Speaking assessment

As we are finished with reading The Body, watching Stand by me, and writing about the two, you are now to prepare a short talk about your favourite book or film. You have 70 minutes on Monday to prepare your talk. During that time you are to write down some key words, practise on your own, and then together with one or more friends. Remember, practise makes perfect!
On Thursday and also Monday next week I will listen to you all individually as you present the book/film to me.

The information that is to be included is:

• Title
• Author (if you are talking about a book)
• Where and when the story takes place.
• Main characters. Describe him/her/them.
• What the story is about. 
• Your own thoughts on the book/film. What makes it your favourite.
• How would you recommend the book/film to? Age, gender etc.

You are of course allowed to add other things you feel are of importance. 

Make sure to practise what you are going to say as I would prefer if you don't bring a lot of notes when presenting the book/film. If you are not fully prepared after Monday's lesson, completing it will be your homework for Thursday.

Remember, this will be my last opportunity this term to assess your speaking skills!

The Help

During the last few lessons of this semester we'll be watching the film The Help.
The story is set in Mississippi during the 1960s , and the main character of the film is Skeeter, a southern society girl who returns from college determined to be a writer. She decides to interview the black women who have spent their lives taking care of prominent southern families, and in the process of doing so Skeeter turns her friend's lives - and the Mississippi town - upside down. 

Before watching, discuss what you know about America in the 1960s. In what ways were the lives of the white people and the black people different?
After having watched the film we will discuss the following questions, so it could be a god idea to take some notes while watching:

1. Who was your favourite character? Why?
2. How much of a person’s character would you say is shaped by the times in which they live?
3. Do you believe that Minny was justified in her distrust of white people?
4. Do you think that had Aibileen stayed working for Miss Elizabeth, that Mae Mobley would have grown up to be racist like her mother? Do you think racism is inherent, or taught?
5. Do you think there are still vestiges of racism in relationships where people of color work for people who are white?
6. What did you think about Minny’s pie for Miss Hilly? Would you have gone as far as Minny did for revenge?

My father's sword

This week we will be working with the text My father's sword on page 34-35. It is quite a difficult text, so it is important that you also read it at home. 

The text is about a boy and his experiences during the American Civil War. Before you start reading the text I would like for you to watch the video below. This will give you a better understanding of what the text is about.

Henrietta will be looking after the class on Tuesday, so remember to impress her with your English :)

On Tuesday the 17th of May we will have a vocabulary test on the following words:

1. remember - komma ihåg
2. fireplace - brasa, eldstad
3. slave - slav
4. cotton - bomull
5. slavery - slaveri
6. build - bygga
7. poor - fattig
8. fight for - kämpa för
9. sword - svärd
10. yelled at - skrek åt
11. terrible - fruktansvärd
12. flame - låga