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Page 1: Examples. Teacher's Work on Emma Donoghue's Room by ......Examples. Teacher's Work on Emma Donoghue's Room by MF (2019) Here is an example of how I work with a novel, to expand my

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Examples.Teacher'sWorkonEmmaDonoghue'sRoombyMF(2019)HereisanexampleofhowIworkwithanovel,toexpandmyworldandimprovemyEnglish.ThenIalwaysthinkofsharing.Ifotherpeoplethoughtofthistoo,lessonswouldbeamazing!IfeachpersonbroughttoclassjustonesentenceofUL,onepassagewithanarrativeoradescription,andonefavquoteorpassagethatmadeyouthink,becomemorehuman,wouldn'tthatbesomething?

Aboutnotbeingabletoreadthebook:it'soutofthequestion.Iknowit'shardtoreadfroma5-year-oldperspective,notknowingwhat'shappeninglikeyoudoeveryday.Sofocusonlearninglanguagethen&bepatient.Justdoit,please.EXPERIENCEthewiderangeofemotionsthisbookwillmakeyoufeel,andTHINKabouttheveryimportanthuman&socialquestionsthisstoryposes.HowIworkasIreadnovelsAsIread,Iunderlineanddog-earpages*:someofthewordsIdon'tknow,notall.TheonesIconsidermostinterestingornecessaryformyEnglish;favoritequotesandpassages.Ihavedifferentwaysofunderlining,tofindthingsfasterlateron.IalsohaveasetofabbreviationstoindicatecategorieslikeNarr(UL,languagegoodfornarratives),Descr(ULforDescriptions),thestarindicatesit'samostfavoritequoteofmine,C1meansit'sanadvancedlanguageitemImaywanttogroupwithothersofthiskindtopracticeandmasterorunderstanditsuse,andsoon.*Mydog-earingisnottoknowwhereIshouldpickupmyreadinglateron,butasakindofhighlightingwhereIhaveselectedkeypassages.Anyway,forthedog-earvs.bookmarkdebateplease,readthisarticle!https://www.bustle.com/p/11-things-people-who-dog-ear-books-will-never-understand-about-people-who-use-bookmarks-75481Then,onceinawhile,Isittoworkonmyunderlinings.ItisonlythenwhenIstoptolookupwordsIdon'tknow,ordosomeresearchonsocioculturalinformation:etymologies,inforelatedtoplacesandcommunitiesinthebook,lifestyles,etc.Finally,Icreatemyworksheettoshare.IusuallypublishthemonTalkingPeople(mywebsite)orontheblogLanguageLearningfromReading(afreewordpressblogIcreatedasquickreferenceformystudents).

MylittlestoryofhowIfoundthisbook

IdiscoveredEmmaDonoghuemylastyearinMadridbecauseIwasgivingoneofherbooksasagoodbyepresentbyateacherinthelastschoolIworked:KissingtheWitch,acollectionofretellingsofclassictales,feministretellings.Anextraordinarybook.Mylifeishectic,soIkeptdiscoveringwomenwritersandforgotaboutthisoneuntilateacherinourschool,whounfortunatelyleft,showedmeRoomandaskedmeaboutit.Shewasusingitinhergroups.Ihadn'treadittoIjotteditdowninmyToReadsummerlist.Again,Ifindthestoryhasapreciouspointofvieworapproachtoevents,andthatpeopleshouldreadthisauthorandreflectuponherworkbecauseit'srelevantforustolearnaboutourculturesandhumannature,ourpotentialandtheobstaclesweface.

ItwillcomeasnosurprisetothoseofyouwhoknowmeIsentheraThankyouemailplusanattachedthree-pageletterinvitinghertosharewhatevershewishedwithmyprospectivestudents,thosewhowouldbereadingRoomthisyear.Butitwasclearshehasfartoomuchon.Shedidreply.Aug19,2019:"Sosorry,Michelle,butI’mmadbusypublicizingmynewnovel-Ihopeyouunderstand.ThankssomuchforteachingROOM…Emma."

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MyFirstNotesonRoomforC1.2studentsTakingnotesonUsefulLanguageandsocioculturalinformation,toexpand,topracticeretelling,soastolearnanduseinmypersonallife.

