lesson one - wikispaces web viewhow do you deal with it? 8) opinion survey: (a = agree ... finally i...

Family1) Vocabulary:

1) aunt 7) uncle 13) macho2) niece 8) nephew 14) conscience3) brother-in-law 9) sister-in-law 15) transformation4) material goods 10) luxuries 16) unconscious5) conflict 11) hardship 17) dependence6) welfare 12) prospects 18) juvenile

2) Questions:1. How many people are in your family?2. Why are families important?3. Does your family name have a special meaning? 4. What about your first name (given name)?

3) Sentence Drill:Look at the picture your teacher gives you and write a sentence about it. Be prepared to read your sentence aloud to the class. Remember to use lots of descriptive words!

4) Read Aloud:Families in our society present a serious yet interesting contrast.

Generally families have material and social advantages as great as any generation ever had.

Most families have material goods and luxuries unknown to previous generations. Most have greater prospects for a long life. Most have opportunities for education, leisure, entertainment, and recreation.

One might think families would be happy and trouble-free.

Yet families today face incredible conflict and hardship.

These include:

Divorce – In America, 41 to 45% of marriages end in divorce. In China, the divorce rate has tripled from 1985 to 2005.

Crime – In 2008, there were 6,318 arrests for every 100,000 youths ages 10 through 17 in the United States. The overall juvenile arrest rate was lower in 2008 than in 1980. In China,

juvenile crimes are now believed to account for round 10 percent of all crimes.

Family

Family

Single-parent families – 25% of all children in America live with only one parent (usually the mother). In both China and America, one third of children in single-parent families have psychological problems or abnormal behaviors because of lack of family care. More than 50% of single parents in both countries have economic difficulties.

Suicide – In America, suicide is the third leading cause of death among those 15-24 years old. In China, suicide is the second largest cause of deaths in young people.

Many families do not have these problems, but the evidence shows that parent – child relationships are facing increasing hardships.

6) Story:

Do It Now!By Dennis E. Mannering

In a class I teach for adults, I recently did the “unpardonable.” I gave the class homework! The assignment was to “go to someone you love within the next week and tell them you love them. It has to be someone you have never said those words to before or at least haven’t shared those words with for a long time.”

Now that doesn’t sound like a very tough assignment, unless you stop to realize that most of the men in that group were over 35 and were raised in the generation of men that were taught that expressing emotions is not “macho”. Showing feelings or crying was just not done. So this was a very threatening assignment for some.

At the beginning of our next class, I asked if someone wanted to share what happened when they told someone thy loved them. I fully expected one of the women to volunteer, as was usually the case, but on this evening one of the men raised his hand. He appeared quite moved and a bit shaken.

As he stood out of his chair, he began by saying, “Dennis, I was quite angry with you last week when you gave us this assignment. I didn’t feel that I had anyone to say those words to, and besides, who were you to tell me to do something that personal? But as I began driving home my conscience started talking to me. It was telling me that I knew exactly who I needed to say ‘I love you’ to. You see, five years ago, my father and I had a vicious disagreement and really never resolved it since that time. We avoided seeing each other unless we absolutely had to at Christmas or other family gatherings. But even then, we hardly spoke to each other. So, last Tuesday by the time I got home I had convinced myself I was going to tell my father I loved him.

“It’s weird, but just making that decision seemed to lift a heavy load off my chest. When I got home, I rushed into the house to tell my wife what I was going to do. She was already in bed, but I woke her up anyway. When I told her, she didn’t just get out of bed, she jumped out and hugged me, and for the first time in our married life she saw me cry. We stayed up half the night drinking coffee and talking. It was great!

“The next morning, I was up bright and early. I was so excited I could hardly sleep. I got to the office early and accomplished more in two hours than I had the whole day before. At 9:00 I called my dad to see if I could come over after work. When he answered the phone, I just said,

Family

Family‘Dad, can I come over after work tonight? I have something to tell you.’ My dad responded with a grumpy, ‘Now what?’ I assured him it wouldn’t take long, so he finally agreed.

“At 5:30, I was at my parents’ house ringing the doorbell, praying that Dad would answer the door. I was afraid if Mom answered that I would chicken out and tells her instead. But as luck would have it, Dad did answer the door.

“I didn’t waste any time -----I took one step in the door and said, ‘Dad, I just came over to tell you that I love you.’ It was as if a transformation came over my dad. Before my eyes his face softened, the wrinkles seemed to disappear, and he began to cry. He reached out and hugged me and said, ‘I love you too, son, but I’ve never been able to say it.’

“It was such a precious moment I didn’t want to move. Mom walked by with tears in her eyes. I just waved and blew her a kiss. Dad and I hugged for a moment longer and then I left. I hadn’t felt that great in a long time. But that’s not even my point. Two days after that visit, my dad, who had heart problems but didn’t tell me, had an attack and ended up in the hospital, unconscious. I don’t know if he’ll make it.

“So my message to all of you in this class is this: Don’t wait to do all the things you know need to be done. What if I had waited to tell my dad------maybe I will never get the chance again! Take the time to do what you need to do and do it now!”

7) Comprehension questions:1. What was the assignment given to the class?2. Why is it more difficult for men to show their feelings?3. What caused the problem between the man and his father?4. Why was the man nervous when he knocked on his father’s door?5. What kept the man and his father from apologizing to one another all those years?6. Why is it important to take the time to do what you know you need to do?

8) Writing:Write about a special memory you have about your family.

9) Opinion Survey and Discussion:(A = Agree D = Disagree NS = Not sure)

___1. Children should leave home after they get married.

___2. You should always be ready to give help to any member of your family.

___3. Family is more important than your own life (For example, if you have a good job in another city or country, you shouldn’t leave your family).

