Packet of Handouts. to accompany. Personal Writing Unit Intermediate level

Transcription

1 Packet of Handouts to accompany Personal Writing Unit Intermediate level

2 What I Brought with Me Stories to Read Questions Before You Read: 1. How many bags did you bring with you to the U.S.? 2. What is the most important thing you brought with you to the U.S.? 3. What did you want to bring but left at home? Vocabulary carry-on (noun): a small bag that you take with you on a plane. You take it with to the place where you sit. Statue (noun): a metal or a rock that looks like a thing or person. A statue can be big or small. Souvenir (noun): a small thing you buy to help you remember a place. Sometimes it is a tshirt, a cup, a small statue, or a picture. 1

3 Relatives (noun): your family, including parents, brothers, sisters, aunts, uncles, cousins, sisters-in-law, brothers-in-law everyone! Prove (verb): show something is true. Leave behind (verb): you go somewhere and you don t take something with you. And you miss it. Pack (verb): put things in the bag or box. Suitcase (noun): a bag that take with you on an airplane or a train. It is shaped like a rectangle. 2

4 Reading I came to the USA with my family, including my husband and three children. There were nine bags and two carry-ons. Five bags were full of normal and winter clothes because they were cheap in my country. In two bags I packed two statues of Lord Buddha, some medicine, my jewelry, books, CDs and some souvenirs. The last two bags were full of food such as cooked fish and sweets. Our passports were in our handbags. I left my pets, house, property, books, magazines, and so many things. I miss my loving relatives and good friends too. --Samudra, Sri Lanka. I came from Mexico with no bags. I had only one blanket, $100 in my pocket, my passport, and my bible. My bible is important because I like to pray for my family. My passport was important because I needed to prove my identity. I left behind my family and my house. --Guadalupe, Mexico. I packed nine bags, one for each person in my family. I packed clothes, shoes, pictures, and everything I needed for my children. I had two bags with extra fabric. I brought some pictures of my parents from when they were alive. The pictures are important to me because I will never see them again. When I left Laos, I had to leave my home and country behind. The most important things I packed were money to help start my life in America, and jewelry because it is expensive and nice to wear, and clothes we needed. I kept our documents in hand. A, Laos. I had three suitcases with clothes and other things. My clothes were important because I wear them. My documents were important to show that I am legal. I brought some pictures that are important to me because I can look at my family when I miss them a lot. --Hawa, Somalia. 3

5 Questions After You Read What I Brought with Me Stories 1. How many people are in Samudra s family? 2. How many bags did Samudra s family have? How many carry-on s? 3. How many bags did Guadalupe pack? 4. What document did Guadalupe bring? Why did she bring it? 5. What pictures did the student from Laos bring? 6. What are two important things the student from Laos brought to the U.S.? 7. How many bags did Hawa pack? 8. Why are Hawa s pictures important to her? 4

6 What I Brought with Me Get ready to write 1. What year did you come to the U.S.? 2. How many bags did you pack? 3. What did you pack? 4. What and who did you leave behind? 5. What were the three most important things you packed? Why were they important? a) because b) because c) because 6. How did you feel? 5

7 What I Brought with Me Writing Directions: Now write about what you brought with you. You can use your answers from the other side of this paper to help you write. Write one big paragraph like the stories we read before. After you finish writing, read it. Correct your mistakes. Use your dictionary and ask your classmates to help you. Did you use the past tense? Did you use capital letters and periods? Did you spell correctly? 6

8 Questions Before You Read: An Important Person Stories to Read 1. Who are the most important people in your life? Why? 2. Who are some people in your life that have influenced you? Vocabulary generous (adjective): classmate (noun): disease (noun): incurable (adjective): grateful (adj): 7

