Thursday, September 24, 2009

If I Could (El Condor Pasa)





I'd rather be a sparrow than a snail
Yes I would, if I could, I surely would.


I'd rather be a hammer than a nail.
Yes I would, if I only could, I surely would.

Away, I'd rather sail away
like a swan that's here and gone.

A man gets tied up to the ground.
He gives the world its saddest sound,
its saddest sound.

I'd rather be a forest than a street.
Yes I would, if I could, I surely would.
I'd rather feel the earth beneath my feet.
Yes I would, if I only could, I surely would.


VOCABULARY
A. Rhymes
Look at the song and tell me what words rhyme.

1. snail rhymes with _________________________
2. would rhymes with ________________________
3. swan rhymes with _________________________
4. ground rhymes with _______________________
5. street rhymes with _________________________

From your own head,
6. Tell me another word that rhymes with snail. ________________________


7. Tell me another word that rhymes with would. ________________________


8. Tell me another word that rhymes with swan. ________________________


9. Tell me another word that rhymes with ground. _____________________


10. Tell me another word that rhymes with street. ________________________

GRAMMAR
1. “saddest” is a superlative adjective

Single-syllable adjectives such as big and thin, are compared like this:
a. She has a big house.
b. Her brother has a bigger house than she has.
c. Her bother’s house is the biggest on his block.

d. Bob is a very thin man.
e. Bob is thinner than his father.
f. Bob’s father is the thinnest person in his family.

Choose a single-syllable adjective, and write three sentences like the above examples.

g. ______________________________________________________________________
h. _____________________________________________________________________
i. _____________________________________________________________________




2. WOULD RATHER + VERB THAN + VERB
Examples:
a. My mother said that she’d rather have someone wash dishes for her than do it herself. Why? . . . because she was very tired.
b. We’d rather watch movies on TV than see them in a theater because watching movies on TV is less expensive.

c. Tell me something you’d rather do than do something else.

________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________

d. Tell me what you’d rather be than what you are

________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________

e. Tell me what you’d rather be doing than what you are doing.

________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________

CONVERSATION (Talk to your partner. Then write your own answer.)
1. Why do you think the singer is saying that he’d rather be a sparrow than a snail?

I think the singer is saying that he’d rather be a sparrow than a snail because

________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________



2. Why do you think the singer is saying that he’d rather be a hammer than a nail?

I think the singer is saying that he’d rather be a hammer than a nail because

________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________






3. Why do you think the singer is saying he’d like to be like a swan and “sail away.”

I think the singer is saying that he’d like to be like a swan and sail away because

________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________



4. Why do you think the singer is saying he’d rather be a forest than a street and feel the earth beneath his feet?

I think the singer is saying that he’d rather be a forest than a street and feel the earth beneath his feet because

________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________

Saturday, September 19, 2009

A Wolf and A Dog





A half-starved wolf was jealous of a dog who appeared to be well-fed, fat, and strong. “Come to our house,” the dog said to him. “You’ll find everything to eat there.”
The wolf was very happy and started to go home with the dog. On the way, however, he noticed something on the dog’s neck. “What’s that?”
“Nothing much,” answered the dog. “It’s only the mark of my chain.”
“Your chain? Does that mean your master ties you up?” And with these words, the wolf ran away. He thought to himself that he’d rather be hungry than (be) without liberty.
A.COMPREHENSION
a. Why did the wolf prefer to remain hungry? Choose the correct answer.
1. He didn’t like meat.
2. The dog wouldn’t share his food with him.
3. He preferred to be free.
4. The house was too far.
5. The wolf was tied.
b. Answer these questions in complete sentences.
1. Who was jealous of the dog?_ __________________________________________
2. Why was the wolf jealous?_ ______________________________________________
3. Where did the dog invite the wolf to go?_____________________________________
4.What did the wolf notice?_________________________________________________
5.Why did the dog have the mark of a chain around his neck?
________________________________________________________________________
B VOCABULARY
a. Read the story again and find the synonyms for these words:
1. envious ______________________________
2. seemed ______________________________
3. pleased ______________________________
4. began ______________________________
5. observed ______________________________
6. hungry ______________________________
7. fat ______________________________
8. preferred ______________________________