___4. You should keep family secrets and shouldn’t even tell your closest friend.

___5. Families should spend time together whenever they can.

Family

Coming Home1) Vocabulary:

1) drifter 9) cocky 16) pawn2) shelter 10) miracle 17) hitchhiker3) sorrow 11) compassion 18) advice4) forgive 12) dejected 19) miracle5) rehearse 13) tattered 20) reflection6) inheritance 14) servants 21) unconditional7) love 15) property 22) worthy8) sinned

2) Questions:1. Have you ever made the wrong choice?2. Do we hurt the feelings of those we love?3. Do you know what “forgive” means?

3) Sentence Drill:Complete the following sentences. There is no right answer, but the sentence needs to make sense.

1. Josh was an angry young man who ___________________________________.

2. ____________________________________gave his son the money for college.

3. Steve and his wild friends ___________________________________________.

4. ____________________________was sorry she had hurt her mother’s feelings.

5. I forgave my brother for _____________________________________________.

4) Read Aloud:

The Prodigal Son

prodigal: one who is given to wasteful luxury or extravagance

A man had two sons. The younger son said to his father, “Give me my share of the property.” So the father divided the property between his two sons. Then the younger son gathered up all that was his and traveled far away to another country. There he wasted his money in foolish living. After he had spent everything, a time came when there was no food anywhere in the country, and the son was poor and hungry. So he got a job with one of the citizens there who sent the son into the fields to feed pigs. The son was so hungry that he wanted to eat the pods the pigs were eating, but no one gave him anything.

When he realized what he was doing, he thought, “All of my father’s servants have plenty of food. But I am here, almost dying with hunger. I will leave and return to my father and say to him, “Father, I have sinned against God and have done wrong to

Coming Home Page 1

Coming Homeyou. I am no longer worthy to be called your son, but let me be like one of your servants.” So the son left and went back to his father.

While the son was still a long way off, his father saw him and felt sorry for his son. So the father ran to him and hugged and kissed him. The son said, “Father, I have sinned against God and have done wrong to you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.” But the father said to his servants, “Hurry! Bring the best clothes and put them on him. Also, put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. And get our fat calf and kill it so we can have a feast and celebrate. My son was dead, but now his is alive again! He was lost, but now he is found!” So they began to celebrate.

5) Story:The Prodigal

by Max Lucado

Why were they always yelling at one another? Bill felt as if he hardly knew his son anymore. Josh was demanding the money his mother had left him when she died. That money was for college expenses, and Josh could only have it after he turned eighteen. Now he was eighteen, and he wanted the money……but not for college.

“It’s mine, isn’t it?” he had shouted.“Of course, it’s yours,” his father had replied, “but it’s college money, not play money.”“I’m not going to play, Dad. I’m just going away.”“Where? For what?”“I don’t know. I just want to get out of here.”

And so the arguments had gone on for weeks. It was only this morning that Bill had made his decision. Long before the sun came up, he went into Josh’ room and sat beside the bed. He didn’t know what time Josh had come home the night before, but the smell of beer suggested it hadn’t been early. Josh hadn’t even undressed. He was sleeping in his jeans.

The father stared at his son’s face for a long time. Years ago when he would come in from business trips, he would pull a chair up beside the bed of his sleeping boy. He’d push back the hair from Josh’s forehead and touch the soft cheeks. Everything seemed so simple then. The biggest challenge was putting air in his bicycle tire or catching a fly ball. Now the boy was wearing strange clothes and had a weird haircut….it was if his son lived in a different world, a world the father could not understand – but feared.

“We lost something, Josh, “ he said to his sleeping son. “Maybe we never had it. Maybe we buried it with your mom.” Bill’s hand was again on the forehead of his sleeping son.

By the time Josh awoke, Bill knew what he had to do. “I’ll give you the money,” he had told Josh at breakfast.. “Get your things. I’ll take you to the airport.” Now as they waited for the plane, Josh interrupted his thoughts. “Dad, they’re boarding.”

The two walked toward the gate and stopped. “I guess I’ve got everything.” Josh said quietly as he turned to his father. What Josh saw next he’d never seen before --- and never expected. Tears. Though the father blinked and turned away as if to look out the window, Josh saw them.

Coming Home Page 2

Coming Home***Three Months Later***

Josh plopped on the floor beside the bucket. He looked at the clock on the wall. Three in the morning. He was so tired. He’d cleaned the kitchen, washed the bathrooms, done several loads of laundry, and now he was mopping the bunkrooms. He reached to take a cigarette out of his shirt pocket only to find the pocket empty. When you don’t have money, you don’t have cigarettes.

With his back against the wall and his arms resting on his knees, he looked into the darkness of the bunkroom. Though he couldn’t see their faces, he could hear their snoring ---a room full of drifters and drunks. Some were running away. Some were coming back. But all were dreaming of a better place. All were longing for home.

Of all the places Josh thought he would end up living, a Salvation Army bunkhouse wasn’t one of them. When he had arrived in the city three months ago, he was cocky and rich. The only thing he flashed more than his money was his grin. He bought a car. He rented an apartment. Got new clothes. He had more friends than he could count.

Then came the call from the bank. He was out of money. That night a restaurant refused his credit card. He couldn’t make the payments on the car. The dealer took it back. He sold his stereo. He pawned his jewelry. Someone stole his backpack and his wallet. Every day the circle of friends got smaller. Finally he couldn’t pay the rent. They kicked him out.

Josh spent the next week on the streets --- the same streets where he had turned heads with his style and fancy clothes. He now turned heads because he smelled bad. That’s when he heard about this shelter where you could sleep in exchange for ten hours of work.

“Hard to believe I’ve been in this place for a month,” Josh said to himself as he sat on the floor. “A month of dishes and trash cans and cleaning up after people too drunk to make it to the bathroom.”

For just a moment he allowed his thoughts to drift homeward. Memories of a warm bed. Good meals. Conversations on the porch. He thought of the farm. He thought of his father’s workmen coming in at the end of the week to collect their pay.

“Those guys have it better than I do,” he sighed. “Even the guy who cuts Dad’s grass has a good meal and a home.”

Funny. Just a few months ago, home was a prison with too many rules --- a cage holding a bird who wanted to be free. But now Josh was longing for home.

He stood and took a few steps in to the bunkroom he was about to clean. Suddenly he saw his face in the mirror. It looked different. He pushed back his hair and stared at his reflection. He saw something he’d never seen before. He saw his dad. He’d been told he looked like his father, but he couldn’t see it. Tonight he did. Same chin. Same nose.

“Dad.” In his mind he saw his father again. In the airport his father’s words hadn’t come, but his tears had. And the tears had said more than any words ever could have.

Josh stood straight up and spoke aloud --- so loud that the guy in the nearest bunk rolled over. Josh didn’t care. “I’m going home.”

He put down the mop and the bucket and walked out into the night.

***One week later***Hank sips the coffee in the cup and sets it back on the dash of the truck. This is his

favorite time of the day --- early morning just as the gray sky gives way to the gold. Like most truck drivers, he drives at night. But, unlike other drivers, Hank likes to stay on the road a few hours into the morning.

“Every sunrise is a miracle,” he’d tell them as he would leave the truck stop. “Who wants to miss a miracle?”

Coming Home Page 3

Coming HomeIn his thirty years on the road, Hank had seen many sunrises, most of them alone. This

morning, however, he is about to have company. As he turns his truck onto the highway, he sees a hitchhiker --- a young man in jeans and a tattered shirt.

Hank doesn’t often pick up riders. But something about the boy catches his eye. He pulls his truck over to the side of the road. In his side mirror he can see the boy running toward him. Hank leans over and opens the passenger door.

“Thanks for stopping.” The hitchhiker is nearly out of breath. “Going far?”“At least another two hours south.”“That’s all I need.” The young man climbs into the truck.“Where are you headed?” Hank asks.“Home.”“Been gone long?”When the boy turns to answer, Hank hears sorrow in his voice. “Too long, sir. Too

long.”“My name’s Hank.”“My name is Josh,” responds the boy.Hank looks at Josh’s dirty clothes and tired eyes. “Looks like you could use a good

night’s rest and a meal.”“Yeah. I’ve kind of hit hard times.” Before he knows it, Josh finds himself telling his

story. When he finishes, he looks up into Hank’s eyes, which are warm with compassion.“So you finally got so hungry you decided to go home?”Josh pauses a moment before he answers. “No, it wasn’t that. I mean, I could have

handled the job. I might have even been able to make it out of the shelter.”“Then what made you decide to go home, Josh?”“The thought of what I did to my Dad. I broke his heart. I need to tell him I’m sorry.”“Are you going to stay home?”“ I don’t know, Hank. I’m going to see if I might get work nearby. But I don’t think Dad

will want me in the same house….Wait,” he says suddenly, “this is where I get off.”Hank doesn’t slow down. “No need, son. I’ll take you right to your door.” Hank guides

the truck down the exit and onto the small road. Following Josh’s instructions, he weaves in and out of the farms and flatlands.

Hank notices that Josh isn’t saying much. The boy is staring at the floor of the truck. His hands are clenched between his knees. The driver places his hand on the boy’s shoulder. “Josh, it’s going to be okay.”

“What if he doesn’t even let me in the gate?” Josh asks. “What if he doesn’t let me tell what happened?”

“Josh, I’m a dad. I know how dads feel. You’ve got to tell your father the truth. Give him a chance to forgive you.” Josh looks over at the driver and then watches his father’s fields come into view. “We’re almost there.”

When they reach the house, Hank pulls the truck over to the side of the narrow raod and stops. “I’ll wait here.” He smiles. “Just tell him the truth, Josh.” Josh nods, takes a breath, and opens the door. “Thanks for the ride and thanks for the advice.”

Hank watches as the tall boy walks slowly down the path toward the house. Hank can tell that Josh is talking as he walks. He is rehearsing what he is going to say. He is only halfway to the house when at the top of the trail a figure appears. Though Hank has never seen him, he knows in an instant it is Josh’s father. Only a dad would do what this man is doing. Running. Running fast. Arms spread wide and a smile no one can miss. For a few moments Hank doesn’t speak. He just memorizes the scene of the morning sun rising behind the dejected boy and the running father.

Coming Home Page 4

Coming HomeFinally Hank can stand it no longer. “Josh,” he yells, “Look!”When Josh sees his father only feet away and getting closer, he falls to his knees. He

tries to speak, But once again the words won’t come. His well-rehearsed speech is forgotten as he throws his arms around his father’s waist.

Hank wipes away tears of his own as he starts his truck. He has seen what he came to see. He has seen the miracle of the morning.

6) Comprehension questions:1. Why do you think Josh spent all his money?2. Did the money make him happy?3. What was Hank’s advice to Josh?4. What did Josh expect his father to do when he came home?5. What do you think about the heart of the father in this story?

7) Writing: Complete the chart below describing the characteristics of Josh and Bill. You can use words (adjectives) or phrases. Work together with a friend and read through the story again for some ideas.

JOSH BILL

8) Opinion Survey:(A = Agree D = Disagree NS = Not sure)

___1. Teenagers should not be given money unless they earn it.

___2. Money cannot buy happiness.

___3. Some people have to learn life’s lessons the hard way.

___4. Family members should forgive one another when conflicts arise.

___5. Unconditional love is impossible for most people to give

Coming Home Page 5

Fears1) Vocabulary:

1) phobia 8) rejection 15) peers2) anxious 9) anxiety 16) irrational3) confront 10) failure 17) embarrassment4) unrealistic 11) overcome 18) realize5) predict 12) situation 19) avoid6) legitimate 13) function 20) alert7) evaluate 13) hampered 21) strategy

2) Questions:1. Are there things in life that you fear?2. Are you afraid of visible things such as insects or animals? Or are you afraid of unseen things such as failure, illness, death, crime, embarrassment?3. What do people usually do about their fears?

3) Sentence Drill:Listen to the sentences about fears that your teacher will read to you and write them after your teacher reads them.. If you do not know how to spell a word, just guess. The important thing is to get the idea down on paper

4) Read Aloud:Fears and Anxieties

Everyone, from the youngest child to the oldest adult, experiences anxieties and fears at one time or another. Fear has a legitimate function for us because it alerts us to something which could possibly be harmful to us. Usually, we are able to evaluate the situation and see if there is any real danger, then take steps to deal with it. Sometimes, however, our fear gets in our way and interferes with our daily living. This is often frustrating because we think of our fear as unrealistic but are still hampered by it.

Most people tend to avoid the things they feel afraid of. There are, of course, exceptions --- some people seek out the thrill of extreme sports, for example, because the rush of fear can be exciting. We all experience fear slightly differently and with more or less intensity. Some people even like it and find it exciting. During the scariest moments of a roller-coaster ride you may be telling yourself, “I’ll never get on this thing again…if I make it out alive!” Meanwhile, the friend sitting next to you may think, “This is awesome! As soon as it’s over, I’m getting back on!”

Children tend to have more fears than adults because so much of what they experience is new and unfamiliar. Older children tend to have different fears than younger children, but it’s normal for kids to have a few things that are scary to them. Whereas young children tend to fear things like th dark, monsters, loud thunder and lightning, getting lost, or big dogs, older kids are more likely to fear things like being bullied or getting hurt.

Teens have certain common fears, too, Most teens have some social fears, like the fear of being embarrassed or rejected or fear of failing. They may also have personal fears, such as a fear of becoming ill or injured. Some may feel afraid of heights, dogs, snakes, or insects or of performing or public speaking. Because teens think about and care about the larger world community, they may also have global fears such as a fear of war or violence.

Fears Page 1

FearsFear: Fear is a reaction to an actual danger signal --- it involves physical and mental tension that helps you spring into action to protect yourself from something that is happening. The body suddenly gears up when, for example, the car in front of you swerves your way and barely misses you. Once you know the danger has passed, the fear goes away.

Anxiety: With anxiety, there isn’t usually anything actually happening right then and there to trigger the feeling. The feeling is coming from the anticipation of future danger or something bad that could happen. A little anxiety motivates us to do our best. For example, some anxiety about the possibility of doing poorly on a test can motivate you to study a little harder.

Phobia: A phobia is an intense, unreasonable fear of a thing or a situation that is far out of proportion to the actual danger or harm that is possible. With a phobia, a person’s fear is so intense that they do whatever they can to avoid coming into contact with the object of their fear. Phobias can interfere with a person’s life because the need to avoid the object of the phobia limits what a person feels comfortable doing.

5) Story:

The Little Girl Who Feared Death by Tanya Kozlova

When I was a little girl, I used to wake up in the middle of the night with fear in my heart ---fear of death. I was in despair because I did not know what would happen to me after death. I thought there would be nothing and it would be the end. As a little girl, I ran to my parents’ room in tears, asking, “Mama, am I going to die?” Throughout my happy childhood, this nightmare haunted my heart.

While growing up, I learned to drive this fear deep inside myself. Yet, I was always wondering what would happen after I die. Death scared me, but life went on. Sports and money became most important to me, because they gave me self-confidence, independence, and pride in myself. I alone decided what was good and what was bad. Everything I had been taught by my parents became of minor importance. I had no interest in the lives of people around me. Yet, despite the importance and success I achieved, I still had no answer to the question of what happens after death. I had outward strength and beauty, but fear was victorious inside me. “Why live,” I thought, “if I have to die anyway?” Only God, who created me, could answer this question.

I heard about God for the first time from my best girlfriend. At first, it all seemed like a fairy tale. Yet, I heard that people can receive eternal life simply by believing in Jesus Christ. I realized that I was getting closer and closer to answering the question that had troubled me all my life. That God gives us eternal life was a discovery. As an 18-year-old adult, I went running to my mother in tears, just as in my childhood. Only the words were different, “ Mama, I’m not afraid of death anymore. Christ has given me eternal life.”

Since then, four years have passed. My greatest joy is that all my family --- my parents and sisters ---now believe in Christ. God showed me a wonderful way and I chose it. This year, I graduated from Bible College in Moscow. I want to tell the people of my country about our great, loving God, who gives love, joy, happiness, and above all else, meaning to life.

Fears Page 2

Fears6) Comprehension questions:

1. How can fear affect your life?2. What was the little girl’s greatest fear?3. When was the fear most real to her4. Was the girl successful as she grew up?5. What was she like on the inside?6. Who finally answered the girl’s question about life after death?

7) Writing: Write about a fear you have. What caused this fear? How do you deal with it?


___1. A little anxiety can motivate us to work harder.

___2. You should always avoid what you fear the most.

___3. Fears can be overcome by facing them.

___4. Even successful, confident people have fears.

___5. Fears can interfere with your daily life.

Fears Page 3

A Country of Immigrants

1) Vocabulary1) immigrants 7)opportunity 13) diversity2) assistance 8) homogeneous 14) ethnic3) society 9) culture 15) economics4) authorities 10) deport 16) naturalization5) restrictions 11) neighborhood 17) laborer6) adjustment 12) unwilling 18) religion

2) Questions:1. Why would people want to come to a new country?2. Where did the first immigrants to America come from?3. What are some adjustments you would have to make if you moved to another

country?