9 I Miss My Mama When I was a girl, I did not understand my mama, because she always told me to clean the house, do homework, and study for tests. I always wanted to play with my friends. But now I m a mama, and it is so hard for me with my three kids. I try to make the best for them, but I miss my mama because she stayed in Mexico. I think I need her help and advice. I love my mama. Guille, Mexico My Grandmother I am from El Salvador. I came to Minnesota in 2006 with my Grandmother Isabel. She is 67 years old. She has seven children and 12 grandchildren. She worked very hard. She is energetic, generous and disciplined. She has long hair, and brown eyes. She is very happy. She told me histories about people s rights. My grandmother had a hard life in my country in the 80s during the civil war. A lot of people died when the other country invaded. William, El Salvador My Classmate Yer Vue I remember my high school classmate Yer very well. He was smart and handsome. We studied together. We played volleyball and planted vegetables in the garden behind the school. In December, the Hmong new year was coming and we celebrated. We talked about the future and what we wanted to study in college. He wanted to be a good teacher for children. I wanted to be a nurse to help people when they couldn t help themselves. One day he came down with an incurable disease. The doctor couldn t help him. After five months, he died on Aug. 30, He only was 24 years old. He had been in college only two years. I was very sad and I ll never forget my classmate Yer. He is always in my heart. He was my best friend. Ze, Laos Star of My Life I am most grateful for my son. He is the best piece of my life. He always knows how to put a smile on my face. After his birth, I couldn t wait to get home to hug, kiss and play with him. There are so many stars up there. But I know that he is my shining star. Nedzad 8

10 Questions after you read An Important Person Stories 1. How many children does Guille have? 2. Does Guille understand her mother now? Why or why not? 3. What is William s grandmother s name? 4. What words does William use to describe his grandmother? 5. What did Yer Vue want to be? 6. Why do you think Ze will always remember Yer? 7. Why do you think Nedzad compares his son to a star? 9

11 An Important Person Get ready to write 1. Who are some important people in your life? Think about family, friends, anyone who influenced you. Make a list. 2. Look at the list you made. Choose 2 or 3 people. Decide one reason WHY that person is important to you. Name: Important because: Name: Important because: Name: Important because: 3. Choose 1 person that would be the most interesting for you to write about. Write that person s name here: 10

12 An Important Person Writing Directions: Now write about your important person. Write about why this person is important and how he or she influenced you. Write one big paragraph like the stories we read before. After you finish writing, read it. Correct your mistakes. Use your dictionary and ask your classmates to help you. Did you use the correct tense (present and/or past)? Did you use capital letters and periods? Did you spell correctly? 11

13 Simple Poetry Poems to Read Peace Poem Peace is like God Peace looks like my mom It sounds like crying It can be fighting Peace is always in God Yodit, Ethiopia Untitled I am thankful: I am thankful for pizza. I am thankful for fun. I am thankful for money. I am thankful for a dime. I am thankful for English class because it makes me happy every day. I am thankful for tables and chairs and books. I am thankful for the day after tomorrow. Anonymous Only One I am only one But still I am one I cannot do everything But still I can do something I will not refuse to do the something I can do Mother s Day Mother s Day Many decorated cakes Fried bread on the grill Loud Hmong music Plates of cooked steaming turkey Lips on mother s cheek Mother s Day Bao Guadalupe 12

14 so much depends The Black Pot So much depends upon a black pot. Cook the vegetables and rice in the kitchen. Naree The New Car So much depends upon A gray car. Driving to school In the parking lot. Anonymous The Gold Key So much depends upon a gold key. It is beautiful in my purse. The White House So much depends upon A big house standing on the street. Adriana Sokha Yes, that s me Yes, that s me Look and you ll see My hair is black and long My eyes are black My arms are long My hands are feeling my baby My heart is speaking English I m married My friends are good friends I have lived in Minneapolis for one year And six months I hope to understand English I dream I m in my country It s all as clear as can be That s positively, absolutely me. Zahra, Somalia Yes, that s me Look and you ll see My hair is black and short My eyes are brown My arms are for carrying my son My hands are for putting on my shoes and eating My heart is for giving love to my family I m studying English I never fight with my brothers My friends are good at playing soccer I have lived in Minneapolis for seven years. I hope to travel this year. I dream of my family in Ecuador It s all as clear as can be That s absolutely, positively me Angel, Ecuador 13

