Teaching Tips & Ideas

LET’S FACE IT! ENGLISH IS A CRAZY LANGUAGE - PART 1

We'll begin with a box, and the plural is boxes; but the plural of ox became oxen not oxes. One fowl is a goose, but two are called geese, yet the plural of moose should never be meese.

You may find a lone mouse or a nest full of mice; yet the plural of house is houses, not hice. If the plural of man is always called men, why shouldn't the plural of pan be called pen?

If I spoke of my foot and show you my feet, and I give you a boot, would a pair be called beet? If one is a tooth and a whole set are teeth, why shouldn't the plural of booth be called beeth?

Then one may be that, and three would be those, yet hat in the plural would never be hose, and the plural of cat is cats, not cose.

We speak of a brother and also of brethren, but though we say mother, we never say methren. Then the masculine pronouns are he, his and him, now imagine the feminine, she, shis and shim…!

QUOTE OF THE DAY

"The best thing about the future is that it comes only one day at a time."
Abraham Lincoln

Remarks:
The above quote was sent to this Blog by my grandson Claudio Henrique 15, already a junior teacher. (that's fate)

THE CITY OF THE LONER - Part 2

A REMAKABLE
CONQUEST

"...uma vitória, bem posta e correta, avançando com lentidão e estilo..."

"...a well deserved victory, achieved slowly and with style..."

Eça de Queirós

Chapter 9 - THE CONDEMNATION

During the construction of the CSC, the first area ready was the field.
Thick
Green.
A carpet of hope.

While older men worked raising the bleachers, the younger ones kicked around a ball on the giant field that was emerging. I was one of the regulars and a few times, Champion stopped to join in and check out my moves. He knew the sport well and was always on the lookout
for promising young players.

“What’s your name?”
“Calunga.”
“With a K or a C?” he kidded.
“With a C.
“Great. There’s a place for you on the team then.
I’m serious. This is an invitation. What do you say?”

Without blinking, I said yes.
“So let’s go,” he said.
We went.

At the CC clubhouse, I met my teammates, the coach’s assistant and the masseur. The first to approach me was Pilungo. Judging from his body type, I guessed that he was an offensive player. A strong young man of medium height, he was not your stereotype goalie.
When I saw him play, I was amazed at his skill. He defended against high shots as well as to grounders. As I got to know him, I learned he was someone you could trust. He was innocently friendly and enchanted by life. We became good friends, and from contact with him I learned an
important lesson: that our happiness in life depends on the friendships we make.

The other athletes were also good company to be in. Excellent soccer players, they gave me their complete support and helped me to find my place on the team. Soon I was confident, and in a short time, I was the star center forward. My goals made our fans go wild and, backed by Pilungo’s great defense, guaranteed our victories.

CC’s regime for practice was tough and demanding to the point of exhaustion. We exercised twice a week on Tuesdays and Thursdays because Champion wanted the team in top physical condition and ready to perform its best at all times. After the physical conditioning and tactical practices, we’d finish each session with a swim in the Lake because, according to Champion, its clean water recuperated our forces and helped to heal any pulled muscles. No one doubted this idea.

Champion’s beliefs about the waters, however, were much deeper. He believed that the water of the Lake had a supernatural, miraculous power. He professed that a swim in the Lake refreshed the mind, washed the soul, and protected people from surrounding dangers.
These were his sincere beliefs, based on true faith, which was no surprise since sincerity and truthfulness were integral parts of his character.
As for me, well I always followed his recommendation and went for the swim after practices, but it was more for my own pleasure than for the healing properties of the water. At first, I didn’t share his beliefs, but with time I changed my mind. I became a true believer after an inexplicable, fatal decision on my part.
After practice one Tuesday, I skipped the protective ritual. I wasn’t questioning Champion’s authority or acting out of disobedience; I simply wanted to get home earlier that day.

“Outta here, Pilungo?” I suggested.
“Sure,” my friend replied.

We left together and headed to the street where we both lived.

On the way home, we both felt the odd sensation of being followed. We noticed a man whose face we’d never seen behind us. At first discreet, he kept quite a distance between us. Later, he sped up approaching us. The farther we got from the center of town, the more deserted the
streets became. He started to provoke us, staring at each from head to toe. Suddenly he started insulting both of us, especially Pilungo.

I yelled for the guy to leave us alone because in the City we liked to respect visitors, even if they didn’t deserve it.

“So, you think that I don’t deserve your respect?” he challenged.

“That’s not it at all,” I added calmly. “You didn’t get my point. You do deserve respect, not only mine, but that of the whole City.

My explanation didn’t satisfy him. He said that it was just a crock and that I was a wimp.
“Looks like I’m the only man in your precious City, and I’m going to beat the hell out of you and this poor excuse of a goalie!” Like a maniac, he jumped on Pilungo and started pounding him.

War had begun.

Basically, we had two choices: to run or to fight. Without thinking, we simply tried to detain the aggressor. I may have exaggerated a little bit, and while trying to hold him down, socked him in the chest hard enough for him to lose his breath, and gave him a capoeira kick that got his mouth and nose. Picking up broomstick like piece of wood from the ground, I finished him off with a couple of smacks on the back. The unlucky bastard fell and fainted. During the fight, I hadn’t stopped to think that I am strong as a tank, nor did I try to control my punches. It was impossible after listening to that stranger insult the City and our people.

People appeared from nowhere, and took him to the emergency room in City Hospital. There, thank God, he was treated and declared out of danger. Completely immobilized in casts, with four broken ribs, a few missing teeth and a broken nose, he would think twice before provoking anybody in the future.

Moments later, I was face to face with Judge.

I told the magistrate exactly what had happened, including all of the details. I didn’t leave anything out. The judge listened to me patiently without interrupting.

When I finished, he began.

During his long discourse, fair words flowed. Judge was humane and just. He spoke of parallels and precedents. On one hand, the facts weighed in my favor. On the other hand, they could lead to my condemnation. On one plate of the scales, he placed my clean past, my good qualities, and my peaceful nature along with the unfair provocation of the stranger and my need for self defense.
On the other plate, he placed the exaggerated violence of my reaction, and quickly it descended against me.

“You used unnecessary violence,” Judge declared. “You could have taken the life of your fellow man. Justice does not desire death of the offender, but hopes for his recuperation and reintegration in society.”
After speaking, he looked through the Penal Code, turning pages and consulting different articles in the thick volume.

The atmosphere became solemnly silent. Expectation weighed on us like lead.

Respectfully, Judge closed his book and began to speak again. This time his words were directed not at me, but at all present. Hesitatingly, his low voice hammered in my mind.

“... and for this reason, in accordance with the Code, the defendant Calunga is condemned to nine days of reclusion. The sentence is to be carried out at the Maximum Security Prison, starting at the time of his arrival.

Upon hearing the sentence, I felt my legs tremble. My hands were pins and needles and my vision faded out.

Teaching Tips & Ideas

USE & WEAR

To Use – Usar, Utilizar
e.g. He uses compasses to describe a circle
She will use nuts to give her cake a better flavor.

To Wear – Usar no corpo, Vestir.
e.g. The so-called “Wash and Wear” garments
are made of a fabric that requires little or no ironing.

I never wear black; I prefer to wear blue or green.

Double Example:

That lad has two handkerchiefs: one that he uses to wipe his nose, the other, he wears in his outer pocket..