3) Sentence Drill:Look at the pictures of immigrants your teacher shows you.Write five sentences about the pictures and share them (in English!) with your group.

4) Read Aloud:


As you walk along the street in any American city, you see many different faces. You see white faces, black faces, Asian faces, Mid-Eastern faces. These are the faces of the United States, a country of immigrants from all over the world. Immigrants are people who leave one country to live permanently in another country.

The first immigrants came to North America in the 1600s from countries such as England and Holland. These people had light skin and light hair. They came to live in North America because they wanted religious freedom (freedom to worship God in their own way). In the 1700s and early 1800s, immigrants continued to move from Europe to the United States. At this time, there was one group of unwilling immigrants…black Africans. These people were tricked or forced to come to the United States, where they worked on the large farms in the south. The blacks had no freedom; they were slaves. In the 1800s, many Chinese and Irish immigrants came to the United States. They came because of economic or political problems in their own countries. Except for the blacks, most of these immigrants thought of the United States as a land of opportunity, of a chance for freedom and new lives.

In the United States, these immigrants looked for assistance from other immigrants who shared the same background, language, and religion. Because of this, there are neighborhoods in each U.S. city made up almost entirely of one homogeneous ethnic group. There are all Italian, all Puerto Rican, or all Irish neighborhoods in many East Coast cities, and all Mexican neighborhoods in the Southwest. There are racial neighborhoods such as oriental Chinatown in San Francisco and Los Angeles and black Harlem in New York City. There are also neighborhoods with a strong religious feeling such as a Jewish part of Brooklyn in New York. And, of course, there are economic neighborhood divisions; in American cities very often poor people do not live in the same neighborhoods as rich people.

Immigrants Page 1


This diversity of neighborhoods in the cities is a reflection of the different groups in American society. American society is a mixture of racial, language, cultural, religious, and economic groups. People sometimes call America a melting pot and compare its society to a soup with many different ingredients. The ingredients (different races, cultures, religions, and economic groups) supposedly mix together to make a smooth soup. But, in reality, there are a few lumps left in the soup!

5) Story:Li Keng Wong’s Story

In 1933, seven-year-old Li Keng Wong’s life changed. Her father decided to move his family from a small village in China to the Chinatown in Oakland, California. Now, Li Keng will tell you her story from 70 years ago.

Life in China

My father came to the United States in 1912 to search for a better life. There were no jobs in our small village of Goon Do Hung in southern China. My father needed money to take care of his new family and his widowed mother. He sent money home several times a year, and once in a while, he came for a short visit. After one of these visits, I was born in 1926. When I was young, I lived with my mother, older sister Li Hong, and younger sister Lai Wah.

As a child, I climbed trees, explored the forest behind the village, hunted for bamboo shoots, and waded in the lake in front of the village. Life was peaceful in our village. Villagers got along well and helped one another during the rice harvest twice a year.

Father came home once or twice that I could remember. He could never stay long because he had to go back to the United States to work. He never mentioned that someday he wanted to take us to the United States, but he was thinking about it.On his last visit home, he was sad at how poor the villagers were. They made a living by planting rice crops. People were so poor that no one had milk to drink or much meat to eat. Almost no one had ever learned to read or write. So my father decided that his family must immigrate to the United States to have a better life. When we decided to leave, it was 1933. I was only seven years old.

Preparing to Leave

First, Father sent us a letter from America with some coaching papers. He explained to us that our mother couldn’t enter the United States as his wife because there were laws that forbade a laborer to bring in a wife. The only Chinese men who were allowed to bring in wives were diplomats, students, and merchants. However, our mother could enter as his sister. He told us to call our mother “Auntie”.

Once we got our father’s letter, we used the coaching papers to study, and we had to memorize the answers to the questions. The authorities in the United States asked lots of questions before they allowed any Chinese in. Some of the questions they asked were:

Immigrants Page 2

A Country of Immigrants When and where were you born? What is your occupation? Can you read any language? What is your final destination in the United States? Who is that lady with you? Is she your mother?

Mother, Li Hong, and I went over the questions and memorized the answers. Lai Wah was too young to do what we did. We practiced calling our mother “Auntie” many times. My father came back to the village to travel with us to America. He kept saying, “You must never make a mistake by calling your mother “Mother”. If you make a mistake, the authorities will deport us back to China in shame.”

Detained on Angel IslandWe sailed from Hong Kong for 19 days across the Pacific Ocean until we landed in San Francisco. We had to get off at Angel Island, in the middle of San Francisco Bay. Many immigrants from the Far East were processed at the Angel Island stop.

We arrived in high hopes but we worried about not being able to answer the many questions that the authorities were to ask us. We were scared of getting deported.

A number of Chinese people were deported back to China. For us, returning to China would be shameful. There were rumors that a few people committed suicide rather than to be sent back to China in shame.

Women and men were separated on Angel Island, and while we were there, we were locked up in the women’s barracks. Guards wearing green uniforms stood outside and constantly watched us. Our barrack had a few women who came before us and were still waiting to learn their fate ----would they make it into the United States or return home in shame?

After a week, we had our immigration interview. We were questioned separately. Finally, we were released, and we were so relieved! My father was waiting for us when we got off the ferry in San Francisco, and we traveled to Oakland where we would start our new lives.

Growing Up in OaklandWe lived in Oakland’s Chinatown from 1933 to 1948. Like us, most of the Chinese living here spoke the Toishan dialect because they came from the Pearl River Delta of Guangdong Province in southern China.

We attended American school and concentrated on learning English. We attended Chinese school after American school each day. We had very little time to play or to get into trouble. There was very little money during the Depression years. Even though life was hard, we loved being Americans.