Donoghuehascreatedoneofthepuretriumphsofrecentfiction:anebullientchildnarrator,heldcaptivewithhismotherinan11-by-11-footroom,throughwhomweencountertheblurry,oftencomplicatedspacebetweenclosenessandautonomy.Inanarrativeatoncedelicateandvigorous—richinpsychological,sociologicalandpoliticalmeaning—Donoghuerevealshowjoyandterroroftendwellsidebyside.'–NoteonRoom’schoiceasoneoffivebestfictiontitlesof2010intheNewYorkTimesSource:https://www.emmadonoghue.com/books/novels/room-the-novel.htmlUsefulLanguagefromreviewsinthelinkabove

Adjectives&Adverbs:Astounding,terrifying…/Oneofthemostaffectingandsubtlyprofoundnovelsoftheyear/Forsuchapeculiar,stripped-downtale,it'sfantasticallyevocative…/Heart-stopping…Donoghue’sutterlygrippingplot/Inanarrativeatoncedelicateandvigorous—richinpsychological,sociologicalandpoliticalmeaning—/Donoghuenavigatesbeautifullyaroundtheselimitations/Thrillingandatmomentspalm-sweatinglyharrowing…/Powerful,tension-filledandtakesabigrisk…Highlyrecommended/Bothgrippingandpoignant,it’satributetohumanresourcefulnessandresilience/Rivetingandoriginal…apage-turner…/Inventiveanddisturbing…compellinglysubversive/Charming,funny,artfullyconstructedandattimesalmostunbearablymoving,(verbs)Donoghueminesmaterialthatonthefaceofitappearsintractablybleakandsurfaceswithapowerful,compulsivelyreadableworkoffictionthatdefieseasycategorizationVerbs:sheisabletofashionradiancefromsuchhorror/(plot)maysoundasifithasbeenrippedfromheadlines/(narrative)Donoghuerevealshowjoyandterroroftendwellsidebyside/Itpresentsanutterlyuniquewaytotalkaboutlove,allthewhilegivingusafresh,expansiveeyeon/whatmakestheemotionpossibleisthatthisbookisbuiltlikea/Itkeptusutterlyhooked

Clauses:WithoutdenyingJack'svulnerability,(Verbs)Donoghueallowsanalmostterrifyingresiliencetoseepintohisnarrative/Asalife-affirmingfable,/BothhardtoputdownandprofoundlyaffectingTheNovelTheepigraphofthisnovelreads:

MychildSuchtroubleIhaveAndyousleep,yourheartisplacid;youdreaminthejoylesswood;inthenightnailedinbronze,inthebluedarkyouliestillandshine.

Simonides(c.556-468BCE),"Danaë"(tr.RichmondLattimore)

Theepigraphsetsusupforasuperhumanoriginstory.SimonideswasaGreekpoetandthispoem,theLamentationofDanaë,isaboutawomantrappedinachestandsetafloatatsea.

Beingtrappedinasmallspaceandfeelinglostandsetadriftintheworld...ThechildDanaëisPerseus...thesamePerseuswhokilledMedusa(beheadedagorgon),slayedaseamonster,andmarriedPrincessAndromeda.

Source:Informationfromhttps://www.shmoop.com/room-emma-donoghue/epigraph.htmlEmmaDonoghue:Roomwasinspiredby…havingkids;thelockedroomisametaphorfortheclaustrophobic,tenderbondofparenthood.Iborrowedobservations,jokes,kidgrammarandwholedialoguesfromoursonFinn,whowasfivewhileIwaswritingit.Roomwasalsoinspiredby...ancientfolkmotifsofwalled-upvirginswhogivebirth(e.g.Rapunzel),oftentoheroes(e.g.DanaëandPerseus).Roomwasalsoinspiredby…theFritzlfamily’sescapefromtheirdungeoninAustria.

Source:https://www.emmadonoghue.com/books/novels/room-the-novel.html

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UsefulLanguage

• thetoothfairy(88)Fromwikipedia(practiceexplainingtraditions):TheToothFairyisafantasyfigureofearlychildhoodinWesternandWestern-influencedcultures.Thefolklorestatesthatwhenchildrenloseoneoftheirbabyteeth,theyshouldplaceitunderneaththeirpilloworontheirbedsidetableandtheToothFairywillvisitwhiletheysleep,replacingthelosttoothwithasmallpayment.More...TheRatoncitoPérez(PérezMouseinEnglish)ispopularinSpanishandHispanicAmericancultures.SimilartotheToothFairy,itoriginatedinMadridin1894(?!).AsistraditionalinsomeEnglish-speakingcountries,whenachildlosesatoothitiscustomaryforhimorhertoplaceitunderthepillow,sothatRatoncitoPérezwillexchangeitforagift.Thetraditiontakesdifferentformsindifferentareas.HeisknownasRatoncitoPérezinSpanishspeakingcountries,withtheexceptionofsomeregionsofMexico,PeruandChile,whereheiscalled"elRatóndelosDientes"(TheToothMouse).

InItaly,theToothFairyisalsooftenreplacedbyasmallmousenamedTopolino.

InFranceandFrench-speakingBelgiumthischaracteriscalledlapetitesouris(thelittlemouse).

FrompartsofLowlandScotlandcomesawhitefairyratwhopurchaseschildren'steeth.

InCatalonia,thetoothisplacedunderthepillowinexchangeofacoinoralittletokenbroughtbyElsAngelets(littleangels)andLesanimetes(littlesouls).

IntheBasqueCountry,especiallyinBiscay,thereisMariTeilatukoa(Maryfromtheroof),wholivesintheroofofthebaserriandcatchestheteeththrownbythechildren.

InsomeAsiancountries,suchasIndia,China,Japan,KoreaandVietnam,whenachildlosesatooth,itiscustomaryforhimorhertothrowitontotheroofifitcamefromthelowerjaw,orintothespacebeneaththefloorifitcamefromtheupperjaw.Whiledoingthis,thechildshoutsarequestforthetoothtobereplacedwiththetoothofamouse.Thistraditionisbasedonthefactthattheteethofmicegrowfortheirentirelives,acharacteristicofallrodents.InsomeculturesinIndia,childrenburytheirteethinthesoilnearbigtrees.

InMiddleEasterncountries(includingIraq,Jordan,EgyptandSudan),thereisatraditionofthrowingababytoothupintotheskytothesunortoAllah.Thistraditionmayoriginateinapre-Islamicoffering,anddatesbacktoatleastthe13thcentury.

Children'srhymes:Nightnight/sleeptight/don'tletthebugsbite(bugsorbedbugs)[Otherversionsofwhobites:theangels(traditional),themissiles(GreenhamCommonWomen'sPeaceCamp)](89)Page341:

"GrowingupwithoutLEGO"shetellsSteppa,"Iliterallycan'timagineit.""Betthere'sacouplebillionchildrenintheworldmanagingsomehow,"saysSteppa."Iguessyou'reright."She'slookingconfused.Privacy&Law(248):"Thispaperthat'sprintedyourfifth-gradephoto,forinstance,"he'ssaying,"we'dhaveastrongcaseforbreachofprivacythere."• breachofduty=incumplimientodeldeber• abreachofcontract=incumplimientodecontrato• theybreachedtheagreement=rompieron,infrigieronelacuerdo• Aftertheriot,protesterswereaccusedofbreachofthepeace=(perturbacióndelordenpúblico)• Sexualexploitationandabuseinpeacekeepingmissionsisamongthemostappallingformsofbreachof

trust(abusodeconfianza,prevaricación)Describingphysicalthingspeopledo.Holding,lettingloose(287):"They'llbewaiting...""Iwanttocometoo."IsitupandwraparoundMa....