LAUGHTER'S THE BEST MEDICINE

THE REDNECK AND THE MINISTER

A pompous minister was seated next to a redneck from Texas on a flight across the country. After the plane was airborne, drink orders were taken. The redneck asked for a whiskey and soda, which was brought and placed before him. The flight attendant then asked the minister if he would like a drink. He replied in disgust, "I'd rather be savagely raped by brazen whores than let liquor touch these lips." The redneck then handed his drink back to the flight attendant and said, "Shit, me too. I didn't know we had a choice."

QUOTE OF THE DAY

I FEEL BAD FOR PEOPLE WHO DON'T DRINK BECAUSE WHEN THEY WAKE UP IN THE MORNING AND GET OUT OF BED... THAT'S THE BEST THEY ARE GONNA FEEL ALL DAY. (Frank Sinatra)

THE CITY OF THE LONER - Chapter 8

CHAMPION

When the Loner and his friends decided to build the City, it never occurred to them that, in the future from the midst of the population would emerge talented leaders capable of turning dreams into reality. A man of great insight, the architect of the City Museum, however, was so confident that he had projected a gallerydestined to the City’s heroes. In this gallery, the largest portrait was that of Champion, sportsman and idol, the pride of the population.

Champion had become a legend in his own time. 6’6” tall, extremely thin, with a trunk too small for his legs and arms awkwardly long, he reminded people of a monkey or spider or swan or preying mantis.

Carrying the burden of his undisclosed age, he maintained his image as an athlete, who had collected medals, conquered trophies and admirers. The City admired him and loved him as a role model. He was an aging hero, whose strength may have left him, but for whom the passion for sports, for all sports lived on.

According to the oldest inhabitants of the City, he was first called Champion during the times he competed in track and field events. He was unbeatable in long jump and running.

An important fact to bring up is that he had never played soccer. Maybe that is why he decided to completely dedicate himself, heart and soul to the game. His wasn’t the typical love of a fan who would cheer from the stands for his team. It was almost a fever that led him to build the stadium and to shake up the pride of the people. He took care of everything.

Even the idea for the club’s flag was his own: a vertical standard the same shade of aqua as the City Lake with two arching fishes in the center forming the letters CC standing for City Club.

Like Champion, other athletes showed up to make the City’s team. All of the men’s nicknames began with C, except for Pilungo, whose shirt number was “1”.
The fans quickly made up a cheer, “Give me a P—Pilungo; Give me a P for El Paredon.” He did in fact defend against goals as if he were a "paredon", a wall.

Two brothers, Central and Captain came to play fullback. They were talented giants that Champion had known for a long time. He’d hoped that they want to play on the CC team.

It wasn’t as easy getting centerfielders set up, but after trying a few alternatives, Champion chose Catuca, Centerhalf, and Cururu, three valuable players.

Looking for the same quality in the offensive, he found his line of attack Caçamba, Caboré, Commander (the captain), Capote and me. I played the left and was an idol for the crystalline legion of fans. I had lost count of the times I saw the stadium tremble while the fans yelled my name.

After a few consecutive victories, our most ardent fans, swore that CC was unbeatable. Some believed that our banner had mystical powers, and they seemed to be right. Since the founding of the club, wherever we played, at home or away, our aqua flag soared proudly overhead
— victorious.

Of the neighboring cities, only one, whose name won’t mention, had a team of our caliber. Obsessed with breaking our record, their players practiced day and night. In spite of their determination, the team was still at a disadvantage, but for they were a real threat. We knew for a fact that their directors were not above bribing referees. We knew that they would stoop to any measures to get what they wanted.

And this was the team that was slated to play against us at the inauguration of the CSC.

I say against “us” from habit. I still consider myself part of CC because it is part of my life. Yet, I wouldn’t have been allowed to play in the inauguration game if not for Champion. If only he could outsmart those low-down dirty club directors and ruined their sleazy plan.

Champion had always been a model of decency and loyalty. For him, one error didn’t justify another, nor did one crime compensate another. In spite of his honorable principles, however, this time he had to fight fire with fire. I knew that CC was already in trouble because our team had only eleven players; there were no reserves. Even worse, I was that missing player and must admit I was the best player: the most feared attacker and the goalies’ nightmare. When it came right down to it, Champion had two choices: come up with a plan or hand our team of ten on a silver platter to our rivals’complete squad.

As I sat in prison, I still hoped for victory. I trusted Champion to overcome difficulties. I had
always admired his ability to face obstacles head on. And this time, the reputation of the City was at stake. My inner voice assured me that Champion would find a way out and lead CC to victory. It wouldn’t be during our inauguration game that our enemies would bring us down. I was completely confident that our extraordinary leader would find light at the end of the tunnel.

And he did.

RULES OF THUMB

Verbo To Be como “TER”

O verbo ter do Português é largamente usado, aparecendo muito em expressões do nosso cotidiano e assumindo freqüentemente um papel idiomático. O verbo to have, que seria seu correspondente em Inglês, tem um uso mais restrito, não aparecendo muito em formas idiomáticas. O verbo to be, por outro lado, cobre em Inglês uma grande área de significado, aparecendo em muitas expressões do dia a dia, de forma semelhante ao verbo ter do Português. Portanto, muitas vezes ter corresponde a to be, conforme os seguintes exemplos:

Quantos anos você tem? - How old are you?
Você tem certeza? - Are you sure?
Você tem razão. - You are right.
Não tenho medo de cachorro. - I'm not afraid of dogs.
O que é que tem de errado? - What's wrong?
Não tive culpa disso. - It wasn't my fault.
Tivemos sorte. - We were lucky.
Tenha cuidado. - Be careful.
Tenho pena deles (sinto por eles). - I'm sorry for them.
Não tenho condições de trabalhar. / Não estou em condições ... - I'm not able to work. / I can't work.
Ela tem vergonha de falar Inglês. - She's too shy to speak English.
Você tem que ter paciência. - You must be patient.
Ele tem facilidade para línguas. / Tem jeito ... - He's good at languages.
Um canteiro de fumo tem 2 metros de largura por 25 de comprimento.
A tobacco seedbed is 2 meters wide and 25 meters long.

LAUGHTER'S THE BEST MEDICINE

“GET AWAY FROM MY DEER!”

It was Saturday morning and Jake, an avid hunter, woke up ready to go bag the first deer of the season. He walks down to the kitchen to get a cup of coffee, and to his surprise he finds his wife, Alice, sitting there, fully dressed in camouflage. Jake asks her, “What are you up to?” Alice smiles, “I'm going hunting with you”. Though he has many reservations, reluctantly, Jake decides to take her along.

They arrive at the hunting site. Jake sets his wife safely up in the tree stand and tells her: “If you see a deer, take careful aim on it and I'll come running back as soon as I hear the shot.” Jake walks away with a smile on his face knowing that Alice couldn't bag an elephant -- much less a deer.

But not 10 minutes pass when he is startled as he hears an array of gunshots. Quickly, Jake starts running back. As Jake gets closer to her stand, he hears Alice screaming, “Get away from my deer!” Confused, Jake races faster towards his screaming wife. And again he hears her yell, “Get away from my deer!” followed by another volley of gunfire.

Now within sight of where he had left his wife, Jake is surprised to see a cowboy, with his hands high in the air. The cowboy, obviously distraught, says, “Okay, lady, okay! You can have your deer! Just let me get my saddle off it!”