During World War II, my father opened a restaurant in Oakland’s Chinatown. We children all worked in that restaurant --- from waiting on tables to mopping the floor. We never got paid, because, as a family business, we worked to make the restaurant succeed. The entire family worked seven days a week. Our hard work paid off when in 1948 we were able to purchase a home outside of Chinatown.

Immigrants Page 3

A Country of ImmigrantsMy Life TodayI attended the University of California in the fall of 1944, but I didn’t graduate until 1950 because I took two years off to help in my parents’ restaurant. Finally I received by teaching degree and started my career in an elementary school. I taught for 35 years. I had a wonderful time working with young people. I retired from teaching in 1985.

Since my retirement, I decided to write my story, Journey to Gold Mountain, so that I could share my experiences with other. My story has been featured in a documentary film by Disney called The American Tapestry. I speak frequently at schools and community organizations. I love volunteering, for it keeps me young at heart and lets me show my appreciation to the United States for allowing us to come here.

6) Comprehension questions:1. Why did Li Keng’s father come to the United States?2. What was her village in China like?3. Why was the immigration interview so important to Li Keng and her family?4. What kind of business did her family have in Oakland, California?5. What was Li Keng’s occupation after she graduated from the university?

7) Writing: Write a short paragraph about what you think life would be like in America if you immigrated there from China.


___1. Immigrants should learn the language of the country to which they move.

___2. Immigrants should keep their culture even though they are living in a different country.

___3. Immigration laws in America are too strict.

___4. Parents should give their children the best opportunities they can, even if this means moving to another location.

___5. It would be difficult to adjust to living in a different country.

Immigrants Page 4

The American Dream1) Vovabulary:

1) justice 9) liberty 17)fairness2) democracy 10) equality 18) policies3) prosperity 11) criticism 19) unique4) ideals 12) ambitious 20) versatile5) manager 13) lease 21) landlord6) occupation 14) determination 22) achieve7) generation 15) entitled 23) pursuit8) discount 16) merchandise 24) wholesale

2) Questions:1. What is “The American Dream”?2. Do you think that all people in America are successful at achieving this dream?3. What does it take to be successful in business?

3 )Sentence Drill:Listen to the sentences your teacher will read to you. Write them down as she reads them. Don’t worry about spelling all the words correctly. It is more important to try to get the ideas down on your paper.

4) Read Aloud:

The American Dream

The American Dream is the idea held by many people in the United States of America that through hard work, courage, and determination one can achieve prosperity. These were the values and ideals held by many early European settlers, and they have been passed down from one generation to the next. What are values and ideals? They are things we stand for…..things we feel are right and correct. In America, our values and ideals are justice, liberty, fairness, democracy, and equality. In the Declaration of Independence, it says that each American has the right to “life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.” Most Americans hold fast to this belief….that the American Dream can come true for them. The dream is different for everyone. For some, it is wealth and power. For others, it is religious freedom and justice. For others, it may be owning their own home or business. America has been able to provide these things for millions of people.

The American Dream Today

In the 20th century, the American Dream had its challenges. The Great Depression caused widespread hardship during the 1920’s and 1930’s, and was almost a reverse of the dream for those directly affected. Racial instability did not disappear, and in some parts of the country, racial violence was common. Poverty has caused many people to become dependent on the government for support, making the American Dream difficult to obtain.

The American Dream appears to have enduring appeal to many in other countries. The United States remains a magnet for immigrants today, receiving 1 million legal entrants annually --- the highest rate in the world. Whereas past generations of immigrants tended to come from Europe, a majority of immigrants today come from Latin America and Asia.

American Dream Page 1

The American DreamCriticism of the American Dream

The concept of the American Dream has been the subject of much criticism. The main criticism is that the American Dream is misleading. These critics say that, for various reasons, it simply is not possible for everyone to become prosperous through determination and hard work. The consequences of this belief can include poor people feeling that it is their fault that they are not successful. The concept of the American Dream also ignores other factors of success such as the family and wealth one is born into, and inherited traits such as intelligence.

5) Story:Sam Walton

“The Model Manager of Wal-Mart”by Kelly Fitzgerald

Sam Walton was a man who took chances, never said “never”, and kept on fighting for success. All through his life, he was a leader, not a follower. Sam Walton grew up during the Great Depression and knew that hard work and saving money were a way of life. Sam was described as industrious and ambitious, always trying to get the most out of his money. Because of these traits, he helped his family through the Depression, started his own business from almost nothing, and changed the field of management.

Sam Walton was born on March 29, 1918 to Thomas and Nancy Walton near Kingfisher, Oklahoma. In Oklahoma, they owned and lived on a farm until 1923. The Waltons then decided that the farm did not make enough money to raise a family on, so Thomas became a Farm Loan Appraiser, traveling from town to town in Missouri.

As Sam grew up, he attended Hickman High School in Columbia, Missouri. He wasn’t the smartest person at school, but he was determined to do well. With hard work and lots of studying, he became an honors student. He was also a political figure at school, serving as vice-president of his junior class and president of the class his senior year. He also had to help support his family, because money was lacking due to the Depression. Sam’s jobs every morning were to milk the family cow, bottle the milk, deliver it to customers, then deliver newspapers afterwards. When he graduated from high school, he was voted the “Most Versatile Boy” in his class. During this time, it would have been easy for Sam to just give up on school and go to work full time. Seeing how his family struggled, however, made him want to continue school and get a good job.\

Sam attended the University of Missouri, majoring in Economics. He could not really afford to attend school, so he worked extra hard to get the money. Sam waited tables in exhange for meals, life-guarded at the school pool, and also delivered newspapers. During his four years at the University, he was an ROTC officer, a member of the student senate and the National Honor Society, president of a Sunday School class, and president of his senior class. Three days after graduation, he entered the business world, working at J.C. Penney’s department store for $75 per month.


