Lesson 12 Lesson 12 The Kindness of StrangersThe Kindness of Strangers

Discussion Topics (ten minutes in groups)Discussion Topics (ten minutes in groups)

1.1).Suppose you were a hitchhiker without a 1.1).Suppose you were a hitchhiker without a penny on you, what would you do?penny on you, what would you do?

2).Would you ask for food, shelter, clothing 2).Would you ask for food, shelter, clothing or money? Why?or money? Why?

2. 1).Suppose you were a driver or a native who 2. 1).Suppose you were a driver or a native who met a hitchhiker, what would you do?met a hitchhiker, what would you do?

2).Would you give him some help? Why ? 2).Would you give him some help? Why ?

Discussion Topics Discussion Topics (ten minutes in groups)(ten minutes in groups)

3.1) What is your attitude towards “money”?3.1) What is your attitude towards “money”?

2) Do you think it’s too important? Why or why 2) Do you think it’s too important? Why or why not?not?

4.1) What is your attitude towards “love”? 4.1) What is your attitude towards “love”? 2) Do you think it’s the most important in life? 2) Do you think it’s the most important in life?

Why?Why?

3) Do you like to be loved or helped or do you 3) Do you like to be loved or helped or do you need love or help? need love or help?

Rough idea about the textRough idea about the text

1.Why did the author have the journey from 1.Why did the author have the journey from coast to coast( Blanche’s line; intrigue; faith)? coast to coast( Blanche’s line; intrigue; faith)? What was his hometown?What was his hometown?

2. Was he satisfied with it?2. Was he satisfied with it? 3. What can we learn from the text?3. What can we learn from the text? 4. Retell the story according to the maps:4. Retell the story according to the maps:

Key words: the author (my experience as a Key words: the author (my experience as a driver); intrigue; decision; 1994; head for…driver); intrigue; decision; 1994; head for…

Story retellingStory retelling

Route: ( the states concerned )Route: ( the states concerned ) California; Montana; Wyoming; California; Montana; Wyoming;

Nebraska;Nebraska; Iowa; Oregon; Tennessee;Iowa; Oregon; Tennessee;

Golden Gate BridgeGolden Gate Bridge

HomeworkHomework

1. Prepare to give a lecture about the text.1. Prepare to give a lecture about the text.

2. Consult your dictionaries and find the 2. Consult your dictionaries and find the usages about the important words.usages about the important words.

3. Divide the text into three parts.3. Divide the text into three parts.

4. Fill in the American map at Page 310.4. Fill in the American map at Page 310.

Penniless Across AmericaPenniless Across America

This book is an inspiring a story of a journalist's trip aThis book is an inspiring a story of a journalist's trip across the country from San Francisco to Cape Fear. Tcross the country from San Francisco to Cape Fear. This is a good book based on the premise that the journhis is a good book based on the premise that the journalist wanted to push his limits and went across Amerialist wanted to push his limits and went across America with the determination to not utilize money at any ca with the determination to not utilize money at any point. He started by giving his money to a homeless ppoint. He started by giving his money to a homeless person, and ended at the Atlantic Ocean refusing offers erson, and ended at the Atlantic Ocean refusing offers of money along the way. I rate this highly on the folloof money along the way. I rate this highly on the following scales: hitchhiking techniques, inspiration, and wing scales: hitchhiking techniques, inspiration, and writing ability. I will cover each of these individually.writing ability. I will cover each of these individually.

Penniless Across AmericaPenniless Across America

The first aspect is this man has a good idea of hitchhiThe first aspect is this man has a good idea of hitchhiking. He denies he is hitchhiking, because he uses a siking. He denies he is hitchhiking, because he uses a sign, but he does have a good grasp of hitching techniqgn, but he does have a good grasp of hitching techniques. He deliberately sought out narrowing of roads, gues. He deliberately sought out narrowing of roads, good visibility, and nice shoulders to pull over on. He ood visibility, and nice shoulders to pull over on. He also discussed how he found hidden campsites, soughalso discussed how he found hidden campsites, sought out food, and identified dangerous drivers. So as a mt out food, and identified dangerous drivers. So as a manual on how to hitchhike it is a good primer. Thus thanual on how to hitchhike it is a good primer. Thus this book gets high marks on hitching techniques.is book gets high marks on hitching techniques.