THE CITY OF THE LONER - Chapter 7

THE CITY’S
SPORTS COMPLEX

At the beginning of one week, hundreds of workers started their day digging an enormous hole near the town square my father had built. From a great distance, shovels, hoes, and pickaxes softly scraped alongside the roar of tractors and other heavy construction equipment. Trucks arrived continuously, carrying loads of cement, bricks, stone and steel, and left loaded with earth and debris. The site was hectic, and in the middle of the activity reigned Champion, planning strategies, conducting workers, leading his army of workers and machinery.

He was in full command of the battle taking place under that huge cloud of dust.

He was happy to be there.

All of his men were happy to be there.

And because they were content at their jobs, the job would get done faster.

News spread quickly and the City celebrated. They were building a sports stadium.

It was Champion’s gift to the City, an old dream about to become reality. With this enterprise, the aging sportsman hoped to realize another dream — to nurture young athletes who would take his place in the arena. The stadium would be the school and stage for young athletes in all sports, for individuals and for teams. Besides running tracks and fields, there would be volleyball, basketball, tennis, and indoor soccer courts, not to mention the full-scale field for real soccer matches. For swimming, Olympic-sized pools would permit simultaneous competitions in swimming, diving, and other events. More than just a simple stadium, the sports complex would have the characteristics of an Olympic village.

When the idea was still in the planning stages, Champion decided to call the project The City Sports Complex. Soon the community’s conversations were buzzing about the CSC.

From the beginning until the end of the construction, men worked at a frantic pace 24/7.
Champion was in a hurry to finish so that he could inaugurate the complex on his birthday. No one knew Champion’s age, but everyone knew his motives. He explained that it would be a double present for him. First of all, for him to be able to donate the complex to the City and second of all, for him to be able to bask in the enthusiastic energy of the population.

“It will be the greatest achievement of my life,” he confided to the workers.

“And ours too,” admitted the construction team.

As members of the community, they would reap the benefits that the stadium would offer. That’s why their nonstop effort was worth every minute of hard labor. Fully motivated from start to finish, the men managed to finish the job ahead of time.

It was truly a work of art. The covered bleachers had a tribune of honor with reserved seats for the City’s leaders: Judge, Priest, Chief of Police, and Mayor would not need to stand in lines. Other illustrious citizens were also given the chance to reserve their places. Everyone was amazed that the swimming pools’ crystalline water was the same aqua as the City’s man-made lake. To the smallest detail, the courts were impeccable. The track and field impressed all with their gracious lines and sense of motion. The complex was a colossal success.

Some even suggested that the name be changed from the CSC to the Colossal Sports Complex, but Champion protested, “Never!”

Though most of the population favored “Colossal,” Champion’s opinion was respected without debate as a way of thanking him for his generous gift. Someone offered another suggestion: Champion’s Colossal Sports Center.

“That’s even worse!” he declared, ending any further discussion. In fact, Champion was a simple, humble man who could not fathom attaching his name to the magnificent project.

Mayor, in response to a request from my father, called for a committee to be in charge of the CSC inauguration. It was a large group of adults and children with representatives from varied social levels. All ideas, suggestions and reminders were welcome. The festivities would include firing a canon in salutation, fireworks, chiming church bells, student parades, athlete parades, and of course the City’s own marching band Sazefeem leading up to the highlight of the celebration: a soccer match between CC and an adversary yet to be chosen. The winner of the match would take home the Loner’s Trophy — a two foot crystal the color of the Lake of the City.

The committee agreed unanimously with a suggestion to surprise Champion. Their plan was considered a top secret because they knew that if word leaked out, the old athlete would refuse to participate. For obvious reasons, the surprise would take place after the game because it would only work if CC won the trophy. The entire committee agreed that after the ref whistled the end of the game, Champion would be so happy that he would not be able to escape their recognition. They imagined that it would be the most exciting moment in his life, a moment of unforgettable joy.

But their plan would only work if CC won the game.

Teaching Tips & Ideas

Prefixes are elements placed before a word to create a new word.

Look at the following examples:

Anti - against - antisocial (a person who does not like being with other people) antiwar (a person who does not believe in war; opposed to war)

Hyper - beyond the ordinary - hyperactive (a person who is very active; more active than other people), hypersensitive (a person who is very sensitive; extra sensitive to things)

il-, in-, im-, ir- = illogical (not logical)
insufficient (not sufficient; not enough) impossible (not possible)
irresponsible (not responsible)

Poly - = many - polyglot (a person who speaks many languages)
polygon (a shape with many sides and angles)

Post - = after - postseason (after the regular season)
postscript (PS; additional remarks at the end of a letter)

QUOTE OF THE DAY

"MY EDUCATION WAS DISMAL. I WENT TO A SERIES OF SCHOOLS FOR MENTALLY DISTURBED TEACHERS".

Woody Allen - US movie actor, comedian, & director

LAUGHTER'S THE BEST MEDICINE

OBSESSIONS

A psychiatrist was conducting a group therapy session with four young
mothers and their small children...

"You all have obsessions," he observed.

To the first mother, Mary, he said, "You are obsessed with
eating. You've even named your daughter Candy."

He turned to the second Mom, Ann: "Your obsession is with money.
Again, it manifests itself in your child's name, Penny."

He turns to the third Mom, Joyce: "Your obsession is alcohol. This
too manifests itself in your child's name, Brandy."

At this point, the fourth mother, Kathy, gets up, takes her
little boy by the hand and whispers. "Come on, Dick, we're leaving."

Teaching Tips & Ideas

THE USE OF SUFFIXES

The suffixes ment (act of, state of), er (one who does) and ness (act of, state of) can be added to words to make a noun. Add one of these suffixes to each word below so that the new word will make sense in each sentence.



1. (state) The President made a _______________to the Congress.

2. (teach) Our English___________went on vacation this weekend.

3. (deaf) People’s___________is the result of noise pollution.

4. (preach) His brother is a_____________in the Baptist church.

5. (govern/agree) The___________signed an__________with the senators.

6. (paint) Picasso, the famous______________was born in Spain.

7. (sad/play) We saw the team’s______________when their best________was hurt.

8. (fresh) _____________is important in vegetables.

9. (measure) Alex doesn’t know the exact____________of the garage door.

10. (sing) Sinatra was the best and most important American____________of all times.

11. (pay) Please, do not forget your monthly___________.

12. (labor) A person who gets paid for his work it is called a____________.

THE CITY OF THE LONER - Chapter 6

THE MAGISTRATE

After a few days, when the City had already gotten back into its normal happy pace of life, there appeared on the streets, a person who drew attention to himself: a healthy middle aged man with a ruddy complexion and mature stature. He was well-dressed in a black suit, white shirt and bow tie and carried a lustrous cane with a gold handle. His carefully combed, white hair contrasted with his thick black moustache, which turned up at the ends. Always alone, he spoke with no one, not even to say good day. He was serious and sullen. Perhaps there existed in his nature some hidden friendliness that would someday blossom, but when people first saw him, they doubted it. His mysterious presence eventually was proved positive, however. In fact, he personally helped elevate the level of civilization in the City.

He was a judge.

At first, only important people had access to him. His first friends were Priest, Mayor and Chief of Police. As time went by, other worthy citizens got to know him. The rest of the population waited hopefully for the contagious vitality of the City to transform the Judge.

They didn’t have to wait long.

