Would like a recitation of 50 words or so for people learning English

[Cruzan]

Something to use at the beginning of class each day, ideally by an American writer and expressing in some sense American values and culture -- but obviously of universal appeal and not U.S. centric, maybe Twain or Hemingway, I don't know. I'm surrounded by British English teachers and sort of want to be subtlety subversive, e.g. I'll only teach the word diaper and absolutely will never utter the word nappy.

[pnwmom]

1. Why not use something from Dr. Martin Luther King's writings?

For example, from his "I have a dream" speech?

[plantwomyn]

2. The Gettysburg Address

Maybe a little heavy but to the point and short. Best speech ever.

[TlalocW]

3. As a senior in college

I was taking my basic chemistry courses for a physics degree (I waited a long time obviously to take them), and my lab partner was a freshman that I amused/frustrated by forcing him to come up with on his own and reply with the correct response to:

Me: You remind me of the man.
Proper Response: What man?
Me: The man with the power.
Proper Response: What power?
Me: The power of voo-doo.
Proper Response: Voo-doo?
Me: You do.
Proper Response: Do what?
Me: Remind me of the man.

It took 3 months for him to guess and give back the correct responses all the way through. He hated me at times, but we got our lab work done before everyone else since I knew my way around. I say do something like this.

TlalocW

[GliderGuider]

4. Bowie did this

From my kids` favourite movie, Labyrinth.
http://youtube.com/watch?v=HqmocK-L1ik

A Jim Henson classic.

(posted by GG`s partner, not GG)

[TlalocW]

9. Yep. That's where I got it from

But I wasn't going to tell him that he reminded me of, "the babe." Also, it was borrowed and adjusted from a 1947 Cary Grant movie, "The Bachelor and the Bobby-Soxer."

An American anime comic company has so far put out 2 of a 4 part comic book series called, "Return to Labyrinth," which centers on Toby who is now as old as Sarah was in the first movie, although it looks like there might be a pretty big subplot involving Sarah. It seems that Jareth is still intent on making Toby his heir. I've read the first two books. The first one is a little blocky, but the second one picks things up nicely. I think they're officially sanctioned by the Jim Henson company.

TlalocW

[GliderGuider]

10. I'll have to let #2-child know that

My budding manga artist has the first book and wasn't terribly impressed. I'll tell her the next one gets better.

I'll also have to have another look at The Bachelor and the Bobby-Soxer. Thanks!

(GG's partner)

[Rageneau]

5. How about: "You have the right to remain silent or to have an attorney present..."

We might as well teach the Miranda warning to all non-native English speakers as they will soon need it. Also, it's nice to remember those words and wax nostalgic about that old America -- the one before Republicans -- in which every citizen every citizen used to have rights.

[stirlingsliver]

6. How About The First and Fifth Amendments?

I know you said you did not want anything US centric, but how about the words of the 1st and 5th Amendment to the US Constitution?

That way, if any of your students is ever arrested in the US, they will be able to recite their rights.

[sandnsea]

7. Statue of Liberty

"Give me your tired, your poor,
Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free,
The wretched refuse of your teeming shore.
Send these, the homeless, tempest-tossed to me.
I lift my lamp beside the golden door."

I don't exactly know how subversive this extraordinary gift from the French plays in Britain. :shrug:

[SoCalDem]

8. You need to ASK???

Donald Rumsfeld is giving the president his daily briefing. He concludes by saying: "Yesterday, 3 Brazilian soldiers were killed."

"OH NO!" the President exclaims. "That's terrible!"

His staff sits stunned at this display of emotion, nervously watching as the President sits, head in hands.

Finally, the President looks up and asks, "How many is a brazillion?"

:rofl: