ONLINE TASK 4

Speech

1. Think of at least 3 benefits of using speeches by famous figures, in the

        classroom.

-         Speeches by famous figures are authentic materials. It gives real experience to students as they listen or watch the recorded speech.

-         It gives inspiration and real courage to students.

-         The grammar and sentences used in the speech are well-organized. It can be used as a good comprehension text in the classroom.

2. Go to www.youtube.com and find the audio-visual on the speech. In not less than 50 words, state would the audio-visual be of any use in helping understand the speech better? State your reasons.

-         The use of audio-visual on the speech helps a lot in helping students to understand the speech better. Students will learn more when they both ‘see and listen’ the speech, rather than only listen to the speech. From viewing the recorded speech, students can watch the real character and audience of that particular time. They will learn about the condition, place, setting, and the people at that past time. Students can experience the feeling more or less like the people at that time felt.

3. Who is Martin Luther King?

Martin Luther King, Jr. was born Michael Luther King, Jr. on January 15, 1929. Martin Luther attended segregated public schools in Georgia, graduating from high school at the age of fifteen. He received the B. A. degree in 1948 from Morehouse College, a distinguished Negro institution of Atlanta. He started the theological study at Crozer Theological Seminary in Pennsylvania for three years. In 1951 he was awarded the B.D. With a fellowship won at Crozer, he enrolled in graduate studies at Boston University, completing his residence for the doctorate in 1953 and receiving the degree in 1955. In Boston he met and married Coretta Scott, a young woman of uncommon intellectual and artistic attainments. They have two sons and two daughters later.

    In 1954, Martin Luther King became pastor of the Dexter Avenue Baptist Church in Montgomery, Alabama. King was also a member of the executive committee of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, the leading organization of its kind in the nation. In the early of December, 1955, he accept the leadership of the first great Negro nonviolent demonstration of contemporary times in the United States, the bus boycott described by Gunnar Jahn in his presentation speech in honor of the laureate. The boycott lasted 382 days. On December 21, 1956, after the Supreme Court of the United States had declared unconstitutional the laws requiring segregation on buses, Negroes and whites rode the buses as equals. During these days of boycott, King was arrested, his home was bombed, he was subjected to personal abuse, but at the same time he emerged as a Negro leader of the first rank.

    In 1957 he was elected president of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference. In the eleven-year period between 1957 and 1968, King traveled over six million miles and spoke over twenty-five hundred times, appearing wherever there was injustice, protest, and action. In the meanwhile he wrote five books as well as numerous articles. In these years, he led a massive protest in Birmingham, Alabama, that caught the attention of the entire world, providing what he called a coalition of conscience. In 1963, he directed the peaceful march on Washington, D.C., of 250,000 people to whom he delivered his address, “l Have a Dream”. Besides, he conferred with President John F. Kennedy and campaigned for President Lyndon B. Johnson. All his life, he was arrested upwards of twenty times and assaulted at least four times. He was awarded five honorary degrees, and was named Man of the Year by Time magazine in 1963; and became not only the symbolic leader of American blacks but also a world figure.
At the age of thirty-five, Martin Luther King, Jr., was the youngest man to have received the Nobel Peace Prize.

    Martin Luther King was assassinated in the evening of April 4, 1968. He was standing on the balcony of his motel room in Memphis, Tennessee, where he was to lead a protest march in sympathy with striking garbage workers of that city.

4. Based on the questions below, analyse the features of the given written speech:
a. What is the purpose of the speech?

The speech “I Have a Dream” is a 17-minute public speech by Martin Luther King, Jr. The speech was  delivered on August 28, 1963, in which he called for racial equality and an end to discrimination. The speech, from the steps of the Lincoln Memorial during the March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom, was a defining moment of the American Civil Rights Movement. Delivered to over 200,000 civil rights supporters, the speech was ranked the top American speech of the 20th century by a 1999 poll of scholars of public address.

b. What is the tone of the speech?

-         The tone is strong with feeling, hope and courage.

c. What interesting major feature(s) can you see from the speech? (i.e.Repetition of phrases, emphasis on certain things said etc)

Anaphora, the repetition of a phrase at the beginning of sentences, is a rhetorical tool employed throughout the speech. Repeating the words twice sets the pattern, and further repetitions emphasize the pattern and increase the rhetorical effect.