b. Match the words from Column 1 with their antonyms in Column 2 (Draw a line.)
What part of speech are these words?
hungry everything (noun)
thin without ( __________________)
weak well-fed ( __________________)
nothing chained up ( __________________)
sad ran away ( __________________)
a lot fat ( __________________)
loose happy ( __________________)
with not much ( __________________)
came home strong ( __________________)
free tight ( __________________)

c. hyphenated adjectives use a hyphen between two or three adjectives describing a noun. For example: a. Sometimes I eat hard-boiled eggs for breakfast.
b. I have two five-dollar bills.
c. I work in a ten-story building.
d. They are very well-fed men.
In the story, please find the hyphenated adjectives.
e. ______________________
a. ______________________





C. GRAMMAR
A half-starved wolf was jealous of a dog who appeared to be well-fed, fat, and strong.
WHO clauses (a clause is a group of words with a subject + verb)
Examples: a. Sally is the one who teaches at the Chinatown Campus.
WHO refers to ONE, so teaches is singular.
b. Sally and Mary are the ONES who teach at eh Chinatown Campus.
WHO refers to ONES, so teach is plural.
c. He is the man who (own, owns) the restaurant.
WHO refers to ___________ , so ___________ is the verb.
d. Her children, who (go, goes) to elementary school, (studies, study) very hard.
WHO refers to _______________, so _______________ is the verb.
CHILDREN is the subject, so ________________ is the verb.
WHO is the subject of a clause BUT cannot stand alone (unless it is a question).
Please write your own sentence using WHO to introduce a clause. (DO NOT WRITE A QUESTION.)
e. _________________________________________________________________

DIRECT and REPORTED SPEECH

DIRECT (QUOTED) SPEECH to INDIRECT (REPORTED)SPEECH
1. He said, (He told me/ her/ him/us/them),“I work hard.” He said that he worked hard.
2. He said, “I worked hard.” He said that he had worked hard. 3. He said, “I will work hard.” He said that he would work hard.
4. He said, “Work hard.” He told me to work hard.
5. He asked, “What’s your name?” He asked me what my name was.

Change the direct speech sentences to indirect speech.
1. “Come to our house,” the dog said to him.
____________________________________________________
2. “You’ll find everything to eat there.”
______________________________________________________________________

3. “What’s that?”
______________________________________________________________________
4.“Nothing much,” answered the dog.
______________________________________________________________________
5.“It’s only the mark of my chain.”
______________________________________________________________________
6.“Your chain?
______________________________________________________________________
7.Does that mean your master ties you up?”
______________________________________________________________________

WOULD RATHER + verb
Examples: a. He’d rather be hungry than (be) without liberty.
b. I would rather eat bread than (eat) rice.
c. My mother would rather live in L.A. than move to San Francisco.
Please write two sentences using this grammar form.
1._____________________________________________________________________
2. _____________________________________________________________________


CONVERSATION
First talk to your partner. Then write your own answers.
1. Why do you think the wolf preferred to be free rather than get food at the dog’s house?
________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
2. What does “liberty” mean to you?
________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

If I Had a Hammer



(by Pete Seeger and Lee Hayes)





1. If I had a hammer,
I’d hammer in the morning
I’d hammer in the evening
All over this land

I’d hammer out danger,
I’d hammer out warning,
I’d hammer out love
Between my brothers and my sisters
All over this land







2. If I had a bell,
I’d ring it in the morning,
I’d ring it in the evening
All over this land

I’d ring out danger,
I’d ring out warning,
I’d ring out love
Between my brothers and my sisters
All over this land



3. If I had a song,
I’d sing it in the morning,
I’d sing it in the evening,
All over this land.

I’d sing out danger,
I’d sing out warning,
I’d sing out love
Between my brothers and my sisters
All over this land.



