splendid temperament and view on life.
Katherine, it appears to me that you and Shelly have a lot in common! She also likes "Twilight"! I guess it is because it is a love story ...! I was suspecting that Bella would also turn into a vampire as she was too involved with them and somehow one of them would drink her blood and make her a vampire too! Okay, it wasn't Edward as he was ... er ... a vegetarian (a vampire vegetarian)! Wow, that ending is quite confusing ... the werewolf didn't get her, but got her daughter! Why? Was he perhaps the father of the daughter ..?! Then Bella wasn't true to Edward ...! Oh boy, what confusion!