“I have a dream” is repeated in eight successive sentences, and is one of the most often cited examples of anaphora in modern rhetoric. The other examples are:

-         “One hundred years later…” [paragraph 3]

-         “Now is the time…” [paragraph 6]

-         “We must…” [paragraph 8]

-         “We can never (cannot) be satisfied…” [paragraph 13]

-         “Go back to…” [paragraph 14]

-         “I Have a Dream…” [paragraphs 16 through 24]

-         “With this faith, …” [paragraph 26]

-         “Let freedom ring (from) …” [paragraphs 27 through 41]

d. Any interesting facts that you can gather based on the background of the speech?

The names of the cities and places in USA provide us the background of the speech. The speech is greatly improved as Martin Luther King Jr. provides specific examples which illustrate the logical arguments. He makes numerous geographic references throughout the speech:

§                         Mississippi, New York [paragraph 13]

§                         Mississippi, Alabama, South Carolina, Georgia, Louisiana [14]

§                         Georgia [18]

§                         Mississippi [19]

§                         Alabama [22]

§                         New Hampshire [32], New York [33], Pennsylvania [34], Colorado [35], California

[36], Georgia [37], Tennessee [38], Mississippi [39]

Mississippi is mentioned on four separate occasions. This is not accidental; mentioning Mississippi would evoke some of the strongest emotions and images for his audience.

5. Suggest a while-reading activity that can be derived from this particular speech.

Students find metaphors from the speech. Metaphors associate the speech concepts with concrete images and emotions. An example in the speech, to contrast segregation with racial justice, King evokes the contrasting metaphors of dark and desolate valley (of segregation) and sunlit path (of racial justice.)

ONLINE TASK 3

Biopoem

Mandela

Determined, strong, brave, self-deprecating sense of humour

Husband of Evelyn Ntoko Mase, Winnie Madikizela and Graca Machel

Who loves democracy, equality, and freedom

Who feels upset of racism, hates discrimination, and loves to stand up for his beliefs

Who fears that racism would continue, losing the opportunity to make a difference, and decreasing strength and courage in young people

Who led South Africa away from apartheid

Who wants to see improvement of rural schools, social equity, and see an end to all unfairness and discrimination

Who lives in Houghton Estate, Johannesburg, Gauteng, South Africa

Nelson

ONLINE TASK 2

Do we have a canon for Malaysian literary works? Let’s say we do, who do you think are in it? Consider the fact that their works are well-known and most importantly included as part of the school syllabus- (both in BM and English)

1.     Lee Su Ann- The Curse

2.     Latiff Mohidin-  In the Midst of Hardship

3.     Che Husna Azhari- Of Bunga Telur And Bally Shoes

4.     Muhammad Haji Salleh- Si Tenggeng’s Homecoming

5.     Keris Mas- Jungle of Hope

The poems by Erica Jong raises some feminist issues. What are they?Concept of women, marriages, roles of females and males, love, sexuality, freedom

Do you think they are suitable to teach at the secondary school level? Explain.I think that the poems are suitable to teach in the upper level of secondary school. They reflect truths and real identity of genders. They advocate students to look at things from different angles. Students nowadays need to be taught to learn about their gender responsibilities as a preparation for their coming future. Another important aspect is the moral values that should implement into students. Good moral such as loving, care, responsibity and commitment to other genders should be the guides to lead students to a more stability life.

Is Hillary Tham’s poem more suitable?

There is not fair to say whose poems are more suitable to be used as a text to teach. It depends on the teacher’s interpretations and how he or she passes the message to students. “Becoming a Woman” is a good poem that convey the message of how a girl become a woman.  It teaches both the genders about personal hygiene, healthy life, self-esteem and reinforces respect among each other.

The short tale from the Native American group is about a girl who is unsatisfied with her life. How is this a universal experience? Can it teach our students anything?

The iroquois is a very interesting story to talk about satisfaction. It is a universal experience across all races, societies and countries. People are always greed to have more. They are sometimes not appreciating to the things and people around them. They keep chasing materialistic life and following their endless desire all their life.

Anyway, it does not mean that we hope for nothing and continues unsuccessful life. In light of this, we should teach our students to set short term and long term goals to achieve what they want. They should achieve the goals using proper ways and not beyond their abilities. By making appropriate planning, we can fulfill our desire, satisfy with our accomplishment, and finally enjoy the fruit of success.