4. Well, I’ve got a hammer,
And I’ve got a bell,
And I’ve got a song to sing
All over this land






It’s the hammer of justice;
It’s the bell of freedom;
It’s the song about love
Between my brothers and my sisters
All over this land.

It’s the hammer of justice;
It’s the bell of freedom;
It’s the song about love
Between my brothers and my sisters
All over this land.


VOCABLARY
1. What is a synonym (in the song) that means exposure to harm, injury, risk, or peril ______________
2. In this song, who are “my brothers and my sisters”? ______________
3. In this song, what does “land” mean in “all over this land”?
_____________________________________________________________
4. What is the “hammer of justice”?_______________________________
5. What is the “bell of freedom?__________________________________

GRAMMAR
6. “If I had” = if + past tense means IT IS NOT TRUE (contrary to fact)
for example, If I had a new house = I don’t have a new house
If I had a million dollars = I don’t have a million dollars

Tell me something that you wish you had . . .
a. If I had ___________________________

7. Following this clause, you should use WOULD or COULD + BASE form of the verb.
For example, If I had a a lot of money, I would/could buy a new car.
Tell me something you wish you had, and what would or could you do?
a. If I had_______________________________________________________

8. Use an “if” clause with a past tense verb and continue the sentence with a WOULD or COULD clause.
For example, If I went to China in the summer, I would be able to see the Olympics.
If I ate cake for breakfast every day, I would get very fat.

You write your own sentence.
a. ________________________________________________________

9. When you use “be” with “if”, use “were” (for every person – I, you, he, she, we, they, Sally my mother).
For example: If I were taller, I could reach the top shelf.
If my brother were here, I would ask him to help me.

You write your own sentence.
a. ________________________________________________________

Being Number One


When Peter got a mad mark in school, his mother scolded him. “Last year I was proud of you,” she said. “You were the best pupil in the class.”
The little boy was ashamed, but then he thought a moment. He looked at his mother with a smile and said, “But Mother, other mothers also want to be proud of their children, and that would be impossible if I were
always first.”


A. What excuse did Peter give for not being first? (Which is the correct answer?)
1. He wanted other mothers to be proud of their children.
2. He didn’t like his teacher.
3. He didn’t go to school every day.
4. He liked his friends.
B. Find antonyms for these words and their parts of speech.
1. last year ______________
2. good _____________
3. praised _____________
4. ashamed _____________
5. the worst _____________
6. a long time _____________
7. possible _____________
8, never _____________
9. teacher _____________
10. the grown man _____________

C. Rewrite these sentences. Change the verbs to the negative.
1. He got a good mark.

2. I was proud of you.
_______________________________________________________________
3. He thought a long time.

4. He looked at his mother.
____________________________________________________________________
5. I am always first.

6. Write your own sentences:
a. (a statement)
_________________________________________________________________

b. (Make the same statement negative.)


D. Tag questions follow statements. Always use the same tense.
Examples: a. Your daughter lives with you, doesn’t she?
b. Your daughter doesn’t live with you, does she?
c. You lived in China before you came here, didn’t you?
d. You were late yesterday, weren’t you

1. He got a good mark, __________________________?

2. He writes emails to his friends every day, ____________________?

3. Her friend was very nervous at her wedding, _________________?

4. Your husband thought about the problem for a long time _________________?

5. Many people are in economic trouble, __________________?
6. Your wife won’t be cooking tonight ____________________?
7. She isn’t feeling well, _____________________?
Write two sentences and add tag questions to them:
8.

9.________________________________________________________





E. Answer the questions in Section D.
Examples: a. No, she doesn’t. or Yes, she does.
b. Yes, she does. or No, she doesn’t.
c. Yes, I did. or No, I didn’t.
d. Yes, I was. or No, I wasn’t.

