The assignment should have a
minimum length of 250 words.
Choose ONE of the options
below. In the assignment, you must show that you have read and understood the
story and the vocabulary. I will value your creativity and your ability for
reaching conclusions about the story. You should try not to copy directly from
the book.
Drama Activities:
You are a social worker going to
visit Bert Baxter. Write your interview and /or act it out in front of the
class.
Write and act out the conversation
that might have taken place between Adrian’s grandmother and Barry Kent on
Thursday, 21st of May.
Write a phone conversation between
Adrian’s mother and Mr Lucas after she returned to her family. Act it out in
front of the class.
Writing suggestions:
Write a letter from Pandora to
Adrian, telling Adrian that you and he are getting too serious and explaining
why.
Write a diary entry from Adrian after
the last one in the book.
Write a poem that Adrian wrote to
Pandora in his Valentine’s card to her (page 55).
Write your own diary for a week or
more.
Challenge to
think:
What were Adrian’s main objectives in
life and what did he do to achieve them?
What do you admire and respect about
Adrian? What weaknesses do you think he’s got?
What kind of adult do you think
Adrian will end up being?
Activiy 2
1. F (A headmaster works in a school)
2. T
3. F (A bill tells you how much money you will pay)
4. F (A sign is something you see)
5. T
6. F (You can teach your pets to sit and roll over)
Activity 3
1. Mr Mole
2. Mrs Mole
3. Mr Lucas
4. Adrian
5. Adrian
6. Mr Mole
Activity 4
1. Mr Lucas came for dinner and ate three pieces of Mr Mole's favourite cake. When he arrived home, he was angry. He threw the cheese sandwich on the wall and Adrian's mother started to cry.
2. Pandora lives on Elm Tree Avenue, a wealthy street. Adrian discovered this while he was delivering newspapers on her street.
3. When he heard his father telling his grandmother in the kitchen.
4. Because he found a note from Mr Lucas.
5. Because Adrian's father hit him and he couldn't see out of his black eyes.
6. Because he was afraid his father was suicidal.
Definitely one of my favourite poems! Full of wisdom!
You've probably heard of this writer because he's the author of the very well-known book "The Jungle Book". He was born in Bombay and he won the Nobel Prize of literature in 1907.
Kipling was one of the most popular writers in English, in both prose and verse, in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.
Two lines of the poem are written on the entrance wall of the British tennis tournament Wimbledon. Can you guess which two lines they are?
The poem was read in a promotional video for the Wimbledon 2008 final by Roger Federer and Rafa Nadal.
In the first video below you can read and listen to the poem by a very attractive voice. And the second one is Federer and Nadal's video. I hope you like them!
I have also copied below a beautiful Spanish translation of the poem for you to enjoy it fully.
Tell me what you think about it.What's your favourite line?
IF.....
IF you can keep your head when all about you
Are losing theirs and blaming it on you,
If you can trust yourself when all men doubt you,
But make allowance for their doubting too;
If you can wait and not be tired by waiting,
Or being lied about, don't deal in lies,
Or being hated, don't give way to hating,
And yet don't look too good, nor talk too wise:
If you can dream - and not make dreams your master;
If you can think - and not make thoughts your aim;
If you can meet with Triumph and Disaster
And treat those two impostors just the same;
If you can bear to hear the truth you've spoken
Twisted by knaves to make a trap for fools,
Or watch the things you gave your life to, broken,
And stoop and build 'em up with worn-out tools:
If you can make one heap of all your winnings
And risk it on one turn of pitch-and-toss,
And lose, and start again at your beginnings
And never breathe a word about your loss;
If you can force your heart and nerve and sinew
To serve your turn long after they are gone,
And so hold on when there is nothing in you
Except the Will which says to them: 'Hold on!'
If you can talk with crowds and keep your virtue,
' Or walk with Kings - nor lose the common touch,
if neither foes nor loving friends can hurt you,
If all men count with you, but none too much;
If you can fill the unforgiving minute
With sixty seconds' worth of distance run,
Yours is the Earth and everything that's in it,
And - which is more - you'll be a Man, my son!