Penniless Across AmericaPenniless Across America

The second aspect, inspiration, he does have some decent ideaThe second aspect, inspiration, he does have some decent ideas. He writes about his thoughts and how individuals interact, hs. He writes about his thoughts and how individuals interact, how the poor tend to help more, and his fears. He does not bog ow the poor tend to help more, and his fears. He does not bog his writing down with deep religious nonsense, but he does nothis writing down with deep religious nonsense, but he does note how many christians help him out. He writes in an inspiring e how many christians help him out. He writes in an inspiring way that makes one want to go out and hit the road. He encourway that makes one want to go out and hit the road. He encourages people to get out and meet others, and how those met are ages people to get out and meet others, and how those met are inspired by his actions. So this is an interesting and inspiring ainspired by his actions. So this is an interesting and inspiring account about how he made it penniless across the country.ccount about how he made it penniless across the country.

Penniless Across AmericaPenniless Across America

The last aspect is his writing style. He wrote in an engThe last aspect is his writing style. He wrote in an engaging manner, drawing deeply upon skills developed aging manner, drawing deeply upon skills developed as a journalist. He made the descriptions of the people as a journalist. He made the descriptions of the people come to life and thier stories to be moving. He told socome to life and thier stories to be moving. He told some of the heartbreaking stories in a moving dialogue. me of the heartbreaking stories in a moving dialogue. Each chapter was only 5-6 pages long, and the chapteEach chapter was only 5-6 pages long, and the chapters each segued into the next encouraging the reader to rs each segued into the next encouraging the reader to keep on reading. His writing style keeps the action mkeep on reading. His writing style keeps the action moving and adds to the story.oving and adds to the story.

Penniless Across AmericaPenniless Across America

So all in all the book is very good. This book sSo all in all the book is very good. This book scores high as a good primer about hitchhiking. cores high as a good primer about hitchhiking. The book is a good book on hitchhiking techniThe book is a good book on hitchhiking techniques, it is inspiring, and the writing style makeques, it is inspiring, and the writing style makes it a good read. I would recommend anyone ins it a good read. I would recommend anyone interested in hitchhiking, vagabonding, or just a terested in hitchhiking, vagabonding, or just a moving commentary about how Americans helmoving commentary about how Americans help strangers should buy it.p strangers should buy it.

Language PointsLanguage Points

Para.1Para.1

1. come upon (lit.): come across, meet by chance1. come upon (lit.): come across, meet by chance

2. can: n.a metal container for liquid, esp.for gas2. can: n.a metal container for liquid, esp.for gas

3. “With gangs lerking everywhere…,it has …”: 3. “With gangs lerking everywhere…,it has …”: absolute construction, ask ss to make sentencabsolute construction, ask ss to make sentences with ites with it

4. Make a comparison between people’s attitude 4. Make a comparison between people’s attitude in the past and now, how different and why?in the past and now, how different and why?

Para. 2 and 3Para. 2 and 3

1. be stranded in: be trapped in, be stuck in1. be stranded in: be trapped in, be stuck in

2. What’s the meaning of the sentence “ I never 2. What’s the meaning of the sentence “ I never even lifted my foot off the accelerator”?even lifted my foot off the accelerator”?

3. from coast to coast: from the west coast of the 3. from coast to coast: from the west coast of the country to the east of itcountry to the east of it

4. What is the difference between “ rely on” and 4. What is the difference between “ rely on” and “depend on”?“depend on”?