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"You'llbeexhaustedifyoudon'thaveanap.Letgoofme,please."Ma'stakingmyhandsoffher.Iknotthemaroundhertightersoshecan't."Jack!""Stay."Iputmylegsaroundhertoo."Getoffme.I'mlatealready."HerhandsarepressingmyshouldersbutIholdonevenmore."You'renotababy.Isaidgetoff--"Ma'sshovingsohard,Isuddenlycomeloose.Magrabsmebythehandandyanks.(265)• There'sa*somebodystandinginthedoor,Ijump**.(275)*asomebody(possible,yes)**to

jump=tobestartled,tobegivenafright

Forreadingaloudinclass.SharingpassagestocollectULVisittoamall(302)*Toilet(307)*Beesting(335)

Thekid'slanguage:Usingexpressivelanguageisakeyaimforadvancedlearners,soitmightbeinterestingtoconsiderwhatchildrendowithlanguage,howcreativeandexpressivetheyareandhowtheydothat!Someofthesesentencescouldhavebeenstatedbyadultstoo.Sortthatout!

• I'mbeingscave*butabitmorebravethanscaredbecausethisisn'tasabadaspretendingI'mdeadinRug.(302)Lexicalcreativityworkshop&scave.What'sthenameofthiskindofwordformation?

• Trafficlightschangingtogreenandawomanwithcrutcheshopping(302)

• Ipickuptheheart[anobject]andputitinmypocketwiththeothertreasures.../ThenIchangemymind,IputallmytreasuresinmyDorabaginthefrontzipbitinstead.Myshoesaresore*soItakethemoff.(305)*thekid'spoeticlicence!Theshoesarepersonified,paintransferredtothem

• Shesquirtssunblockintoherhands....That'skindoffunny./Shestartsrubbingitonmybackofhands..../Shedoesmyface..../...we'realldone(333)

• Steppacracksaneggwithonehandsoitplopsoverthepasta.(341)

• She'sputthebudthingsinherears,she'snoddingtoamusicIdon'thearandsinginginalittlevoice...Sheputsonebudinmyear(275)[earphones]

• match(339):Hestampsonmyfoot./Ihowl./...Heshowsmethematchallcurledup,herubsmysockwherethere'sablackbit."Didn'tyourmaeverteachyounottoplaywithfire?"/"Therewasn't."/"Therewasn'twhat?"/"Fire."/Hestaresatme."Iguessyourstovewaselectric.Gofigure."

• Iseeagiganticapplemadeofwood."Ilikethat."(305)

• NextIfindasilver-and-bluethinglikearocket[acoffeepot]...puttingitbackontheshelf.(305)

• Ourshadowsarereallylongandstretchy.Iwavemygiantfists.(343)

• "Well,coffee'sthemostimportantthingtheysellbecausemostofusneedittokeepusgoing,likegasinthecar."/Maonlydrinkswaterandmilkandjuicelikeme,Iwonderwhatkeepshergoing.(347)

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OtherUsefulLanguage

• Likeitmatters(89)=Asifitmattered.Replytothequestion,"Whathappened?"• I'mgettinggoodattelling(248)[expandingusesof"tobegoodat"]• Gotosleepnow(287)vsGotobed.What'stheBIGdifference?• Gobacktosleep(271)[transparentphrasals]• WhenwejumpbackthroughtherevolvingdoorI'mblurryinmyhead.(265)• Let'sgetyouinside(265)• Donationsarepouringin(248)• How'sitgoing?...• Idon'tthinkthisisgoingtowork(287)[Aplan]• Bronwynkeepgoing"HiJack,Hijack."(302)• Ikeptthesixth...Youcanhave[keep]asmanyasyoulike.(271)• ...we'llbefineaslongasweholdhands(325)• Comeawayfromthat(325).Howdoyousay"Aléjatedeahí",see?

Thinkaboutthis.Understandhowpreciousreadingliterature,underliningUL(tolearntoavoidliteraltranslation)&reflectingonfunctionaltranslationis!

Trees(264):...amapelkey..."It'stheseedofthismapletree...asortofpairofwingstohelpitgofar."...Ishowheranotheronethat'ssomethingwrongwith."It'sjustasingle,itlostitsotherwing"Forclassroomdiscussions.SharingquestionsandpassagestodiscusstopicsQuestions

• Canyouworkoutastatementwhereyouwordthekeyideaforthisstory?• WhatdoyouthinkthemotherdidrightinRoom?• Whatwouldyouhavedoneinherplace?• Whatcanyousaytosomepeople'scriticismtohermothering?• Whichscenesordevelopmentsinthenovelaffectedyoumost?• Howdoyourelatetolyingandtellingthetruth?• WhatkindofthingsdoyoubelievearetrueonTV?• Howdoyoufeelwhenadultsspeakinfrontofchildrenasifchildrenwerenotthere?

Passagestrue,fake,what'strue?(88)AbouttheworldseenonTV

WheneverIthinkofathingnow...Ihavetorememberthey'rereal,they'reactuallyhappeninginOutsidealltogether.Itmakesmyheadtired...."Arestoriestrue?""Whichones?"..."notliterally."..."Sothey'refake?""No,no.Storiesareadifferentkindoftrue."

Aboutlying:Grandmasaysshewouldn'tlietome.SheliedtoDr.ClayaboutCheckers.(325)Hedidn'ttellGrandmaaboutthematch,that'skindoflyingbutnotgettingmeintotroubleisagoodreason.(339)WhenIwasfourIthoughteverythinginTVwasjustTV,thenIwasfiveandMaunlied*aboutlotsofitbeingpicturesofrealandOutsidebeingtotallyreal.NowI'minOutsidebutitturnsoutlotsofitisn'trealatall.[intheplayground,apoleimitatingthatoffirefighters](345)*Lexicalcreativityworkshop.Whatkindofwordformationisthis?

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Page297.Discussingtherolethatthenewsmediaplayinthenovel.TVcrew(286)(themedia)&brutalityinunderstandingofthings:

..."ButdidyoueverconsideraskingyourcaptortotakeJackaway?""Away?""Toleavehimoutsideahospital,say,sohecouldbeadopted.Asyouyourselfwere,veryhappily,Ibelieve."IcanseeMaswallow."WhywouldIhavedonethat?""Well,sohecouldbefree.""Freeawayfromme?""Itwouldhavebeenasacrifice,ofcourse--theultimatesacrifice--butifJackcouldhavehadanormal,happychildhoodwithalovingfamily?""Hehadme."Masaysitonewordatatime."Hehadachildhoodwithme,whetheryou'dcallitnormalornot.""Butyouknewwhathewasmissing,"saysthewoman."Everydayheneededawiderworld,andtheonlyoneyoucouldgivehimgotnarrower.YoumusthavebeentorturedbythememoryofeverythingJackdidn'tevenknowtowant.Friends,school,grass,swimming,ridesatthefair...""Whydoeseveryonegoonaboutfairs?"Ma'svoiceisallhoarse."WhenIwasakidIhatedfairs."Thewomandoesalittlelaugh.Ma'sgottearscomingdownherface,sheputsupherhandstocaththem.I'moffmychairandrunningather..."Theboyisnottobeshown"(298)Page360,aboutlove:"Remember,"shesaysonthewayothewhitecar,"wedon'thugstrangers.Evenniceones.""Whynot?""Wejustdon't,wesaveourhugsforpeoplewelove.""IlovethatboyWalker.""Jack,youneversawhimbeforeinyourlife."RESOURCES-Film/Movie(2015)FullAudiobookonYouTube:https://youtu.be/la_-ZF5I3RQOralBookReview:https://youtu.be/8BtiGypyKwUthatlatercomparesittothemovieDiscussionPanel:Anin-depth40-minuteaudiodiscussionofRoombytheSlateBookClub,http://www.slate.com/id/2286457/CONTAINSSPOILERSRadiointerview.EmmaDonoghueonTheGuardianBookClubhttps://www.theguardian.com/books/audio/2014/apr/18/emma-donoghue-room-books-podcast(30')Articles:850-wordarticlebyEmmaDonoghueonRoompublishedinTheGuardianhttps://www.theguardian.com/books/2014/mar/21/emma-donoghue-room-book-clubArticles:1,500-wordarticlebyCatherineConroyonDonoghuepublishedinTheIrishTimeshttps://www.irishtimes.com/culture/books/emma-donoghue-when-i-have-an-idea-i-hurl-myself-at-it-1.3121057+musical2017