The transformation began with his face. Little by little muscles relaxed. Then his eyes softened as did his gestures. Sometimes he even smiled. Yet, he still only spoke with a select few, in closed social circles. Living in moderation, avoiding frivolous behavior, he perhaps believed that familiarity with the people of the City would diminish his prestige and the people’s respect for his position. Chief of Police became his closest companion due to their common interest in the law.

Just as the Brazilian proverb decrees that dripping water erodes stone,
the friendliness of the people in the City wore down the wall the judge had built around himself.

When Chief of Police arrived in the City, he had acted in the same manner — distant and reserved to the point of looking annoyed. With time, however, he changed and began to love the City. To show his affection, he built the jail — The Maximum Security Prison — without a doubt a useless project, considering that since it opened, only one person, I myself, have been
detained. Loneliness made me hope that the second was on the way.

The people close to Judge took it upon themselves to convince the City that the magistrate was not the insensitive brute he seemed to be. They spread the word that he was serene, humane and above all, fair. They explained that he didn’t speak to people because he had been born quiet, raised quiet, and couldn’t change this innate quality.

It was only with Priest, that Judge felt at ease in conversation. They spent hours in erudite dialogues, exchanging profound thoughts. In one of these debates, Judge revealed his belief that from the time of each person’s birth, along with original sin he or she carried an obligation: a duty to preserve the heritage left by ancestors, assuring a legacy for future generations.

“A better place than the City does not exist for those determined to fulfill this obligation,” Judge stated, as if revealing an extraordinary secret to the Priest.

With this idea in mind, Judge asked my father draw up a plan for a building dedicated to justice. It was this act that convinced the people that in spite of his appearance and demeanor, Judge had changed. Like all of the others, he too had been changed by the contagious love for the City.

My father was ecstatic to have another opportunity to achieve a professional dream. While previously he had focused on the urban landscaping of public works, his current project would permit him to affirm his talents, in the execution of both the external and internal design of the building.

From the very beginning, the subtlety of my father’s plan was evident. The external walls of the building created the impression that they hovered lightly above the ground, barely touching the earth.

Every day, Judge visited the construction site.
He accompanied progress from excavating the foundation and raising walls to the hanging of doors and other finishing touches. He observed each step with great interest. At one point while enjoying the rhythm of the construction team at work, he felt mildly perturbed when on of the men asked him a question.

“What building is this, your honor?”
“The Forum,” he answered.
“A forum? What’s that?”
“The place where the departments of Justice do their work.”
“Is it the same as the Court Building?”
“Yes.”

The tone of the Judge’s voice should have let the worker know that the magistrate was cutting him off, but instead, he persisted.

“When will the inauguration be?”

Judge did not even answer. He ignored the question and walked away irritated.

The judge thought to himself that the day chosen was, in fact, very meaningful. The commemoration of the creation of the Brazilian Supreme Court was also on September 18, but date was being kept a secret. Not even Judge’s close friends knew, so why should he tell
a mere busybody?

Throughout history, people have gotten into trouble for sticking their noses into other people’s business, and quite frankly Judge was tempted to use his gold handled cane to knock some sense into the thick head of the pest who had approached him. Controlling himself, he thought it better to leave. He walked away thinking about the inauguration. He wanted the ceremony to be simple, without speeches, without food and drinks, without fanfare. The Forum would simply open for business, and at the right moment, he would call the authorities to let them know. He hoped to call as little attention as possible to the building.
The population, however, had different ideas, and arrived in multitudes. On September 18, from outside on the surrounding sidewalks up into the interior of the building, the crowds wanted to participate and honor another step in the City’s progress.

A simple blessing of the building had been planned in keeping with the religious nature of the
people. In fact, however, the Priest had barely finished his prayer, when Judge got down to work. Without letting any emotion rise to his cool surface, he sat at his desk and started signing papers, writing dispatches, taking notes and writing observations. He went about his work as
if the opening of the building meant nothing.

Focused.
Competent.
Secure.

Without hesitating, he did his job like the intelligent veteran he was.

On the sidewalks, a line wound around the building. Men and women holding papers waited to
have documents notarized. It was their way of thanking him for building the Courthouse, so that the Judge would not think that his efforts had been in vain. In fact, the City did need a Forum. The proof was evident in the number of people being attended.

It was a busy day.

The judge wisely solved many cases and gave out sentences. Because the City was so orderly, however, there weren’t any criminal cases for him to handle. If there had been, he would undoubtedly have meted out justice to whomever and however it applied. Once when he heard a clergyman saying that Death did not distinguish the rich from the poor, he added:

“Nor does the law. Like Death, no one can escape justice.”

Such declarations reflected the Judge’s austere dignity. He was serene in his decision making
and considered fair by everyone. And if anyone can be sure of that, it is I.

I was the first in the City to be condemned for a criminal act, and am now facing my sentence of nine days in the Maximum Security Prison.

I was condemned; nevertheless, I do not bear any grudges against the Judge himself nor the judicial system that put me here.

THE CITY OF THE LONER - Chapter 5

TETO’S
DISCOVERY

By a smashing ninety-two percent of the votes, the people rejected the idea of holding three celebrations, proving their preference for a single event. The organizing committee seemed to have known this ahead of time because they were able to present a schedule offestive activities almost immediately after the vote. It was as if they had been planning all along.

And they had been.

Efficiently, the group had prepared two plans, so that they would be ready for either decision.
Now, they needed only to follow the plan dictated by the popular vote. The celebration day would include speeches and sports, as well as free time for people to enjoy their leisure.

The people had spoken and their voice would be respected.

The first activity was held at 5:00AM when a certificate of recognition was
bestowed upon my father.

The morning sun had not broken over the horizon when Maestro led the national anthem. It was tradition. On all holidays and other special days, the national anthem was the first and the last song played. People crowded into the town hall stood with hands over their hearts reflecting love and respect as they sang.

My father was wearing a suit and tie, though he had long before given up wearing formal attire. My mother was elegantly dressed with a diamond brooch shining on the collar of her green jacket. She felt her legs tremble as the Chairman of the City Council handed her a beautifully
engraved heavy gold medallion on a chain to place on my father’s neck. While she adjusted the clasp, the crowd cheered, and she was overcome by emotion.

Two speeches followed. Both were short, especially my father’s. The City Council Chairman began by highlighting the aesthetic, social and human significance of each of the projects. Later on, with his voice rising in emotion he concluded, “our distinguished neighbor is truly deserving of honors, prizes, and praise for the services he has rendered to our community.”

My father improvised, merely thanking the Chairman for his kind words.
The entire audience applauded in standing ovation.

From this assembly, everyone moved outside to the patio, where breakfast would be served. More than twenty long tables were laden with varied breads, cookies, cakes, cheeses, wines, fruit and juices. An enormous cake, prepared by Baker was decorated in the shape of the bridge, river and monument square. People enjoyed a leisurely breakfast since there was no reason for hurry. They were free to enjoy not only the delicious food, but delightful company until the rising sun and heat of the day made the organizers encourage people to begin the street festival. Maestro and his marching band in their dress uniforms left the festivities, playing patriotic music as they marched to the bridge.

For more than a hour, groups of school children paraded over the bridge carrying colorful banners. Behind them came the City’s Sports Club, complete with floats designed to show the City’s history. Champion was there organizing this part of the parade. Even from far away, his incredibly tall athletes were easy to see as the procession ended. Priest blessed the public works and Mayor closed the official solemnities.