From your findings about his background, tell me about the dilemma he conveys through the poem CROSS.

            The dilemma of crossed races appears in the poem. The persona experiences deepest emotions and difficulty about his personality. He is confused by his heritage because he has a white father and a black mother. The society at that time discriminates the whites and the blacks. The pressure comes from the stereotype of the two races, making the persona to hate his parents. But he finally felt sorry for them. This poem reflects the oppression of the blacks who live in poverty, prejudice and inequality.

I find “Dinner Guest: Me” laden with irony and sarcasm. Briefly state if you feel the same.

The tone of the poem is irony and sarcasm. There are many lines about these two tones, for example, “I know I am the Negro problem, being wined and dined,  Of darkness U.S.A.”. It differentiates the levels of the two races far away. The whites are being placed in the highest hierarchy while the blacks are from the lowest, poorest and uneducated level. 

The experience in the poem Harlem is one that is true for many people. Do you agree?

I agree. The poem is about dreams of the blacks. But they are dreams that never fulfill. The society of blacks was threatened and lived an unfair life. Their dreams had to be vanished, “like rotten meat”.

Langston Hughes fights for the voice of his people. What is the movement called?

Langston Hughes was a leader of the movement, Harlem Renaissance.

ONLINE TASK 1

On-line Task 1.

(A) Folktales

List some of the well-known folktales from Malaysia .

1.     Paddy That Turns To Gold

2.     Greed Does Not Pay

3.     The Clever Servant

4.     The Disobedient Boy

5.     Unlucky Si Belang

6.     The Stingy Rich Man

7.     How Malacca Got Its Name

8.     The Curse Of Batu Gajah

List some of the possible issues found in The Son of the Turtle Spirit

1.     Dedication

The young boy is dedicated and braved when he decided to gain money from a

rich man who wanted to bury his father deep in the river where a mud dragon is.

2.     Love

The maiden shows gratitude to the man she loves.

3.     Feng shui

The dragon is a powerful symbol in Chinese tradition which brings meaning of

wealth, emperor, strength and brave.

Are those issues universal in nature or are they only relevant in the Chinese culture?

Dedication and love are universal issues. Feng shui is only relevant in the Chinese culture.

(B)Fables

What are the other morals that can be gotten from the other fables by Aesop? List at least two

1. The Boys and the Frogs 

Moral of Aesops Fable: What we do in sport often makes great trouble for others.

2. The Dove and the Crow 

Moral of Aesops Fable: To enjoy our blessings we must have freedom.

3. The Thief and the House-Dog 

Moral of Aesops Fable: He who offers bribes needs watching, for his intentions are not honest.

(C)Myths
One well-known literary figure from the Elizabethan age used Ovid’s Pyramus and Thisbe as a model to one of his famous plays. Who is he and what is the play?

He is William Shakespeare. His famous play is Romeo and Juliet.


(D)LegendsList some of the popular legends we have in Malaysia

1. Magical Lake of Pregnant Maiden
2. The Seven Magical Wells
3. The Legend of Mahsuri
4. Kedah's Legendary Fanged King
5. The Mysterious Giant Footprint
6. The Kinabalu Dragon’s Gem
7. Mystical Cave of Stories
8. Sri Rambai, The Magical Cannon
   
   
   1. Who is Thomas Malory?

Thomas Malory (c.1405 - 1471) was an English writer, the author or compiler of  

Le Morte d'Arthur.

2. When was Le Mort d’Arthur written?

Le Mort d’Arthur was first published in the year 1485.

3. How many books/ parts are there in LMDA?

There are 8 books in LMDA.

4. What is book 8 about?

Book 8 is about the adventures of Tristram: his birth, coming of age and slaying of Marhaus. King Mark’s marriage to La Beale Iseult in Cornwall and Tristram’s marriage to Iseult la Blanche Mains in Brittany. His rivalry with Palomides for the love of Iseult, and his friendship with Lamorak on the Isle of Servage.

5. Who were the two people who had an affair?

Launcelot and Gwenyvere.

6. Book 6 has a strong connection to a popular modern fiction which is now a movie. What is the title of the popular modern fiction?

King Arthur(2004)
 
7. State three well-known facts about King Arthur/ his time as a King

1.               King Arthur was probably a 5th century warrior chief who protected his peoples from the Saxon invaders for a time.