1.______________________________

2. ______________________________

3. ______________________________

4. ______________________________

5. ______________________________

6. ______________________________

7. ______________________________

8. ______________________________

9. ______________________________

F. GRAMMAR
CONDITIONAL – contrary to fact in the present/future
IF clause + simple past result clause WOULD/COULD + base form of verb
Examples: If I had enough money, I would/could buy a new car.
If I were* rich, I would take a trip to Australia.
If he went to Las Vegas, he would have a great time.

• In contrary-to-fact sentences with IF, use WERE for all subjects not “was”
If the weather were nicer, we’d go to the beach.

“If I were always first, it would be impossible for other mothers to be proud of their children.”

1. If I (have) __________ more time, I _____________________________________.
2. If I (know) __________ how to swim, I ___________________________________.
3. If it (be) ______________Saturday, I _____________________________________.
4. If money (grow) on trees, we all (be) _____________________________________.
5. My husband is very tired. If he (be not) ______________________so tired, he (go)
_______________________ to the movies with you.
6. My friend (drive) _____________________ if she (pass) ______________________ her driver’s test.
7. She (go) ____________________ to Singapore if airplane tickets (be) __________________ less expensive.
8. What would you do if you were a photographer?
If I

9. What would you do if you had a new car?
If I

10. What could you buy if you had a million dollars?
If I
_______________________________________________________________________
F. CONVERSATION
Please talk to your partner and then write your opinions.
If you were not successful in something that you really wanted to succeed in, how would you feel about yourself? Also, how do you think other people would judge you?
________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________


Here’s an expression you can think about:

If at first you don’t succeed, try, try again.

Friday, September 4, 2009

Rock Around The Clock (1956)





1.
One, two, three o'clock, four o'clock, rock,
Five, six, seven o'clock, eight o'clock, rock,
Nine, ten, eleven o'clock, twelve o'clock, rock,
We're gonna rock around the clock tonight.

Put your glad rags on and join me, hon,
We'll have some fun when the clock strikes one,

CHORUS
We're gonna rock around the clock tonight,
We're gonna rock, rock, rock, 'til broad daylight.
We're gonna rock, gonna rock, around the clock tonight.

2.
When the clock strikes two, three and four,
If the band slows down we'll yell for more,
CHORUS
3.
When the chimes ring five, six and seven,
We'll be right in seventh heaven.
CHORUS
4.
When it's eight, nine, ten, eleven too,
I'll be goin' strong and so will you.
CHORUS

5.
When the clock strikes twelve, we'll cool off then,
Start a rockin' round the clock again.
CHORUS

VOCABULARY

1. Rock around the clock. Rock refers to rock dancing – dancing to rock ‘n’ roll music.


2. Gonna is slang for going to (future be + going to (infinitive)
Example: a. I’m going to go to school tomorrow.
Slang: I’m gonna go to school tomorrow.

b. She’s going to leave early today.
Slang: She’s gonna leave early today.

c. Are you going to play mahjong this evening?
Slang: Are you gonna play mahjong this evening?

Your turn:
d. We_____________________________________________
Slang: We’re gonna rock around the clock tonight.

e. Write your own sentence using standard English using be + going to + infinitive

Say (and write ) this same sentence using gonna .

3. Look at the song and write synonyms or idioms for these words:
A. fancy clothes ___________________________________
B. sweetheart ____________________________________
C. When it becomes one o’clock. ________________________________
D. A group of musicians _________________________________________
E. Very very happy ______________________________________________
F. Not too tired to stop __________________________________________
G. Stop for a while _____________________________________________
H. the time when the sun is shining ________________________________

4. RHYMES
A rhyme is a repetition of similar sounds in two or more words and is most often used in poetry and songs. Eat rhymes with meat
Made rhymes with aid
The spelling does not have to be the same. The SOUNDS have to be the same.