The population spent the rest of the day celebrating. They danced and sang and dove into the
river and the manmade lake as well, even though it was the river that was being inaugurated along with the bridge and the town square: the new pride of the City.

It was a pleasure to see the young people, unafraid climbing the bridge, scooting up the parapets and plunging into the crystal waters. Because my father had imagined this scene, he had planned for the river to be sufficiently deep to avoid any disasters.

In the afternoon, something unexpected and surprisingly agreeable, especially for my father
occurred. A contest in which swimmers would swim the entire length of the river, starting at the manmade lake was suggested by someone in the multitude. It turned out to be an easy task since the river’s current gently helped the participants along their way. All of the contestants
reached their goal, with the stronger swimmers, like Teto, who won, coming in first, and others like me paddling in from behind. I lost sight of Teto, not only because the advantage he had over me, but also because of the angle of the rays of sun that glared on the water. Teto didn’t seem bothered in the least as he moved farther and farther ahead of the group.

The sun died down into the water as if wanting to take the swimmer with it.

Teto didn’t even notice. He swam into the sunset as if, like the sun, death could be looked at
straight in the eye.

He swam.
And swam.
And swam.

The waters, at first comradely and supportive, gently pushing him downstream, suddenly frothed violently, dragging him down. It was a fight for him to escape the water’s fury.

Grand.
Unmeasured.
Greater than the fear of death.
Is the will to live.

Many people die because they cannot avoid one fatal instant. Teto could. After his close call, almost breathless, but safe, he was still able to appreciate his discovery: a splendid crystalline waterfall. Its color needless to say was the same as the waters of the Lake of the City. The ecstasy of his discovery made up for the agony of facing death, which he undoubtedly would do again, if necessary to behold the cascading waters.

The last rays of sun hit the surface, cutting the water and illuminating a bed of precious stones.
Teto was happy. Still panting, he collected enough strength to warn the nearest swimmer.

“A waterfall! A waterfall! I discovered a waterfall!”

Hearing the joy in Teto’s voice, that swimmer called out the news to the next, who passed it along to the next and so on forming a chain of communication. Carried by the wind, the news flew from swimmer to swimmer and soon reached the City.

“How naive I was!” my father thought.

“Worried only about the three projects underway, I didn’t stop to think that the river would obviously end in a waterfall. After all, we are on top of a hill!”

The streets were soon deserted because everyone wanted to see the waterfall. Mother, Father, the authorities, the marching band and the entire population...By the time they arrived, daylight had faded into night.

That night the band didn’t lead the crowd in the national anthem. Instead it played a new composition of soft and fleeting colors. The melody spilled into the waters and transformed into luminous happiness, lulling the people’s hearts with contentedness. I saw Mayor whisper something to my father, who simply shook his head and smiled in the direction of Priest. Mayor must have been suggesting a speech because Priest began to speak.

The prayer was brief. His touching words were poetic. He said that Nature was offering a divine gift to the City, pampering us with the Waterfall, which would complement our manmade works. He asked that all of us look to the heavens and contemplate stars which new to all of us, in fact, had been born millions of light years ago, but now shimmered in rhythm with our
own beating hearts.

“This unique beauty,” he concluded, “is God’s way to show affection for
the pride that we feel for this City.

That jubilant night my father was indeed filled with pride and affection,
and consequently, so were my mother and I.

Teaching Tips & Ideas - Part 2

ENGLISH THROUGH ACTING - THEATER AS A TEACHING AID.


A Play provides a realistic model of the way we talk. Not the exact model but it is closer than the contents of most English text-books.

1 – Selecting a Play. Modern – contains useful language – presenting an aspect of a culture where English is the native language. Avoid Shakespeare. He is absolutely marvelous but his English is not what we use in daily conversation. He wrote for a different time. His vocabulary and phrases are not what the young people of today need.

2 – “The Talk and Listen System”. It can train the “actors” to listen, to learn dialogues in a conversational tone – not reciting. In most classrooms situations, dialogues are read aloud rather than spoken as conversation. The “cue” for the listener to begin speaking is the Silence.
The student should not read the line to the other person, because we read completely different from the way we talk. There would be no problem on how often the actor refers to the script. A broken sentence like – “I am going downtown to buy a magazine”, could appear. But it is not a terrible thing because this is only a first part time. Maybe on the second time he’ll be able to put four or five words together and so on. This is important because the student is making communication – he is looking at the other actor – (eye contact). Acting is 50% listening. You can’t be a good actor without listening to what the other person is saying and to the way he is talking to you. The same is true in conversation.

3 – How to do it – Cards “A” and “B”

A – Why do you always do that?

A -...........................................................

B -...........................................................

B - Do what?

A - You Know. What you’re doing now.

B -............................................................

B - ...........................................................

B - Why? Does it bother you?

A - Oh, no. Not at all.

A -...........................................................

B - ...........................................................

B - You’re kind of a crazy.


Since “A” speaks first, “A” reads his first line to himself. “B”does not look at his card yet, but waits for “A” to speak to him. “A” then makes Eye Contact with “B”and says his first line to “B”. When “A” has finished speaking, “B” reads the first line in his card to himself, then looks up and says it to “A”. The entire dialogue is done this way. The students may refer to their cards as often as necessary, but whenever someone is speaking the other one should not be reading his line, trying to learn them, or planning how to say them. He should be LISTENING to the speaker. He can give a proper response only if he has been listening. When using a dialogue from a text-book or a play, the student should be careful not to read the line that is being spoken to him. In most cases a student who reads the line that is being spoken to him will hear his own INNER VOICE with its interpretation louder than the real voice of the speaker. (Richard Via)

Here Is A List Of People Engaged On The Teaching Thru Acting Process:

MAURICE IMHOOF: Mr. Imhoof has joined the growing number of persons connected with teaching English utilizing drama as a part of the learning process. Several years ago Mr. Imhoof had an experience in directing a shortened version of Shakespeare’s Macbeth at The University of Kabul, Afghanistan.

TEREZINHA PINTO: Miss Pinto is also engaged on the process of teaching thru drama. She was a teacher for children and had also worked in one adaptation of Romeo and Juliet some years ago at Instituto Cultural Brazil/Estados Unidos – Minas Gerais – Brazil.

SARAH SHARIM PAZ: Miss Sharim Paz combines two professional interests. Drama and Language Teaching. Prior to becoming an instructor Miss Paz taught English in several secondary schools, and as a professional actress she appeared in more than 15 plays. She has also written scripts for radio and TV and directed the production of an original script “Shakespeare and his Time”. She has been a Senior Lecturer in the Department of Modern Languages at The University of Chile.

RICHARD VIA: Mr. Via was a Visiting Researcher at the East-West Culture Learning Institute of Honolulu, Hawaii. Creator of the “Talking and Listen System” (The via Method), Mr. Via assumes that no one can start the very first English lesson by presenting a play. “Students do need the basics. They need some vocabulary. They need to know something about English before we jump right in with a play”.

DISADVANTAGES: The amount of time spent on rehearsals. 25 hours for one act – 120 hours for three acts. The problem of shyness. The understudies.

OUR INDIVIDUAL EXPERIENCE: Some years ago we staged one of Mr. Via’s plays called “Never on Wednesdays” – a comedy. A Xmas celebration. The “actors” have been motivated and involved in the atmosphere of the performance and so have the audience. Also, some excerpts of Shakespeare’s “Hamlet” have been produced (we did not avoid the Bard of Avon) and the whole experience was a real satisfaction. But that’s what it really was, an EXPERIENCE. The Via Method has not been used. HUGO CALDAS

Teaching Tips & Ideas

THE DEFINITE ARTICLE "THE" - PART 3

The Article THE is used:

- Before family names in the the plural:

e.g. THE Taylors are coming to dinner.

THE Simpsons are moving to California.

- Before proper names when the very name is used as an adjective:

e.g. THE Reagan Administration was quite inefficient.

- Before certain geographical names:

e.g. THE Philippines – THE United States –

THE United Kingdom - THE Baltic – THE Hague (city) –

THE Caribbean – THE Artic

THE Netherlands – THE Bahamas – THE West Indies – THE Balkans

- IT IS USED (generally) before the names of Rivers, Seas, Oceans, Chain of Mountains:

e.g. THE Thames - THE Volga – THE Danube – THE Rhine – THE Amazon

THE Nile – THE Pacific – THE Atlantic – THE Andes – THE Alps - THE Mediterranean – THE Red Sea.

- IT IS USED when the person or thing that is referred to is obvious within the situation:

e.g. THE milkman was late this morning.

THE Mailman hasn’t been here yet.

Have you seen THE Newspapers?

THE carpenter has done an excellent job.

THE mechanic has fixed my car last night

- With parts of the body and pieces of clothes the

POSSESSIVE ADJECTIVE is generally used instead of “THE”.

e.g. I hurt MY knee - Take off YOUR coat - She broke HER arm.

- IT IS USED to refer to all members of a class or nationality:

e.g. THE rich get richer and THE poor get poorer.

THE French are famous for their cooking.

- IT IS USED for inventions in general:

e.g. Who invented THE telephone ?

THE motor car has been with us for almost a century.

THE wheel was the most important invention for all mankind.

THE zip-fastener was a very useful invention.

- IT IS USED before superlatives:

e.g. THE fastest train in the world.

THE most important language.

THE cheapest European automobile.

- And in the idiomatic expressions: ....THE more... THE less...

e.g. THE more I read, THE less I understand.

- IT IS USED to indicate DECADES AND CENTURIES:

e.g. This movement took place in THE 60’s.

This movement took place in THE sixties.

That happened in THE XVI century.

That happened in THE sixteenth century.

LAUGHTER'S THE BEST MEDICINE

A wife was making a breakfast of fried eggs for her husband.
Suddenly, her husband burst into the kitchen....

"Careful," he said, "CAREFUL! Put in some more butter! Oh my GOD!
You're cooking too many at once. TOO MANY! Turn them! TURN THEM NOW!
We need more butter. Oh my GOD! WHERE are we going to get MORE BUTTER?
They're going to STICK! Careful .. CAREFUL! I said be CAREFUL! You
NEVER listen to me when you're cooking! Never! Turn them! Hurry up!
Are you CRAZY? Have you LOST your mind? Don't forget to salt them.
You know you always forget to salt them. Use the salt. USE THE SALT!
THE SALT!"

The wife stared at him. "What in the world is wrong with you?
You think I don't know how to fry a couple of eggs?"
The husband calmly replied,
"I just wanted to show you what it feels like when I'm driving."

Optical Illusion:

HOW MANY HORSES CAN YOU SEE?

LAUGHTER'S THE BEST MEDICINE

HARD TO FIND

Two guys are quietly sitting in a boat fishing and sucking down beer when suddenly Mel says:

- I think I'm going to divorce my wife. She hasn't spoken to me in over 2 months.

Earl sips his beer and says:

- You'd better think it over. Women like that are hard to find !

Teaching Tips & Ideas

THE DEFINITE ARTICLE "THE" - Part 2

DO NOT use THE before the names of chemical elements, substances, metals, materials; animal or agricultural products, colors, arts, sciences etc., when used in a general sense:

e.g. Butter is made from cream
Wheat is grown in Canada and Argentina.
Coffee is appreciated all over the world.
Steel is harder than iron.
Blue is a beautiful color.
Hydrogen is the lightest gas.
I like history and music.
Sand is used in house building.

But, we use THE before the nouns above when they are limited or qualified:

e.g. THE steel used in ship building is a special one.
THE blue of the sky above us is absolutely marvelous.
THE history they teach at that school is completely wrong.
THE music that comes from that church is divine.
THE hydrogen that they produce at that factory is 100% pure.
THE sand they used to build that house is of poor quality.
THE butter that you bought is awful.
THE wheat grown in Canada is of excellent quality.
THE coffee which is exported from Colombia is of good quality.

DO NOT use before the names of the planets (except the Earth):

e.g. Jupiter is many times bigger than THE Earth.
Pluto is the farthest planet of the Solar System.

But, IT IS used before nouns that have a UNIQUE reference:

e.g. THE Sun THE Moon THE Atmosphere THE Sky THE Stars
THE North THE South THE East THE West.

THE CITY OF THE LONER - Chapter Four

4 - THE PLEBISCITE

In just a week, we had completely adapted to life in the City. Mom was welcomed, not only by the housewives on our street, but by all of the women in the City. She felt immensely at ease with these caring, attentive women, whose good natures radiated happiness. They welcomed her to join them in simple and true friendship.

“Who wouldn’t be happy in a place like this?” she asked, thanking God for guiding her when she made her choice.
My dad became a new man, filled with confidence. He even looked younger. He had found his
niche and was sure to grow professionally.

As soon as he arrived, his mind began to churn with fantastic ideas that would soon become
reality. He noticed at once that there were no rivers in the City, and even though the beautiful man-made lake was cherished by the population, he couldn’t accept that the landscape had no river and no bridges. In spite of the logical explanation that there was no water over which a bridge would span, it still seemed a shame. Finally and lamentably, he noticed that the City had neither a public square, garden nor park, where adults could meet and children could run and play.

Dad was an architect. He had the refined taste and sensitivity of landscapers and urban
planners. He specialized in beautification and humanization of cities. In the City, three of his projects, produced not only personal satisfaction for him, but also motives for pride for the City’s population. They also guaranteed my father’s name for posterity.

Dad started with the river. It was a simple project to implement. He said that it would consist of a deep channel dug into the earth, according to a preestablished route. Its source would be the Lake of the City, from which it would flow winding around some of the streets downtown past a few suburbs and finally spilling into the unknown. It was simple task in spite of its Babylonian
dimensions. The construction brought to mind projects of the Egyptian pharaohs.

Thousands of men worked like ants, each conscious of his responsibility. They dug into the soil, transferring the earth to the backs of trucks. When the trucks were loaded, their engines roared, and smoky fumes filled the air as they departed slowly dragging the weight.

When they finally finished their task, the river was beautiful with its crystalline water from the
man-made lake.

Surprisingly, the lake never dried up. It was as if there were no river at all draining its waters. Nothing changed, and the people of the City continued appreciating the view the Lake and the River that had become part of
their lives.

When the project was finished, my dad did not even consider stopping to rest.

“Stop? Not even to catch my breath!” he said as he got ready to build the bridge.

He chose a delightful spot. He wanted it to have a Baroque style, but had to carefully avoid a
clash with either the City’s 16th Century architecture or the more modern buildings nearby. The outcome would be admirable. In his mind he was positive that the man-made lake, the river and the town square — which would soon be built — would create perfect harmony.