2.             The only sword Arthur could find was one stuck in a stone which he easily removed, many others had failed to pull that sword out before. The sword read “Whoso pulleth out this sword of this stone and anvil, is rightwise king born of all England”. Arthur then became King.

3.              He was the first king of England. He helped to bring down the Roman Empire. He belived in the people, not the power.

Think of 2 ways in which you can use folktales/fables/myths or legends in the classroom. Explain briefly.

1.     dialogue for the fables

Students are required to write dialogue for the fables in pair work. Then students act out the actions in front of the class.

2.     drama

Students are given choice to pick a scene from folktales/fables/myths or legends. They need to co-operate to work on it and dramatize the plots.

Children should keep a diary

For most of young children at schools nowadays, writing is an activity that they find intimidating, tedious or just plain difficult. In light of this, as a teacher, I will always remember an old saying, practice makes perfect. Developing strong written communication skills is a vital component and it is a long process.

A diary represents a private space in life. A diary is also a tool for self-discovery, an aid to concentration, a mirror for the soul, and a place to generate and capture ideas.

The first and obvious benefit of writing a diary is that it engages our brains. To write, we have to think. By keeping records, one is able to monitor the practice. Writing encourages students to explore their mind.

Second, it improves spelling and grammar. The more a child writes, the more likely it is that he or she will seek the correct way to form letters and spell words.  Additionally, regular writing helps children practice structuring sentences and learns a variety of sentence patterns.

Thirdly, by writing diary, it helps with reading. As we all know, reading and writing go hand in hand.  The mechanical process of spelling out a word, letter by letter, reinforces that word’s construction and helps a student understand what he or she is writing and how to sound it out.

These are only some benefits that I can figure out at this moment.

Although I do not teach English at school now, I do require my students to write diary, in Chinese language. At the beginning of this year, I want them to write three sentences. There are a few students who are lazy to complete this work. And only few of them can write complete sentences. But until now, I found some improvement from these Year 2 students. They make fewer mistakes on writing words and the use of punctuations. And I found out that encourage is the most powerful tool.

I am so happy to see improvement from students. I will continue my effort to lead them to better writing skill.

                                              Diary, my old friend…

Once, it was a familiar word to me. I used to write diary since secondary school. It really helps me to recall many memories. I wrote when I was happy, or when I was unhappy. After moving to Kuching, I wrote about my marriage life. When I was expecting, I wrote about everything of my little ones. Diary acts as a platform between me and the baby.

Anyway, having two children and taking the long distance education now, the diary lies quietly most of the time in the drawer. Twenty-four hours a day sometimes seems short to me. The busy life has “train” me to finish the tasks on hand in a given time so that I can handle well the roles of a teacher, a mother, a wife and a daughter-in-law. The result is, I prefer to take the time to rest rather to meet with my diary.

Somehow I missed the diary too. When I felt depressed or isolated, I took out the diary. It seems like an old friend, telling stories to me in a calm manner. And I like to listen to it. After enjoying the secret moments with the diary, I felt that I’m energetic again. I became strong and confidence to face the reality.

Oh, my diary. I shall back to you soon.

Letters

There are two letters by John Keats in the module. The first one is for his beloved Fanny Brawne, and the other is to his poet friend, Shelly.

Letter writing was an art form at one time. Letters reveal much about the writers. But nowadays, few people write letters. Emails are probably more popular and common. Most people enjoy sending emails. Since emails are functional, people can make use of the extra features like adding pictures, songs and greeting cards. Email is one of the easiest and fastest ways of interaction. Although email is becoming wider these days, writing letters did not lose its originality. Generally letters are used to convey state of being as well as to share ideas, thoughts and emotions. A friendly letter is a way of communicating between two people who are usually well acquainted.

I used to write letters before. When I first transferred to Kuching in 2003, I received many letters from my students in primary school. They wrote to tell me about their new life in secondary school. They shared their experience as well as problems. In return I gave my advice or opinions to them. Normally I received a letter a month from them. After three years, there were only two girls continue the journey of letter-writing. I am happy because they still remember me and willing to connect with me. They are now in colleagues. Although I do not receive their letters for a year now, I could still connect with them through email and facebook. I do appreciate the modern technology that provides another platform for our interaction. However, I like the surprise feeling when I saw letters lying in the mailbox. Moreover, I miss the step of opening the letters and read it aloud of what my students wrote to me.