"SI"
Si puedes conservar la cabeza cuando a tu alrededor
todos la pierden y te echan la culpa;
si puedes confiar en tí mismo cuando los demás dudan de tí,
pero al mismo tiempo tienes en cuenta su duda;
si puedes esperar y no cansarte de la espera,
o siendo engañado por los que te rodean, no pagar con mentiras,
o siendo odiado no dar cabida al odio,
y no obstante no parecer demasiado bueno, ni hablar con demasiada sabiduria...
Si puedes soñar y no dejar que los sueños te dominen;
si puedes pensar y no hacer de los pensamientos tu objetivo;
si puedes encontrarte con el triunfo y el fracaso (desastre)
y tratar a estos dos impostores de la misma manera;
si puedes soportar el escuchar la verdad que has dicho:
tergiversada por bribones para hacer una trampa para los necios,
o contemplar destrozadas las cosas a las que habías dedicado tu vida
y agacharte y reconstruirlas con las herramientas desgastadas...
Si puedes hacer un hato con todos tus triunfos
y arriesgarlo todo de una vez a una sola carta,
y perder, y comenzar de nuevo por el principio
y no dejar de escapar nunca una palabra sobre tu pérdida;
y si puedes obligar a tu corazón, a tus nervios y a tus músculos
a servirte en tu camino mucho después de que hayan perdido su fuerza,
excepto La Voluntad que les dice "!Continuad!".
Si puedes hablar con la multitud y perseverar en la virtud
o caminar entre Reyes y no cambiar tu manera de ser;
si ni los enemigos ni los buenos amigos pueden dañarte,
si todos los hombres cuentan contigo pero ninguno demasiado;
si puedes emplear el inexorable minuto
recorriendo una distancia que valga los sesenta segundos
Activity 4
1. Adrain doesn't want his father to discover that he broke the stereo.
2. He is trying to win her attention because he is unhappy in his own marriage.
3. Nigel wants to discourage Adrian from liking Pandora since he is also interested in her.
4. He doesn't want to tell anyone that he only received one card which was from his mother.
5. He needs money to pay Barry Kent who threatens to continue hitting him.
CHALLENGE TO THINK
Do you think Adrian is loved by his family? Give reasons for your answer.
To get started, from this book I have learned the importance of travelling around the world, it makes you learn by watching the world, knowing new languages, new costumes and new cultures. I learned and understood that traveling makes you grow.
It's amazing to ser so many similar and different parts at once of United Kingdom, with its diferrent monuments and sites. You discover enough gastronomy, many curious food dishes, but at the same time, they seem strange to me, since I consider myself delicate to eat.
During my stay in London, in the end of course trip, with only sixteen years, it was the first time I had left the country to go to a different country. If was a new and unforgettable experience, I learned thing about their culture and place, but being there made me think and realize that I still need my parents and I missed them, I was far from them, I looked towards the horizontal and they weren't there, that experience made me grow and learn.
From this boom I hace also learned new words that I didn't know, and reading in English has helped me improve my ability to understand.
In my opinion, the teenage years are the most important years of our life because it is the phase in which you develop completely and you are able to find meaning to many situations.
Also, personally I think that you live and you face new situations that make you think things throught. It is a phase of new situations, sensations and emotions to overcome and especially, I strongly believe which is a phase of selfknowledge, to know yourself more and be clear about what you want ti choose.
Without a doubt, the teenage years is a phase in which you discover many things, you learn new lessons that you will remeber forever and that makes you be brave.
Finally and most important, you will end up learning who are your true friends, who loves you, who supports you, who helps you and most important still, you will know who you are and who do you want to be.
I live in Seoul, it is the capital of South Korea. It has a population of more than 1 000 000 people.
Seoul is considered a global city for its explosion of economic growth. There are many tourist places like The National Museum of Korea where it is shown the culture and history of its people.
The Changdeokgung Palace, which was built in inspiration to the environment by King Taejong. The Gyeongbok Palace is the most beautiful and was built during the Joseon Dynasty.
There is also the Buddhist Temple Bongeunsa and the Lotte World which is an amusement park.
The weather in Seoul tends to be generally warmn wiht humid summers, and winters are really cold and snowy.
Seoul is famous for its architecture and its great Internet connection is faster than any other country, also for its gastronomy and its celebrities.
What I like most about Seoul are its tourist places, ist gastronomy, ist culture, ist shopping centers and ist celebrities.
I never knew that in London there are people from different cultures and Religions, I was surprised that the Indian food, is the tradicional food of British people.
Right now York is one of my favorite places, because I've always had an interest in Vikings, one of my wishes is to visit the Jorvik Viking Centre.
It is awesome thar Cornwall has so many legends, and all are so interesting and are to believe. The one that I liked the most is the giant Boster, it's very interesting.
The capital of Scotland, as the book describes it, is beautiful.
If I go to Edinburgh and meet mr Bean, which is really called Rowan Atkinson and know what it really is like.
Scotthish people from Scotland, they were wearing kilts and T-shirts, but not every day, only in special occasions. I love the Kilts, what is this tartan, this is a beatiful tissue.
Haggis, I never knew it existed, It's a typical scottish food. It's a sheep's stomach and inside it is the liver, heart and lungs of a lamb with onion and others ingredients. It's curious.
I don't believe at all about the monster in Loch Nees lake, i'm sure it's a lie.
I find it interesting to write about Britain, because there are many curious and very beautiful places that is not interesting, it is really incredibe.
I learned a lot of voacabulary and things from Britain, and British people. It's interesting.
I woul like to visit Ottawa, it is the capital city of Canada. It has a population of over. 947,031 people. There are a lot of tourists there. Ottawa is a technology centra that houses more than 800 companies and their respective factories, which employ more than forty-eight thousand people. Also there is an interesting visit which is the Rideau Canal. The weather in Ottawa is very cold. Summers are warm and humid. In winter it snows a lot, it's great for skiing. It has some official and administrative buildings. The parlament of Canada, called parlament Hill is the most popular image of the city and the main monument of the city. Ottawa's most famous foos is Raspberry layed cake, with raspberry, this cake is usually taken during the celebrations of Canada Day. What I like best about Ottawa is the river Ottawa, and I love the buildings, because they are very pretty.
I live in Amsterdam, which is the capital of Holland. It has a population of over 17.000.000 people. It's a very popular city so there are a lot of tourist in the summer.
Amsterdam is the richest city in Holland with Rotterdam because it's the capital. It has a lot of schools, universities and industry, but, in my opinion, it is the most beatiful place I've ever been. Anna Frank's house, the canals are beatiful together with the bridges and the churches.
The weather ins Amsterdam is kind of bad in winter, because normally it's overcast and windy, and when it's very cold, sometimes it's snowy. In the summer is different, the days are always sunny and the sky is cloudless. It sometimes rains in the spring and autumn.
Amsterdam is know for its canals, rowboats and bicycles. The most important landmarks are the Dam Square, Red neighborhood, Vondelpark and Anna Frank's houses.
What I like best about Amsterdam is that we are so close to the ocean, when I'm tired of the city land, I can travell all over the city along the canals and boats.
There you have some pictures!
My name's is Antonio and I'm Spanish. I worte my book, A foreigner in Britain, because it was a homework for the university. We had to write stories about our lives. I decided to write about my trips to England, Scotland and Wales, because they were fascinating experiences in my life and I really wanted to write my first impressions, the country, the people, the culture, the food...
My book explains the relaxed atmosphere thet there is in London, because I felt so disappointed when I went to Trafalgar Square to celebrate the new year, it explains when I went to the original Globe Theater where most of Shakespeare's plays were performed.
Also, my fascination when my friend Paul and I saw an orthodox Muslim women who only had his eyes uncovered and I speak about all of the people of all cultures that celebrate together the Caribbean carnival in London.
When I handed over my homework to my teacher and read the title said it seemed entertaining and when she returned it corrected, he told me that it was fun to read and should continue writing. It's words cheered me up and when I finished the University I decided to publish the book.
Writing the book I realized that I had learned a lot about the customs and traditions of those countries and that I had made more friends than I already had. I had a great time writing this book and I hope you have fun reading and learning at the same time.