The American DreamSam gained experience working at Penney’s, but in early 1942 he resigned to join the army during World War II. While Sam was waiting for his military assignment, he took a job near Tulsa, Oklahoma. There he met his future wife, Helen Robson. Helen’s father was a prosperous banker and rancher who would later help Sam start his first store. Sam and Helen married in 1943 and had three sons and one daughter. By the time he was discharged from the army in 1945, Sam had decided he wanted to own his own department store. He borrowed $20,000 from his father-in-law, used $5000 he had saved from the military, and bought a store in Newport, Oklahoma.

Sam’s store was part of a small department store chain run by the Butler Brothers. Sam’s store became the leading store for sales and profits in a six-state region. Sam made this possible by properly stocking all the shelves with a wide range of goods with very low prices, keeping his store centrally-located so it was easily accessible to many customers, staying open later than most stores, and experimenting with discount merchandising (buying straight from the wholesaler, which enabled him to offer lower prices). All of these ideas were new to businesses, but Sam was able to use them to his advantage.

In 1951, Sam sold his store for $50,000. With this profit, he built a new store in Bentonville, Arkansas, and second one in Fayetteville, Arkansas. He knew he could not manage both stores on his own, so he hired manager Willard Walker, offering him a percentage of the store’s profits, a practice now known as “profit-sharing”. To keep his stores running in tip-top shape, Sam was always trying to find new ideas to improve business. He had a wide assortment of goods, had special promotions, kept the place clean, demanded that the staff be friendly and loyal, and shared a percentage of the profits with the employees.

By 1962, Sam and his brother Bud had expanded this business to 16 stores in Arkansas, Missouri, and Kansas. During this year, they changed the name of the stores from “Walton’s Family Center” to “Wal-mart”, and quickly became the world’s number one retailer. Wal-mart’s success has also given many people today an opportunity for a bigger job market. Today, more than one million Americans work at Wal-mart. There are many reasons for its success:

Stores are located in the center of communities. Each customer is greeted as they enter the door. Each store contributes thousands of dollars to local charities each year. Customers do not have to wait for a “sale” to get low prices. Employees share in the profits of the company. Many stores are open 24 hours a day, making shopping convenient. Customer satisfaction is the number one priority. Wal-mart has an advanced system of purchasing, transporting, and marketing

merchandise.

Although Sam Walton died in 1992, his American Dream lives on. Perhaps this quote from Sam sums up the secret of his success:

“We’re all working together; that’s the secret. And we’ll lower the cost of living for everyone, not just in America, but we’ll give the world an opportunity to see what it’s like to save and have a better lifestyle, a better life for all. We’re proud of what we’ve accomplished; we’ve just begun.”

Sam Walton (1918-1992)


The American Dream6) Comprehension questions:

1. Was Sam Walton born into a wealthy family?2. How would you describe Sam as a high school and university student?3. What made Sam’s first department store different from the other stores in the chain?4. How did Sam find ways to improve his business?5. What do customers like about Wal-mart?

7) Writing: Write down five reasons you would like to shop or work at a business like Wal-mart.


___1. Hard work and determination help a person become successful.

___2. The American Dream is not possible for everyone.

___3. The amount of money your job pays you is more important than the satisfaction it gives you.

___4. Even wealthy people should experience what it is like to work hard.

___5. It is too risky to try new ideas in your business.


American Education1) Vocabulary:

1) innovate 8) adapt 15) improvise2) equality of opportunity 9) drop-out 16) degree3) public 10) social class17) barriers4) disinterested 11) musty 18) deadpan5) monosyllables 12) gaudy 19) rhinestone6) smirk 13) dramatic 20) graduate7) decline 14) musty 21) distant

2) Questions:1. What do you consider a “good education”?2. Do you think students work as hard today as they did many years ago?3. What is the role of the teacher in the classroom?4. What is the role of the student?

3) Sentence Drill:Write ten sentences about education, based on what you have experienced, or based on the pictures your teacher has shown you of education in America.

4) Read Aloud:

Education in the United States

Education has always been a priority for the United States. Our early settlers were committed to establishing schools and colleges and teaching their children to live productive lives. That tradition has continued.

The United States education system has developed by borrowing ideas from abroad and adding unique elements. As have so many other countries, we have adapted, improvised, and innovated. Today we educate more than 70 million students at every level and produce some of the finest thinkers in the world. Even so, we are constantly working to improve education. We are proud of our schools, our teachers and administrators, and most of all, our young people.

Elementary SchoolAmerican children start school at the age of five years. The first year at school is called kindergarten. It is required of all children enrolled in the American education system. The second year is considered the first year of elementary school and is referred to as first grade. Elementary school most commonly consists of five years of education, referred to as first through fifth grades.

Secondary SchoolUpon completion of fifth grade, American children advance to secondary school. Grades six through eight are called “middle school”, and the ninth through twelfth grades are called “high school”. In high school, students must take required courses such as English, mathematics, science, history, health, foreign language, government, social studies, and technology (computers). They may also take elective courses such as art, music, drama, journalism, TV/radio production, business, home economics, or financial planning. Upon completion of 12th grade, students are awarded a high school diploma. In the American education system,

American Education Page 1

American Educationstudents must obtain a high school diploma before they are admitted into college or university. Some students “drop out” of school before completing high school. Without a high school diploma or college education, these students have little chance of finding a job that pays well. Some students graduate from high school and go to a technical school or “trade” school. Here they learn a trade such as electronics, auto mechanics, welding, cooking, hair styling, or a variety of other occupations.

