Saturday, March 20, 2010

If I Had You


sung by Bing Crosby

I could show the world how to smile
I could be glad all of the while
I could change the gray skies (clouds) to blue
if I had you.

I could leave the old days behind
Leave all my pals. I’d never mind.
I could start my life anew
if I had you

I could climb the snow-capped mountains,
Sail the mighty ocean wide.
I could cross the burning desert
if I had you by my side

I could be a king, dear uncrowned,
Humble or poor
Rich or renowned
There is just nothing I couldn't do
if I had you.

COMPREHENSION & VOCABULARY
1. In this song, what do gray clouds represent? What do blue skies represent?

2. Tell me, in other words, what does “I could leave the old days behind” mean?

____________________________________________________________________

3. Tell me, in other words, what does “I’d never mind” mean?
____________________________________________________________________

2. Tell me, in other words, what does “There is nothing I couln’t do” mean?
____________________________________________________________________

3. humble
a. at home
b. not proud or arrogant
c. falling apart

4. renowned
a. owned again
b. sold
c. well-known
5. anew I could start my life anew.
a. any time
b. again; once more; in a new and different way
c. then stop

GRAMMAR
1.
If for future thoughts, possibilities in the future
Use IF + past tense in the if clause and
COULD/WOULD/MIGHT + base form of the verb in the main clause
examples:
a. If I saved my money, I could buy a new car. (save)
b. If I were thinner, I would buy some new clothes. (be)
c. I could get up early in the morning if I had an alarm clock. (have)
d. I would fly to New York if I were rich. (be)

YOUR TURN
Tell me something about your future using an IF CLAUSE and a future thought with COULD/WOULD/MIGHT + base verb

_________________________________________________________________
2.
Look at the lyrics of the song (You can do this with a partner.)
and tell me everything that could happen in your future IF I HAD YOU.

1. If I had you, I could show the world how to smile.
2. If I had you, --------------_________________________________________________
3. If I had you, _________________________________________________
4. If I had you, _________________________________________________
5. If I had you, _________________________________________________
6. If I had you, _________________________________________________
7. I ________________________________________________ if I had you.
8. If I had you by my side, _________________________________________________
9. If I had you by my side, _________________________________________________
10. If I had you by my side, _________________________________________________
11. If I were ___________, ___________, ____________, _____________ (4 adjectives) , there is nothing I couldn’t do if I had you.
12. _________________________________________________if I had you,

CONVERSATION

Talk to your partner and then write your answer.
1.
Is there anyone who helped you start your life anew? Who is that person and what did he or she do to help you?










2.
If you had a wish about your future, tell me what would it be?

Wednesday, March 17, 2010

The Piano Man





by Elton John and sung by Billy Joel and Elton John

(1) It's nine o'clock on a Saturday
The regular crowd shuffles in.
There's an old man sitting next to me
Makin' love to his tonic and gin.

(2) He says, "Son, can you play me a memory?
I'm not really sure how it goes.
But it's sad and it's sweet and I knew it complete [ly]
When I wore a younger man's clothes."

La la la, dee da da
La la, dee da da da dum

Chorus:
Sing us a song, you're the piano man
Sing us a song tonight
Well, we're all in the mood for a melody
And you've got us feelin' all right.

(3) Now John at the bar is a friend of mine.
He gets me my drinks for free
And he's quick with a joke or to light up your smoke
But there's some place that he'd rather be.
He says, "Bill, I believe this is killing me."
As the smile ran away from his face.
"Well I'm sure that I could be a movie star
If I could get out of this place"

Oh, la la la, de da da
La la, di da da da dum

(4) Now Paul is a real estate novelist
Who never had time for a wife
And he's talkin' with Davy, who's still in the Navy
And probably will be for life.

(5) And the waitress is practicing politics
As the businessmen slowly get stoned
Yes, they're sharing a drink they call loneliness
But it's better than drinkin' alone.

Chorus
Sing us a song you're the piano man
Sing us a song tonight
Well we're all in the mood for a melody
And you got us feeling all right

(6) It's a pretty good crowd for a Saturday
And the manager gives me a smile
'Cause he knows that it's me* they've been comin' to see
To forget about life for a while.
And the piano, it sounds like a carnival
And the microphone smells like a beer
And they sit at the bar and put bread in my jar
And say, "Man, what are you doin' here?"

Oh, la la la, dee da da
La la, dee da da da dum

Chorus:
Sing us a song you're the piano man
Sing us a song tonight
Well we're all in the mood for a melody
And you got us feeling all right.

COMPREHENSION AND VOCABULARY
(Please talk to your partner and then write your answers in complete sentences.)
1. Where is this story taking place? and When is it taking place?

________________________________________________________________________
2. Who is telling this story?


3. One of the customers asked for a song that was a memory for him. He said he knew the whole song when he “wore a younger man’s clothes.” What does that mean?



4. What is a CHORUS in a song?

_______________________________________________________________________
5. Who sings the CHORUS in this song?
____________________________________________________________________
6. What is John’s job?
________________________________________________________________________
7. “This is killing me. “ What does this expression mean in this song?

8. What would John rather be doing?
________________________________________________________________________
9. What does Paul do? Tell me two things. Also, is he married?
________________________________________________________________________
10. What does Davy do?
________________________________________________________________________
11. What does it mean that the businessmen are slowly getting “stoned.”
________________________________________________________________________
12.Are the businessmen in the bar by themselves or with someone?
________________________________________________________________________
13. Who do the customers come to see in this piano bar?
________________________________________________________________________
14. What does, “put bread in my jar” mean?
________________________________________________________________________



GRAMMAR

1. There’s an old man sitting next to me makin’ love to his tonic and gin.

One BE verb is enough for this present progressive grammar construction.
An old man is sitting and making = There is an old man sitting . . .

(Use this sentence as a model, and answer this question.)
1. Who is sitting next to you and what is that person doing?

________________________________________________________________________

2. subject + be verb = subject
It’s me. (spoken English) It’s I. (standard English)

Practice this dialogue:
A: I’m calling to talk to Ms. Jones.
B: This is she.
A: I’m sorry. I meant Mr. Jones. Can I speak to your husband.
B: Yes. Just a minute. Honey, telephone!
C: Hello?
A: Is this Mr. Jones?
C: Yes. This is he. How can I help you?

3. Songs are like poems. Many have rhyming words. What words rhyme in this song?

a, In verse 1, what rhymes with IN? _________________
b. In verse 2, what rhymes with GOES? _______________
c. In the chorus, what words rhyme? ______________________________
d. In verse 3, what words rhyme ___________________________________

e. In verse 4, what words rhyme with WIFE? _________________
DAVY rhymes with _______________
f. In verse 5, STONED almost rhymes with __________________
g. In verse 6, what word rhymes with SMILE? ________________
BEER rhymes with __________________
CONVERSATION
Answer the questions and tell your partner WHY!
would rather be
I would rather be healthy than rich. (adj.)
I’d rather be a doctor than a lawyer. (noun)
I’d rather be in San Francisco than in any other place. (prepositional phrase)
1. Is there somewhere else you’d rather be?

_________________________________________________________________

would rather be + ing
I would rather be swimming right now.

John says that he’d rather be somewhere else than where he is.
He’s in a bar, but maybe he’d rather be in Hollywood.

2. You are in school right now. Is there something else you’d rather be doing?

_________________________________________________________________

would rather _+ another base-form verb.
_______I would rather eat vegetables than meat.
I’d rather drive than fly to Los Angeles.
I’d rather use my cell phone than my land line.
.3. Is there something else you’d rather do ?

______________________________________________________________________

Tuesday, March 16, 2010

The Constitution

THE CONSTITUTION of the United States is the nation's fundamental law, providing the framework for its governance [how to govern] and the principles [the ideas]under which it must operate. The courts then can change the laws as times change.

The first constitution of the United States was the ARTICLES OF CONFEDERATION ratified in 1781. Because this document left too much sovereignty to the states, it was not good enough, so they held a Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, in May 1787



The framers were the men who wrote it. 55 statesmen came, and 39 signed it on September 17, 1787. Among the men who signed it were George Washington (the first President), Alexander Hamilton ( the first Secretary of the Treasury), James Madison (political philosopher and 4th President), Benjamin Franklin (scientist, inventor, diplomat), and Thomas Jefferson (the author of the Declaration of Independence).

[This is the preamble, the first sentences BEFORE the Constitution.]

“WE THE PEOPLE of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defence [defense], promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America.”


[We the people of the United States, have put together this Constitution because we want our country to be united. We want a country that brings justice to everyone, that makes people feel calm, that will provide military protection so people won't feel threatened, and make sure that we keep our freedoms for ourselves and for all those people who come after us.]

Friday, March 5, 2010

The Ten Census Questions



Look for your Census Form in Mid-March, 2010.

Each question helps to determine how more than $400 billion will be
allocated to communities across the country.

10 Census Questions
1. How many people were living or staying in this house, apartment, or mobile home on April 1, 2010?
Number of people = ____ ____

2. Were there any additional people staying here April 1, 2010 that you did not include in Question 1?
Mark X in all that apply.
__ Children, such as newborn babies or foster children
__ Relatives, such as adult children, cousins, or in-laws
__ Non-relatives, such as roommates or live-in baby sitters
__ People staying here temporarily
__ No additional people

3. Is this house, apartment, or mobile home –
Mark X ONE box.
__ Owned by you or someone in this household with a mortgage or loan?
Include home equity loans
__ Owned by you or someone in this household free and clear
(without a mortgage or loan)?
__ Rented?
__ Occupied without payment of rent?

4. What is your telephone number?
(We may call if we don’t understand an answer.)
Area Code + Number
-- _





5. Please provide information for each person living here. Start with a person living here who owns or rents this house, apartment, or mobile home. If the owner or renter lives somewhere else, start with any adult living here. This will be Person 1.
What is Person 1’s name? Print name below.
Last name

First name MI

(Federal law protects the confidentiality of personal information, including names.)

6. What is Person 1’s sex? Mark X ONE box.

Male Female
Sociologists, economists, and other researchers who analyze social and economic trends use the data.

7. What is Person 1’s age and what is Person 1’s date of birth?
Print numbers in boxes.
Age on April 1, 2010 Month Day Year of birth



Federal, state, and local governments need data about age to forecast the number of people eligible for Social Security or Medicare benefits. The data are also used to plan and evaluatae government programs and policies that provide funds or services for children, working-age adults, women of childbearing age, or the older population.


8. Is Person 1 of Hispanic, Latino, or Spanish origin?
__ No, not of Hispanic, Latino, or Spanish origin
__ Yes, Mexican, Mexican-American, Chicano
__ Yes, Puerto Rican
__ Yes, Cuban
__ Yes, another Hispanic, Latino, or Spanish origin


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9. What is Person 1’s race? Mark X one or more boxes.
White

Black, African-American, or Negro

American Indian or Alaska Native
(Print name of enrolled or principal tribe.)



Asian Indian Japanese Native Hawaiian

Chinese Korean Guamanian or Chamorro

Filipino Vietnamese Samoan

Other Asian -- Other Pacific Islander
Print race, for example, Hmong, Laotian, Print race, for example,
Pakistani, Cambodian, and so on Fijian, Tongan, and so on.


Some other race Print race.



Race data are used to assess fairness of employment practices and to plan and obtain
funds for public services.

10. Does Person 1 sometimes live or stay somewhere else?
No Yes Mark X all that apply.

In college housing For child custody

In the military In jail

At a seasonal or In a nursing home
second residence
For another reason

IF MORE PEOPLE WERE COUNTED IN QUESTION 1, CONTINUE WITH PERSON 2.
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GRAMMAR

Look at each question and answer in a complete sentence.

What’s the VERB you’re going to use in #1? BE LIVING

1.__________________________________________________________________

VERB: _________________________
2. _________________________________________________________________

VERB: __________________________ (passive*)
3. _________________________________________________________________

VERB: _________________________
4. _________________________________________________________________

VERB: _________________________
5. _________________________________________________________________

VERB: _________________________
6. _________________________________________________________________

VERB: _________________________
7. _________________________________________________________________

VERB: _________________________
8. _________________________________________________________________

VERB: _________________________
9. _________________________________________________________________

VERB: _________________________
10. _________________________________________________________________











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*PASSIVE VOICE. (the object is the subject and the verb is BE + the past participle )
for example: THE BALL WAS THROWN (BY THE BOY).

1. This car is owned by me and my husband.
2. The crime was committed by a thirty-year-old man.
3. That baseball was hit by Barry Bonds.
4. My wallet was taken by somebody.
5. The grapes must have been eaten by my son.
6. Everyone must be counted.
7. Your census information is protected by law.
8. Your census information will never be shared with anyone.

CHANGE THE ABOVE SENTENCES from
PASSIVE VOICE (Object is now the Subject )
to ACTIVE VOICE (Subject Verb Object)

for example: THE BOY THREW THE BALL.
1. ___________________________________________________________

2. ___________________________________________________________

3. ___________________________________________________________

4. ___________________________________________________________

5. ___________________________________________________________

6. ___________________________________________________________

7. ___________________________________________________________

8. ___________________________________________________________










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CONVERSATION

ARE THESE YOUR OWN QUESTIONS AND CONCERNS?


1. I’m concerned that this may be the first time the census will count non-citizens.

The U.S. Constitution mandates us to count everyone, including both citizens and non-citizens. We’ve followed this mandate, since the first census in 1790. The Framers of the Constitution made it clear they wanted “all inhabitants” of the country counted in the U.S. Census, and every Presidential Administration since that time that has overseen a Census has interpreted the Constitution and the laws require everyone to be counted.
a. What is the U.S. Constitution?
b. “to mandate” (verb) means what? What is a “mandate”(a noun)?

c. Who were the “Framers of the Constitution”?
_____________________________________________________________
d. What’s an “inhabitant”? ______________________________________
e. What is the U.S. Census?






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2. I’m concerned about sharing my information with anyone.
Census information is protected by law, and everyone who works for the census must swear that they will never disclose any personal information. Penalties for any employee who might share that information are severe: up to five years in prison and a $250,000 fine. By law, the Census Bureau can’t share your information with anyone — including other federal agencies and law enforcement. Your information is safe.



Tell me about the census or any other subject in the following question:
3. What are you worried or concerned about? and tell me WHY?
[Use concerned or worried about + noun or
use concerned or worried about a clause (S + V) ] because





_____________________________________________________________







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