I was born in Santa Cruz, Bolivia a country located in the south of America. Santa Cruz is the biggest and most populated city in Bolivia. Santa Cruz has a population of 1 453 549 people.
Santa Cruz is one of the richest cities of Bolivia because it has a lot of industry, gastronomic places and enough places to see. Because og it is alsothe city with more tourists.
If you pay a visit to Santa Cruz you have to go to see the Botanical Garden of Santa Cruz that provides 500 species of animals!
And you cannot miss its carnival if you go in February. The people dance, have fun... But though the carnival of Santa Cruz is incredible Oruro's carnival is the most impressive, This carnival includes all the cities of Bolivia.
The weather in Santa Cruz is very hot. January is the warmest month and the coldest June. The highest registered temperature was of 46ºC and the lowest -3ºC.
This city is famous for his food. A very rich dish is the churrasco though for me the best food is the cuñape. It is delicious.
What I like best about Santa Cruz is that we are so close to nature. When I'm tired of city life, I can easly get out and enjoy the mountains, rivers, waterfalls...
INTERVIEW:
Today we have with us the protagonist of the book "A Foreigner in Britain", Antonio! Welcome to my TV show. If you think, let's start with the interview.
First question: In this book, where have you been?
By order; London, York, Oxford, Stamford, Cardiff, Cornwall, Manchester and Scotland.
You have had a great time, have not you?
Yeah right, besides that I have made new friends in addition to the ones I already had. Also on the trip I'm in LOVE. At times I also had a bad time, as when it rained both in Scotland. But overall I had a great time.
I'm glad you enjoyed it so much. Tell me, a site that you've visited in each place that you have been and you liked.
In London I visited the Trafalgar Square, The new Globe Theatre and Chinatown. In York the Jorvik Viking Centre and the York Minster. In Oxford the Magdalen Collage. In Stamford I went to Nicola's house to celebrate the Christmas and the village church. In Cardiff the Castell Coch and in my last day in Wales I visited the Royal National Eisteddfod. In Cornwall the Tintagel Castle, the Chapel Porth Beach and Rill Point. In Manchester the Old Trafford Stadium and the MOSI. And in Scotland I visited Edinburg (the castle, Old Town and went to a performance in the theatre from Rowan Atkinson (Mr. Bean), the Saint Giles' Cathedral and the Princes Street Gardens), the Loch Ness, Dunkeld to watch the Highland games and Cawdor Castel.
It was amazing and last question, we do not have more time, and what is it that you have taken from the trip?
Well, the truth is that what I hav taken have been big moments with great people that have allowed me to feel like an authentic British. As well as great memories of incredible places. And I recommend you to go will love it.
Hi, my name is Antonio and I am Spanish. My mother is English and my father is American. I was born in Spain and I grew up between Washington and Barcelona, that's why I am a very open person and I love meeting new people and having new experiences. This year I finish the career and I want to do something memorable, leave a mark at University before leaving, you know what I mean. I'll explain, don't worry... I love reading books about adventures, history, travel, etc. also that helps me to write. I had not told you? I love writing. Whenever I have time I write. One of my dreams is to write a book, a book that helps me and helps others, and finally I had the opportunity. All the final year students we were offered to participate in an English language competition. The participants had three months to write a book, the only condition was that it has to be in English. Whoever won the competition, his or her book would be published and recommended for high school students. Then I though... Perhaps I would have to introduce myself and try, right? So it was. The fact that you are reading this post, makes it clear to you to know who won, right? Reading this book you will take you for walk through Britain, you will visit the most popular streets of the country, you will eat traditional dishes from the four cardinal points of Britain and I will introduce you to all my friends and my family who will accompany me on this trip. Welcome to all my experiences that I have has as a foreigner in Britain, which will also be your experiences very soon.
Marrakech is a city located in the southwest of
Morocco, almost 200.000 people live in it. The city has an altitude of 466
meters because it is located on the slopes of the Atlas. Next to Meknes, Fez and
Rabat, it is one of the four imperial cities of Morocco.
Marrakech is a city characterized by its great
culture. It is well known for its large flea markets, historical monuments and
immense gardens. For all those thing, in the summer there are many tourists in
the city, who comes to see a bit of the History of Morocco. All buildings in
the city are red ocher, so they also call It "the red city".