Undergraduate SchoolStudents who have completed high school and would like to attend college or university must attend an undergraduate school. These are schools that offer either a two-year degree (called an associate degree) or a four-year degree (called a bachelor’s degree). Each student must select a major, or specific course of study, by their second year at school. It is possible to get a good job with a bachelor’s degree or even an associate degree.

Graduate SchoolStudents who have a bachelor’s degree can continue their education by pursuing a master’s degree. This is usually a two-year degree that is highly specialized in a specific field. Many businesses and companies will pay for their employees to go back to school and get a master’s degree. There are several advantages to obtaining a master’s degree: increase in pay, better chance for advancement, and increase in skills and knowledge.

Students who want to advance their education even further in a specific field can pursue a doctorate degree, also called a PhD. A PhD degree can take between three and six years to complete, depending on the course of study chosen, the ability of the student, and the thesis that the student has selected. The thesis is a very intensive research paper that must be completed prior to earning the degree. It is always required of students pursuing a PhD, and my sometimes be required of students pursuing a master’s degree.

Private SchoolSome parents do not feel that public education will educate their children adequately, so they enroll them in a private school. Private schools are not funded by the government, and parents must pay tuition for their children to attend these schools. Many wealthy individuals send their children to private schools, but there are also many middle-class parents who make financial sacrifices in order to educate their children in these schools. Parochial schools, associated with a specific religion or church, are also a private school option. Along with the regular school curriculum, students are taught the beliefs and values of the chosen religion. Again, parents are required to pay tuition for their children to attend parochial school.


American Education5) Story:

The Gift That Lives OnAuthor Unknown

Teddy Stallard. Disinterested in school. Musty, wrinkled clothes; hair never combed. One of those kids in school with a deadpan face, expressionless --- sort of a glassy, unfocused stare. When Miss Thompson spoke to Teddy, he always answered in monosyllables. Unattractive, unmotivated, and distant, he was just plain hard to like. Even though his teacher said she loved all the students in her class the same, down inside she wasn’t being completely truthful.

Whenever she marked Teddy’s papers, she got a certain strange pleasure out of putting X’s next to the wrong answers, and when she put the F’s at the top of the papers, she always did it with a flair. She should have known better; she had Teddy’s records and she knew more about him than she wanted to admit. The records read:

1st Grade: Teddy shows promise with his work and attitude, but he has a poor home situation.2nd Grade: Teddy could do better. His mother is seriously ill. He receives little help at home.3rd Grade: Teddy is a good boy, but too serious. He is a slow learner. His mother died this year.4th Grade: Teddy is very slow, but well-behaved. His father shows no interest in him or his schoolwork.

Christmas came and the boys and girls in Miss Thompson’s class brought her Christmas presents. They piled their presents on her desk and crowded around to watch her open them. Among the presents was one from Teddy Stallard. She was surprised that he had brought her a gift, but he had. Teddy’s gift was wrapped in brown paper and was held together with tape. On the paper were written the simple words, “For Miss Thompson from Teddy.” When she opened Teddy’s present, out fell a gaudy rhinestone bracelet, with half the stones missing, and a bottle of cheap perfume.

The other boys and girls began to giggle and smirk over Teddy’s gifts, but Miss Thompson at least had enough sense to silence them by immediately putting on the bracelet and putting some of the perfume on her wrist. Holding her wrist up for the other children to smell, she said, “Doesn’t it smell lovely?” And the children, taking their cue from the teacher, readily agreed with “oo’s” and “ah’s”.

At the end of the day, when school was over and the other children had left, Teddy lingered behind. He slowly came over to her desk and said softly, “Miss Thompson…..Miss Thompson, you smell just like my mother….her bracelet looks real pretty on you, too. I’m glad you liked my presents.” When Teddy left, Miss Thompson got down on her knees and asked God to forgive her.

The next day when the children came to school, they were welcomed by a new teacher. Miss Thompson had become a different person. She was no longer just a teacher. She was now a person committed to loving her students and doing things for them that would live on after her. She helped all the children, but especially the slow ones, and especially Teddy Stallard. By the end of that school year, Teddy showed dramatic improvement. He had caught up with most of the students and was even ahead of some.


American EducationAfter 5th grade, she didn’t hear from Teddy for a long time. Then one day, she received a note that read:

Dear Miss Thompson,I wanted you to be the first to know. I will be graduating second in my high school class.Love, Teddy Stallard

Four years later, another note came:Dear Miss Thompson,They just told me I will graduating first in my class. I wanted you to be the first to know. The university has not been easy, but I liked it.Love, Teddy Stallard

And four years later:Dear Miss Thompson,As of today, I am Theodore Stallard, M.D. How about that? I wanted you to be the first to know. I am getting married next month, the 27th to be exact. I want you to come and sit where my mother would sit if she were alive. You are the only family I have now. Dad died last year.Love, Teddy Stallard

Miss Thompson went to that wedding and sat where Teddy’s mother would have sat. She deserved to sit there, for she had done something for Teddy that he could never forget.

6) Comprehension questions:1. Why was Teddy hard to like?2. Why did Teddy’s performance decline from 1st grade to 4th grade?3. How did Miss Thompson keep the other children from making fun of Teddy’s gifts?4. What changed Miss Thompson’s attitude about Teddy?5. What was the “gift” that Miss Thompson gave Teddy?

7) Writing: Write about a gift that someone gave you (that cannot be seen or touched) that lives on in your life.


___1. A student’s home life should not affect his schoolwork.

___2. Kindness can make a difference in someone’s life.

___3. The only job of a teacher is to teach lessons.

___4. Students do not care how much you know until they know how much you care.

___5. To be fair, all students in a class should be treated the same way.


lesson one - wikispaces web viewhow do you deal with it? 8) opinion survey: (a = agree ... finally i...

Documents