The accidental lesson

[Rob_Hugo@PortNW]

A little background: I teach 7th grade sheltered history classes. My students range in ability from ESL1s to ESL4s, score primarily BB or FBB in language arts, and 22 are on IEPs. As Thanksgiving week dawned, we were finishing a culminating project on Islam and should start a unit on China on Wednesday. However, Wednesday was scheduled as a minimum day and after spending time on the Islam project, they were pretty antsy.

I often use videos in class, but rarely theatrical releases, and then usually exerpts to show specific things. I thought I'd show them a video. Unfortunately, my only China video is really boring - several talking heads, etc. I checked with a neighboring teacher who had the Disney video, "Mulan". OK, I admit it, I thought, "It'll keep them quiet" and showed it. It was a minimum day after all. I had only seen parts of the video and really wasn't familiar with it. I was surprised to see the first 20+ minutes addressed Ancestor worship, including family stones similar to those shown in the UCLA lecture, the status of women in the society, the Hun invasion and a couple of other things. The following Monday, I included three questions in the Warm up including one on Ancestor worship and one on Mulan's status in society as a woman. This resulted in a couple of good discussions of the topics with the classes, including kids who never participate in this type of thing. For some reason, the story really connected with them. I decided to postpone what I'd planned and finish the video. The fact that I was really suffering from a cold helped the decision, but it really worked well. Tuesday's warm up also included questions on themes from the video again I got some good input from the kids.

I plan to do it again next year. I've located a copy of the poem, "Mulan" and am working on something for the kids to do comparing the poem and the video.

I'm not really looking for another Disney video to use for a lesson but who knows?

[Anonymous]

I've been meaning to post something on a concert I went to last month, October 30 to be exact. I chose this thread only because of a follow up comment I plan to make about a good animation, accidental lesson I made last year.

But first--the concert! I saw Twelve Girls Band. It is actually thirteen women playing ancient Chinese instruments. The instruments included the gu zheng, yang qin and the erhu. They played more traditional songs, but also played selections from western composers. While I am sure it was with no intention (tongue is firmly in cheek), but I couldn't help noticing, they were all incredibly beautiful. the show was energetic and more fun than I expected--and I expected it to be a lot of fun.

http://www.twelvegirlsband.com is their website and I recommend you visit it and go see them the next time they are available to you.

Now, back to the accidental lesson. Nothing with an Asia theme, but a 7th grade history lesson is showing Shrek and having them come up with 10 things they learned from your class that were actually true. Shrek is a fun movie and you'll get paid for some that is standards-based.

Crazy world!

[Anonymous]

Thanks for the tip. I also teach sheltered ESL 1-3's (BB and FBB) so we have exactly the same kids. I am just finishing the Africa unit and had two/three days left next week and couldn't decide whether to begin the China unit or wait until after the break. You just helped me make the decision as this will be the perfect time to show the video. My own kids have it at home but I guess I am going to have to sit and watch it to come up with some relevant questions or maybe you could kindly give me some tips on what questions you used in the classroom! I know, I want everything handed to me on a plate but then again, it is the season of giving!!!! Thanks again
Karen

[Anonymous]

I can help partially. (I still have one of the overheads I use for the Warm ups.) After the First Day showing:
The Word of the Day was "Huns". I give them the definition and have them copy it. The questions were:
1. Why did the Huns invade China?
2. How were women treated in China as shown in the video?
3. What would have happened to Mulan if she had been found out (according to her father)?

The second day questions were similar to
1. How was "Ping" treated after "he" became Mulan?
2. How do Mulan's ancestors figure in the story?

I keep them pretty broad and pick obvious stuff. I used to give lists of questions with videos and they spend too much time on the questions and miss everything else.

[Anonymous]

Thanks... those questions give me a great start and then I can watch it with the kids to get other topics. I agree with you about video questions. I don't let students write anything while they are watching videos because with ELL students it takes so long to write information down that they end up missing so much other stuff. I always give time at the end so they can write a short summary of what they saw. Thanks for getting back so quickly. I am going to start this on Tuesday!
Karen

[Anonymous]

This is hardly news anymore. I don't remember what I was looking for when I came across this article. I thought some might find it worth knowing about. I did not know where to post it. I found Mr. pastor's title most appropriate, "The accidental lesson".

Family of beaten Chinese tourist waiting for her safe return.

Though trying hard to live and behave as usual before reporters, Liu Weimin, 67, could hardly hold back her tears. As the mother of the Chinese woman tourist Zhao Yan who was beaten in the United States last week, Liu has been missing and worrying about her daughter for days in her home in north China's Tianjin city.

"My heart ached as I saw her on TV," said Liu. "How could they do this to a helpless woman like her?"

Members of the family hid newspapers with reports on Zhao's assault to protect her mother from the news. Liu saw Zhao on TV, though, and knew about the incident.

Zhao and two other women were crossing the Rainbow Bridge over Niagara Falls on the US-Canada border late last Wednesday when Customs and Border Protection officers pepper sprayed and beat her, erroneously suspecting her of being a marijuana smuggler.

Liu said she could never imagine her daughter's first trip to the United States would be like this. "Zhao had been to numerous countries before," recalled Liu. "I thought it is just like anytime in the past."

Zhao Zhe, the elder brother of Zhao Yan, also voiced his resent and indignation. "Those held responsible for the incident must receive legal penalty. We hope the case will be over as soon as possible."

In the eyes of relatives, Zhao is a bright, capable and compassionate woman who takes good care of her family.

"She is outgoing, she is warm-hearted. She likes to sing," said Zhao Guifen, cousin of Zhao Yan. "We all like her."

"They say the United States is a free country with the best record of human rights, and even a kid who gets slapped by parents would know to call police," said Zhao. "How could this happen to my cousin?"

At the Tianjin Zhaomiao Industrial and Trade Co, ltd, where Zhao is employed, colleagues are concerned about her.

Cai Zhiping, the director of the board of the company, told reporters that the company sent Zhao to the U.S. to prepare for a lumber fair. Because of air ticket problems, the company suggested she take a trip to the Falls.

"We are very concerned about her safety now," said Cai.

Zhao's case has been a hot topic domestically. Zhao's relatives, friends, even unknown residents, all joined the discussion on the case on the Internet. They tied yellow ribbons on trees, waiting for her to come home.

"Though it's only a single case in the United States, it's of historical and cultural significance," said Prof. Li Jianming with prestigious Nankai University and chairman of the Sino-American History Research Association.

Prof. Li acknowledged Zhao's case showed that racism is still an underground stream in the United States. The officer didn't try to confirm Zhao's identity of first, but instead focused subconsciously on her racial features, Li added.

He also noted that Zhao's case indicated a dilemma of the United States in the wake of the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks. "Intervening in human rights and freedom for the sake of safety concern has been an obvious trend in American society today," Li said. "Ethnic minority races become the first to be affected."

Zhao plans to sue the officer who beat her in US court for 5 million US dollars in compensation.

The Chinese government is very concerned about the case. And Foreign Minister Li Zhaoxing has urged the United States to carry out an conscientious and thorough investigation into the incident.

Source: Xinhua Text[Edit by="rrustamzadeh on Dec 17, 1:07:21 PM"][/Edit]

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