In an area of the square that had the best view of the lawns, the flowerbeds and the children’s
playground, he built a monument. It was a transparent pedestal, tinged the color of the water of the Lake of the City. Its surfaces were planes of varied widths and heights. On the widest column, he placed a crystal plaque of similar transparency. At first, the people of the City were confused, thinking that the monument was incomplete: a pedestal without a statue and a plaque without an inscription. The people were curious, wondering whose memory would be
preserved on the beautiful work of art. Who would be honored?

No response was given. Yet, the people continued to admire the beauty and perfect equilibrium
of lines and forms of the anonymous monument.

Circling the monument, were tables and chairs that my dad had placed there, so that the area would become a meeting place, where people would sit and relax while enjoying unhurried, light, and happy conversations. For some time the main subject of conversation was the inauguration of the three public works. There was no way that the event would be forgotten because everyone enjoyed rehashing the entire process, especially the plebiscite and Teto's discovery of the waterfall.

A plebiscite was going to be held because the population was divided. One group wanted to have three separate parties, one for each project. The other was in favor of one magnificent celebration. That side defended its idea, saying that the river, the bridge and the town

square were indivisible, and therefore one project.

To end the disagreement, my dad suggested that the mayor consult the population. A true democrat, my father believed that problems that involved the population could only be solved with direct participation of the population.

“You’re suggesting a plebiscite?” asked the mayor.
“Yes,” answered my father.
“Okay. I agree.”

The mayor always listened to my father’s suggestions. He had learned to admire in him and to
confide in him from the time that he first saw Dad’s plans for the City. So, he immediately called Secretary and ordered that measures be taken to call the population to a plebiscite.

“What’s a plebiscite, Mayor?”
“You don’t know what a plebiscite is! Unbelievable! How can my Secretary, the Mayor’s
Secretary not know something of this nature.”

Mayor was irritated. He couldn’t accept that kind of ignorance, especially in someone in his own
cabinet.

“I’m sorry, but I must confess that it’s the first time that I ever heard the word.”

From the frankness of the Secretary, Mayor deduced that many other people in the community were also probably unaware. This would be a great opportunity to build consciousness among the citizens and to build his reputation as an enlightened politician. Looking straight into his Secretary's eyes, he gruffly stated his order.

“You know very well that I do not like to teach individuals over and over when a group could be
taught all at once. So, call a meeting for everyone who works for the municipal government. I’d like to address the entire group.”

The order was received and carried out.

That night the auditorium was full. Smiling and confident, Mayor made his way through the audience. What he planned to say was on the tip of his tongue.

What a beautiful speech!

He had a gift for speaking and he used it well. In the middle of his presentation at the perfect
moment, he delivered his message, his voice ringing with authority:

“...and consequently your city government will be presenting an idea to you, the people. It is you who will decide to accept or not accept the proposal. A Plebiscite is just that: the vote of the people “yes” or “no”.

He concluded his speech with two decrees; the first, convoking the people to the popular vote, and second, appointing a committee to be in charge of writing the proposal ballot.

As usual, Secretary went right about dispatching orders and everything was organized quickly. Soon two illustrious writers of the intellectual community began arguing over the best way to clearly word the proposal. One wanted to promote the single celebration; another supported three distinct commemorations.

Actually, there was no reason for the two to be in opposition: they realized that whatever the wording of the question, the will of the people, based on their votes, would prevail.

Luckily, the two men put their differences aside, and with a bit of understanding on both parts, the wall that divided them tumbled.

By the end of negotiations, the proposal
consisted of one short question:

“Do you want the inauguration of the three projects to consist of three separate celebrations? _____ YES _____NO

The people would mark their preference with an X to show their preference.

And that is how the plebiscite would be decided.

Teaching Tips & Ideas

THE DEFINITE ARTICLE “THE” - PART I

The study of the DEFINITE ARTICLE “THE” is quite simple as far as the English language is concerned. There’s only one form of THE for masculine and feminine, singular and plural. And neuter.

The boy - The boys - The Girl - The girls - The table - The tables (neuter).

The Definite Article THE is generally used to define, determine, qualify a thing (things) or a person (persons). Therefore, the use of the Article in English differs from most languages where it is sometimes used unecessarily.

(English) BOOKS ARE MY BEST FRIENDS - (books in general).
(Portuguese) OS LIVROS SÃO OS MEUS MELHORES AMIGOS.
THE BOOKS WHICH YOU BROUGHT ME ARE QUITE INTERESTING.
THE books, because they are determined, defined.

DO NOT use the Article THE before most proper nouns of:

Persons, Streets, Roads, States, Countries, Parks, etc.
Linda comes from Spain - He lives on Sunset Street.
I once walked in Central Park - Do you know Lincoln Road?

Before Possessives:
My car ran out of gas last night.
His house is near the beach.
Our grass is greener than theirs.
Sam’s computer is brand new.

Before nouns which refer to idioms:
She speaks both English and French.
Japanese is a very difficult language.
English is easier than Portuguese.

But...

THE French spoken in Saint Martin is quite difficult to understand.
THE Portuguese spoken in Brazil differs from that spoken in Portugal.

Before Titles when the name of the person is mentioned:
Queen Elizabeth II is in London presently.
King Henry VIII was a great monarch.
President Clinton won the elections once again.

But…

The Queen and the King are on travel.
The Secretary of State resigned last week.
The President has just arrived from another business trip in Europe
The Duke of Windsor died many years ago.

Before certain names of Mounts, Mountains, Lakes, and Capes.

Mount Everest is the highest mountain in the world.
Lake Ontario is between Canada and The United States.
Cape Horn is miles away from here.
Lake Victoria is quite deep
Cape of Good Hope is located in South Africa.

But...

Names of mounts and mountains when not preceded by the word Mount or
Mountain TAKE the definite article THE:
The Everest – The Aconcagua – The Sugar Loaf – The Kilimanjaro
Also with the names of Volcanoes
The Etna – The Vesuvius

Before plural nouns used in a general sense:
Books are my best friends.
Working with the computer is his favorite entertainment.
Teachers must be patient.
Dogs are faithful,

But THE books you lent me are quite interesting.
THE records that are in the shelf are not mine.
THE teachers of this school are all native speakers.

Before Abstract Nouns used in a general sense:
Life is very hard for the people of Somalia.
Give me freedom or give me death!
Faith is a theological virtue.
Greed is one of the worst sins.

But, it is used with Abstract Nouns that are limited or qualified:

THE life they live there in Iraq is beyond imagination.
THE work that we do here is monotonous.
THE freedom of the seas....
THE faith of the Islamic people.....
THE greed that he has shown.....

THE CITY OF THE LONER - Chapter Three

3 - THE ENIGMA OF MY LIFE

The place where I come from is very far from here. I was born during a rainy season with heavy rains that never stopped. Many people were startled and spoke of floods and punishment by God. The world would surely come to an end under water again.

The rivers rose from their beds. Water invaded homes. Roofs leaked endlessly. Dams broke down or overflowed. Only the Lake of the City remained calm because of its enchantment. Frightening lightening and thunder split the sky and bellowed as never seen or heard before. Superstitious people put sulfurous rocks under their tables to prevent fires sparked by the lightning. Others made offerings of sets of keys to St. Pedro in hope that he would shut heaven’s gates and stop the downpour. Moved by uncontrollable fear, non-believers converted and praised the name of God. They were navigators without compasses, travelers without destinations that held onto faith as the only lifesaver.