15 Questions to talk about after you read the poems 1. Talk about each poem with your classmates. What is each one about? What can you learn from each poem? 2. What are some new words you see in these poems? 3. Is it better to read these poems silently or out loud? Why? 4. Do you think these are good poems? Why or why not? 5. Which poem is your favorite? Why? 14

16 Simple poetry Get ready to write Here are ideas for poems. Choose at least three that you want to try. Fill in the blanks. Thankful I am thankful for I am thankful for I am thankful for I am thankful for So much depends So much depends on I am thankful for I am thankful for So much depends on Yes, that s me Yes, that s me Look and you ll see My hair is My eyes are My arms are My hands are My heart is I hope to I dream about It s all as clear as can be That s positively, absolutely me Peace poem Peace is like 15

17 Now, try to write some poems using ideas of your own. Ideas: Write a poem about an important holiday or celebration Write a poem about an idea or opinion that is important to you Write a poem about a beautiful person or place Now, choose one poem from this paper that you like the best. Copy it here: 16

18 Questions Before You Read: Life in a New Country Stories to Read 3. What things were new or different for you when you came to the U.S.? 4. What do you know now about life in the U.S. that you didn t know when you first came? 5. Did you have any funny experiences when you first came to the U.S.? Vocabulary dizzy (adjective): struggling (noun): impressed (noun): vivid (adjective): 17

19 True Story about Myself I came to the United States on December 6, At first life was difficult because I couldn t speak English. I didn t understand anything. Life in the United States and Africa is different. The first weeks and months were hard for me. One day I went to downtown Minneapolis to apply for a job. On my way back, I took the bus. I put in a 20-dollar bill and no change came out. I didn t know how to ask a question or how to ride the bus. I stayed home for two weeks because I did not have a ticket or any money. After three months, I went to school and then got a job. Everything is good in life now. Nasra Ali American Man I didn t know any English when I first got to California. I had to wait for the airplane. I sat next to a young man. He was about 24 or 25 years old. He was American. I threw up and felt dizzy because I was very exhausted. He helped me; he took care of my son, gave me a paper bag to puke in, and gave me some towels. He took my son until I arrived in Minnesota. But I didn t say anything to him, because I didn t know how to speak English. Then, I didn t know what thank you meant. Right now, I want to say thank you to him, but I don t know where he is. I will never forget that man. Mai My First Month in the United States I remember the first month I came to the U.S. It was snowing, and when I went out, I fell down and broke my nose. My nose hurt and I felt very sad. I was in the hospital for two days. I didn t want to leave the house because my nose was big and red. I stayed in my cousin s house for two months. When I felt better, I was scared to go outside. In time, I lost the fear and started to go to different places. Anonymous Makes Me Smile When I arrived in the U.S., it was winter and very cold. About a month later, it was a cold day in the morning. When my husband was going to the office, he ran out of gas in the middle of the road in front of somebody s house. He was struggling with his car when the guy who lives across the street asked him about the problem. So, my husband explained that his car had run out of gas. As soon as he heard that, he ran into the garage and brought a big plastic container full of gas and put gas into the car. It was the first time for my husband to meet him, but he was really kind enough to help other people. I was very impressed and I still have a vivid memory of that. It makes me feel great and have a big smile whenever I think about it. I am truly lucky to be in America, especially in Minnesota where there are many warmhearted people and crisp and clean air. Anonymous 18