Para.4-5Para.4-5

1. intrigue: arouse the interest or curiosity1. intrigue: arouse the interest or curiosity

2. Explain “the land of almighty dollar”: taking 2. Explain “the land of almighty dollar”: taking money as the main goal, the most importantmoney as the main goal, the most important

3. Explain “ penny ”3. Explain “ penny ”

4. What intrigued him and why did he want to 4. What intrigued him and why did he want to travel from coast to coast without a penny?travel from coast to coast without a penny?

Para.6-7Para.6-7

1. head for: leave for, go to1. head for: leave for, go to

2. Explain “ the Golden Gate Bridge”, look at N2. Explain “ the Golden Gate Bridge”, look at Note 6 at Page 291ote 6 at Page 291

3. How long and how many states has he travelle3. How long and how many states has he travelled? ( 6 weeks and 14 states)d? ( 6 weeks and 14 states)

4. Watch out for; be careful about4. Watch out for; be careful about

5. Run contrary to; run against, run counter to5. Run contrary to; run against, run counter to

Para. 8-10Para. 8-10

1. pull to / pull in / pull over / pull up: to stop1. pull to / pull in / pull over / pull up: to stop2. shoulder; the roadside2. shoulder; the roadside3. Explain “ dress in their Sunday finest ”: Look 3. Explain “ dress in their Sunday finest ”: Look

at Note 7 at Page 291at Note 7 at Page 2914.Pay attention to the pattern” She’d rather do…t4.Pay attention to the pattern” She’d rather do…t

han do…”han do…”5. What’s the function of the –ing form? “ Know5. What’s the function of the –ing form? “ Know

ing it was …, I refused.” Find more examples ing it was …, I refused.” Find more examples of –ing form used as adverbial.of –ing form used as adverbial.

Para.11-12Para.11-12

1. be grateful to: be thankful to1. be grateful to: be thankful to

2. What does “touching” mean? ( moving, make 2. What does “touching” mean? ( moving, make sb. Moved or touched)sb. Moved or touched)

3. take… as a matter of course; take…for grante3. take… as a matter of course; take…for granted, take naturally, take as a correct or natural thid, take naturally, take as a correct or natural thing to dong to do

4. Now we are talking: usage: when you think s4. Now we are talking: usage: when you think sb’s idea is just yours b’s idea is just yours

Para. 13-14Para. 13-14

1. Stay-at home people; people who like to stay a1. Stay-at home people; people who like to stay at home not to go out often, not sociable, other t home not to go out often, not sociable, other examples of the compound words: the next-to lexamples of the compound words: the next-to last step; a wait-and –see policy; a take-it-or-least step; a wait-and –see policy; a take-it-or-leave-it attitude; a get-rich-quick-dream.ave-it attitude; a get-rich-quick-dream.

2. Run over sb: hit sb. by a car, drive sb2. Run over sb: hit sb. by a car, drive sb3. What do the students’ questions mean? ( They 3. What do the students’ questions mean? ( They

are pure children, they think and hope all the pare pure children, they think and hope all the people in the world are kind and generous.)eople in the world are kind and generous.)

Para.15Para.15

1. Distinguish “although” from “despite or in 1. Distinguish “although” from “despite or in spite of ”spite of ”

2. What is the author’s conclusion about the 2. What is the author’s conclusion about the story?story?

? ( You can still depend on the strangers’ ? ( You can still depend on the strangers’ kindness through his own experiences)kindness through his own experiences)

3. What’s your opinion/ Do you agree with him? 3. What’s your opinion/ Do you agree with him? Why or why not?Why or why not?

AssignmentAssignment

1. Retell the whole story.1. Retell the whole story.

2. Bet familiar with the American states with the 2. Bet familiar with the American states with the help of the maps shown.help of the maps shown.

3. Make sentences using the important phrases.3. Make sentences using the important phrases.

4. Recite Para.2-5.4. Recite Para.2-5.

5. Do all the exercises based on the text.5. Do all the exercises based on the text.