What words rhyme in the song?
Example: A. FUN and ONE rhyme with HON’.
Talk to your partner and find the other rhymes.
B. daylight rhymes with _______________________________
C. more ____________________________________________
D. heaven _____________________________________________
E. you ___________________________________________________
F. again ___________________________________________________

GRAMMAR

How do you say ALSO, that you do or do not do the same thing.
Examples: A: I am a student. B: So am I. (verb to be)
A: I have two sisters. B: So do I.
(verb to have, in present tense, use do or does)
A: She has two sisters. B: So does Sally.
A: I bought a book for my class. B: So did I.
(verb to buy in past tense use did)
A: I will be here tomorrow. B: So will I.
A: I will take the exam on Monday. B: So will she.
A: She’s going to a movie tonight. B: So is her friend.

Your turn: Please write a sentence and ask your partner to agree with you or say that s/he is, does, or will do the same thing:

1.______________________________________________________________________

2.______________________________________________________________________

3.______________________________________________________________________

4.______________________________________________________________________



Do you like to dance? What kind of dancing do you like to do? Do you know how to rock ‘n’ roll dance? Do you think rock dancing is only for young people? Why or why not?

Talk to your partner and then write your own thoughts.

________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Rock 'N' Roll Bands




What are some of the characteristics of rock music? There are three basic parts, and these depend on the drummer, the guitarists, and the singer. The drummer plays loud, complicated rhythms. These serve as a foundation for the entire song. The guitarists provide the melody and harmony. The singer or singers sing loudly above all the music; they sing about today’s problems and about today’s youth. Sometimes these three elements blend into a beautiful musical experience; sometimes they produce only noise. Good or bad, this is rock music – the popular music of all young people and some older people today.
VOCABULARY
1. Look at the story. Find these words. Tell me what part of speech you think they are. (noun, pronoun, verb, adjective, adverb, preposition)
a. characteristics ___________________________________
b. basic ___________________________________
c. complicated ____________________________________
d. rhythms ____________________________________
e. foundation ____________________________________
f. entire ____________________________________
g. the melody ____________________________________
h. the harmony ____________________________________
i. elements ____________________________________
j. youth ___________________________________
k. blend ___________________________________
l. musical ____________________________________
m. produce ___________________________________
n. noise ____________________________________
o. popular ____________________________________
p. young ____________________________________
q. older ___________________________________
r. people ____________________________________

2. Give synonyms for these words and definitions:
a. fundamental ______________________________________
b. intricate______________________________________
c. whole______________________________________
d. give______________________________________
e. young people______________________________________
f. features that distinguish people or things __________________
g. the tempo or speed of a beat (in music) -------____________________
h. anything that accompanies the melody. Often it can occur as chords,
which are simply a few notes played simultaneously. _____________
i. parts of the whole thing _____________________
j. approved by the general public ______________________



GRAMMAR
Adverbs add to the verb Many adverbs end in “ly”
Adverbs answer the questions How? When? Where?
Example: She drives slowly. He drives fast. (How fast does s/he drive?)
1. They sing loudly.
Your turn:
2. ____________________________________softly.
3. _____________________________________badly.
4. _______________________________________beautifully.
5. ______________________________________clearly.
6. ______________________________________well.

Draw a line from the players in Column 1 to the instruments in Column 2
1 2
pianist guitar
violinist drums
guitarist flute
drummer cello
cellist violin
flutist piano

Your turn: Please write sentences using the words in the above exercise:
1. ________________________________________________________
2. ________________________________________________________
3. ________________________________________________________
4. ________________________________________________________
5. ________________________________________________________
6.________________________________________________________
CONVERSATION
Talk to your partner. Then write your answers in complete sentences.
1. How many basic parts are there in rock music?


2. Who plays the loud rhythms?



3. What do the guitarists provide?



4. What do rock songs tell about?



5. Is rock music always beautiful?



6. What kind of music do you like? Why do you like that kind of music?