And the rains continued stronger and stronger. One of the nights, when the storm was more violent than ever before, as the first light of dawn appeared, I was born.
Unexpectedly, the tempest stopped. Stars began to glitter in sparkling beauty across the sky.
In the living room, my father had been pacing, smoking nonstop, worrying about my mother and her labor pains. With him in nervous solidarity were some of his friends. They were caring neighbors: a husband and wife, and an old white-bearded man who liked to predict people’s futures.
Suddenly, after they heard the cry of the newborn, the midwife opened the door to the bedroom.
“It’s a boy!” she announced smiling.
Dad was overcome with happiness to the point that he was speechless. I was his first child:
a son.
“Just look at how beautiful he is,” the midwife said. “He looks just like a ‘Calunga’, a little doll.”
From that moment on, I was Calunga. It was a description that I liked and was proud of.
The old bearded man got up and changed his glasses to take a close look at me. He held my left hand and looked and looked and looked at it.
“Hmm.” he said, “I see a very good future for this boy. He will be carried on the shoulders of men to the sound of the crowd’s applause.”
The old man’s words echoed in the living room and were carried to the bedroom deep into my
mother’s being. Their sound reverberated throughout the years: “carried on the shoulders of men to the sound of applause” ... “carried on the shoulders of men to the sound
of applause”... My mother began to daydream about her wonderful son’s future. She also called me Calunga, a tender, loving way of addressing her handsome healthy son. (In fact, I never did get sick perhaps because my mother cared for my health so diligently.)
As time passed, I grew, perhaps even faster than time. By my second birthday party, I was much more developed than other two-year-olds. But then again, I was actually eight, having been born on February 29.
During those years, my mother continued to wonder about my future, “Could it be that he’ll become a politician? Perhaps mayor of this city?” “No, not a politician,” she answered in her mind. “My son couldn’t be a politician.” And so she dreamt on, basing her ideas on the
sweet logic of pure love: “A scholar, possibly a scientist?” she thought vainly adding, “A man who would make great contributions to humanity.” Like other mothers who hoped for the best for their children, she was filled with great aspirations for me.
There came a time, however, when suddenly awakening from her musings, she said out loud, “Only God knows the future, so may His will be done.” Even so, the words of the old white-bearded man continued to echo in her mind.
One morning she saw me playing soccer with my friends in a vacant lot near our house. She stopped to watch my moves: dribbling, passing, shooting goals.
“Eureka! I finally know!” she cried out. “My son is going to be a soccer star and will be carried on the shoulders of men to the sound of the crowd’s applause.”
Proud that she ha solved the riddle, she ran to meet my father to share her discovery.
“The prophecy will prove true,” she commented to friends.
Her confidence in the old man’s words was obvious, and the prediction took on a different tone, like a pleasant melody. Her maternal love could not permit that I face the future unprepared, and so that I would not be a shot in the dark, relying on her faith and
determination, she made a plan.
First of all, she went out and bought books about physical education. Shortly after, she set up a
relentless series of exercises to develop my muscles and coordination. Her orientation was brimming with dedication even in the kitchen.
“Your meals have vitamins A to Z, she kidded. “Enough for a horse!”
She remained motivated because her efforts had visible results in my athletic build and physical vigor. I was as strong then as I am today: a veritable tank .
My dad didn’t need to join her campaign. She had everything so carefully planned that any of
his suggestions just interfered. During this time, he was irritable, lacking any real incentive in his life. His boredom was the result of tedious, repetitive work and an unchanging routine. He began to feel like his life was a slow death.
He needed renewal and diversification in his life, so he decided that we would move. It was hard for him to convince my mother to leave the hometown, where she had grown up, married and had her first child. Used to living among friends made throughout the years,
she had never even considered leaving. Yet, my father helped her change her mind.
“It will be best for our son,” he said.
Deep inside, she knew that the change would be good, not for the boy, but for her husband himself.
She was quite aware that he was exploiting her motherly love to convince her to move.
Yet, whether this was true or not doesn’t matter. She finally gave in on one condition: that she
could choose the city where they would live.
“Wherever you wish,” my dad agreed.
“Then we’re off to the City,” she asserted.
It took a few days for Dad to make the arrangements and for Mom to organize the household
for moving. We traveled content and filled with high expectations for the new life awaiting us.
Truly, we felt as if we were entering a state of grace.

LAUGHTER’S THE BEST MEDICINE

This man in Phoenix calls his son in New York two days before Christmas and says," I hate to ruin your day, but I have to tell you that your mother and I are divorcing; forty-five years of misery is enough.

- "Pop, what are you talking about?" the son screams.
- "We can't stand the sight of each other any longer," the father says. "We're sick of each other, and I'm sick of talking about this, so you call your sister in Chicago and tell her."

Frantic, the son calls his sister, who explodes on the phone.

- "Like heck they're getting divorced," she shouts, "I'll take care of this."
She calls Phoenix immediately and screams at her father,

- "You are NOT getting divorced. Don't do a single thing until I get there. I'm calling my brother back, and we'll both be there tomorrow. Until then, don't do a thing. DO YOU HEAR ME?" and hangs up.

- The old man hangs up his phone, turns to his wife and says...
- "All right dear," they're coming for Christmas!"

Teaching Tips & Ideas

TIPS OF THE DAY – PREPOSITIONS

ACROSS -Indica movimento ou extensão por cima de um objeto, de um lado para outro.
Através de.

e.g. - He lives across the street.
She swam across the river.

AFTER - Depois de, após, atrás de, em busca ou no encalço de, à maneira de, abaixo de (graduação)

e.g. - After a storm comes a calm.
The letter arrived the day after.
Peter went after his brothers.
The policeman ran after the crook.
A painting after Rembrandt.
A captain comes after a major.

AGAINST - Contra, em contato com, para, (em previsão de).

e.g. - Let’s all fight against tyranny.
The public opinion was against Bill Clinton.
She was leaning against the wall.

OLD TRADITIONS

Now that the Xmas and New Year festivities are over and we have already enjoyed our annual leave period, how about taking a look at the old traditions? Christmas is a Christian holiday that celebrates the birth of Jesus Christ, but many Christmas traditions come from pagan, or non-Christian sources.

Christmas Trees come from a German pagan tradition. They were brought to the English (who later brought them to the US) by Prince Albert, the German husband of Queen Victoria. Evergreen Wreaths and Boughs. Wreaths are circles of leaves, berries and/or flowers that are usually placed on the front door. Boughs are tree branches. Evergreens are trees that stay green all year long. Because of this, they are pagan symbols of life. They were used to show that life is eternal and continues even in winter, the season of death. Decorating with Holly comes from the Roman solstice celebration called Saturnalia. The Winter Solstice is the shortest day of the year, when the sun shines for the least amount of time. In ancient Roman solstice celebrations, people gave each other Holly because they believed it kept away lightning and evil spirits during the long nights. People have exchanged gifts for thousands of years.

The Saturnalia in Rome took place at the beginning of the New Year. People gave presents as symbols of the good luck, prosperity, and happiness that they wanted their friends and family to have in the coming year. Christians credit the Magi, or Three Wise Men, with starting this tradition when they brought gifts to the Christ Child. Santa Claus is a mix of characters from many different traditions, all of them pagan: the Dutch St. Nick, the English Father Christmas, and the German Kris Kringle, among others. For centuries Norse and Germanic peoples have talked about the Yule Elf, who carries presents to people who leave him food on the Winter Solstice.