20 Questions After You Read Life in a New Country Stories 1. What mistake did Nasra make on the bus? 2. Why did she make that mistake? 3. What happened to Mai while she was on the airplane? 4. How did the American man help Mai? 5. In My First Month in the U.S., what happened to the writer? 6. How did he/she feel? Why? 7. In the story Makes Me Smile, who helped the writer s husband? 9. Why does the writer smile when she thinks about this story? 19

21 Life in a New Country Get ready to write 1. How long have you lived in the U.S.? 2. Where was the first place you lived? 3. Who were the first people you met? 4. What were the most important things you had to learn? 5. Do you remember some funny or sad stories from the first days or weeks you lived here in the U.S.? Write a few words to remember each story. 20

22 Life in a New Country Writing Directions: Choose one interesting or funny story about when you first came to the U.S. Write one big paragraph like the stories we read before. After you finish writing, read it. Correct your mistakes. Use your dictionary and ask your classmates to help you. Did you use the past tense? Did you use capital letters and periods? Did you spell correctly? 21

23 Sentence Practice #1 Directions: Make sentences. Put periods and capital letters in the correct places. I came to the United States on December 6, 1995 at first life was difficult because I couldn t speak English I didn t understand anything life in the United States and Africa is different the first weeks and months were hard for me one day I went to downtown Minneapolis to apply for a job on my way back, I took the bus I put in a 20-dollar bill and no change came out I didn t know how to ask a question or how to ride the bus I stayed home for two weeks because I did not have a ticket or any money after three months, I went to school and then got a job everything is good in life now Sentence Practice #1 Directions: Make sentences. Put periods and capital letters in the correct places. I came to the United States on December 6, 1995 at first life was difficult because I couldn t speak English I didn t understand anything life in the United States and Africa is different the first weeks and months were hard for me one day I went to downtown Minneapolis to apply for a job on my way back, I took the bus I put in a 20-dollar bill and no change came out I didn t know how to ask a question or how to ride the bus I stayed home for two weeks because I did not have a ticket or any money after three months, I went to school and then got a job everything is good in life now 22

24 Sentence Practice #2 Directions: Make sentences. Put periods and capital letters in the correct places. I am most grateful for my son he is the best piece of my life he always knows how to put a smile on my face after his birth, I couldn t wait to get home to hug, kiss and play with him there are so many stars up there but I know that he is my shining star Sentence Practice #2 Directions: Make sentences. Put periods and capital letters in the correct places. I am most grateful for my son he is the best piece of my life he always knows how to put a smile on my face after his birth, I couldn t wait to get home to hug, kiss and play with him there are so many stars up there but I know that he is my shining star 23

25 Sentence Practice #3 Directions: Make sentences. Put periods and capital letters in the correct places. I didn t know any English when I first got to California I had to wait for the airplane I sat next to a young man he was about 24 or 25 years old he was American I threw up and felt dizzy because I was very exhausted he helped me he took care of my son, gave me a paper bag to puke in, and gave me some towels he took my son until I arrived in Minnesota but I didn t say anything to him, because I didn t know how to speak English then, I didn t know what thank you meant right now, I want to say thank you to him, but I don t know where he is I will never forget that man Sentence Practice #3 Directions: Make sentences. Put periods and capital letters in the correct places. I didn t know any English when I first got to California I had to wait for the airplane I sat next to a young man he was about 24 or 25 years old he was American I threw up and felt dizzy because I was very exhausted he helped me he took care of my son, gave me a paper bag to puke in, and gave me some towels he took my son until I arrived in Minnesota but I didn t say anything to him, because I didn t know how to speak English then, I didn t know what thank you meant right now, I want to say thank you to him, but I don t know where he is I will never forget that man 24

26 Sentence Practice #4 Directions: Make sentences. Put periods and capital letters in the correct places. I like the winter snow It falls from the sky very fast I don t like the cloudy weather Minneapolis weather is good because one day snow falls another day is cold and sunny I think a lot of snow falls in the winter it gets very cold Minneapolis is colder than by country, Afghanistan the way to enjoy winter is here to walk in the skyway 25