The weather is mild throughout the summer, it can even
reach 40 degrees but the winters are warmer than we are used to in Spain.
During the year, in Marrakech does not rain much, and that makes it a dry city.
The city has the traditional market -in Arabic it is pronounced
suq- the largest in the country and one of the busiest squares in Africa and
the world, Djemaa el Fna. In the square there are acrobats, storytellers, water
sellers, dancers and musicians who act to make people laugh and have a good
time. At night, the square is filled with food stalls, becoming a great
open-air restaurant. The time I had dinner there, I had a great time.
Everything was lit with colorful lights, the waiters were very friendly and the
foodwas delicious. I could not ask for
more! It was spectacular!
I believe that the best thing about Marrakech is the
atmosphere that is breathed. Sometimes the most cultural cities become industrialized
and lose their magic, but I think Marrakech still maintains that magic makes
you feel like part of a fifteenth century story when you are walking through
the streets. The people are very nice and in every corner of the city there is
a beautiful story.
I'm going to talk about Villagarcia, a small town in the province of Badajoz, in the southwest of Spain. It has a population of about 950 people. In contrast, in the summer, up to 2000 people have registered in the town. My parents and I go every summer to visit the family.
It is not a big town, it has an area of abou 60km2. There aren't buildings, there are only large houses, usually one or two floors maximum. All of them are painted white, that's one of the things I like the most. They also have very large backyards and swimming pools.
The weather is quite extreme. The summers are very hot during the day, the temperatures reach up to 45º C, and at night the drop drastically to 15º C. The winters, on the other hand very cold during the whole day, where the temperatures stay at about 0-5º C and it snows a lot.
The town of Villagarcia is famous to be one of the main sources of cultivation of cereals and olives. In addition to having the largest number of sheep heads of all Spain, it also has one of the main susage distribution companies in Spain. Many tourists come to visit these large factories, along with the main castle that has a great influence in the summer months.
What I like the most about this place is the personality of the people who live in it, they are very good and wind. I would like to try to live a this place for a while, since it is much quieter and is not as stressful as Barcelona. But on the other hand, I would prebably get bored, since there are a few people, and to relate to the other people I should leave the town.
Finally, I recommend you visit ir, you will not regreet it.
The first thing I want to say, is that I liked the book a lot, I found it very interesting, since I knew almost nothing about Great Britain. I have not been bored, and it has been easy to read, but I had to look for a few words in the dictionary. I have decided to write my work about things that I have learned with this book, because I think they are many.
I will explain everything that I have learned in chronological order, as it has been appearing in the story.
It sounds funny, but surely the bells of London are heard looser than the bells of Madrid, because Antonio did not hear them at the end of the year because of the cries of the people. Is is amazing how many people there must be so that the great bells are not heard! Years ago I went to Madrid for the same date and there were many people in the Plaza del Sol, but the bells were heard.
I was also surprised that there is so much ethnic diversity, I did not know why and I searched the internet. I have learnt that it is because years ago England had colonies in other countries, and that is why there is so much diversity of races.
I was also shocked by the taxi driver who spoke with them in Cockney slang, I had never heard of it, I have investigated and it is very difficult to understand, stop saying many letters and there are sounds that do nort pronounce.
I have been very interested in love spoons, I had heard talking about them in a movie bus I was coriuos to know hoy long ago this tradition apparead. I researched and the oldest example is from the year 1667, but is believed that they are older. Is it believed that it was a soup spoon, and over the years it became larger and more decorated. It lost its original usefulness and became a prized decorate object to hang on a wall.
I have been very moved by the part of the Busby Babes. I asked my grandfather, since he I liked soccer a lot on he explained that it was a very sad news for that time. I was very impressed that he I remembered this events.
Finally, I have learned what a tartan is. before reading this book I thought that the traditional skirts were the same, that there was not a design for each family. It has caught my attention, that they continue to wear the kilts.
The United Kingdom is full or traditions that are preserved. Is is magnificent, this brings a lot of wealth to all these cities.
I hope to continue reading in the future the new adventures in Ireland and learning more.
