Problem Child

How shall I deal with Roger,

Mrs. Prodger? I've never yet been

able To sit him at table And make him

paint a label ярлык For the salmon in the

kindergarten shop заведении детского сада.

But he is full of animation

When I mention a dictation,

And he never wants a spelling test to stop.

I've encouraged self-expression And intentional

digression отклонение от темы But I think I'll have to let the system

drop.

For the normal child, like Roger,

Is a do-er, not a dodger хитрец, And your

methods, Mrs. Prodger, are a flop фиаско. How shall

I deal with Roger,

Mrs. Prodger?

I've had projects on the fairies, On

markets, shops, and dairies сыроварнях; I've had

projects on the prairies сепях, But the little

fellow doesn't want to play:

Instead he has a yearning сильное желание

For unreasonable learning,

And wants to do Arithmetic all day.

<152>

He shows a strong proclivity наклонность,

For purposeless activity,

And doesn't want experience in clay глине.

So I rather think that Roger

Is a doer, not a dodger хитрец, And how would you

deal with Roger, can you say?

b) Answer the following questions:

1. The person who is supposed to be speaking in the poem is a teacher in one of the early grades in school. She is talking to the principal, Mrs. Prodger. What does she say in the first few lines that she has been unable to get Roger to do?

2. What does animation mean? Do you think Roger liked to have a dictation exercise or not? What did he feel about spelling tests?

3. How might one "encourage self-expression" among kindergar ten children or first graders? What does digression mean? The teach er says that Roger, however, wants to do the subjects, not dodge them. What in the last part of the first stanza suggests that she thinks most little children are like Roger?

4. What projects has the teacher tried in an effort to interest Roger? How did Roger respond to these? What did he have a yearning for? What did he want to do?

5. What does proclivity mean? What does Roger show a strong proclivity for? What are these activities that Roger likes to engage in? Do you think the teacher really thinks that they are purposeless? What kind of experience does Roger not want?

IV. 1. Debate the following point:

Computers are indispensable in foreign-language learning.

Note: Arguments: Students sitting at computer terminals can re­ceive instruction in a wide variety of subjects.

Computers can both teach and quiz students on the new subject matter.

Each student can proceed at his own speed, etc.

Поиск по сайту: