Fever Pitch

In the previous post, you read an extract from Nick Hornby's Fever Pitch. The book was later turned into a film (or two films really, a British version, which is quite close to the book, and an American version, which is a loose adaptation). We are going to watch the last scenes from the film:

1) Which of the people in the video do you think represents the author?

2) Compare the two men's attitudes towards the match.

3) Research on the Internet the Liverpool vs Arsenal Final (1989). Why was this game so important/memorable?

4) What was the most memorable football match (or any other sports event) you remember? Why? What do you remember about it?

Please write your answers in a comment below.

The Sugar Mouse Ritual

Remember that a couple of weeks ago we talked about superstitions in sport? The following text is an adapted extract from Nick Hornby's novel, Fever Pitch. The novel is autobiographical, and it revolves around the author's (and his friends') relationship with football, and especially with Arsenal, his favourite team. Each 'chapter' focuses on a different football match. Here's the one that I have chosen:

SUGAR MICE AND BUZZCOCKS ALBUMS

CAMBRIDGE UNITED v ORIENT

4.11.78

What happened was, Chris Roberts bought a sugar mouse from Jack Reynolds, bit its head off, dropped it in the Newmarket Road before he could get started on the body, and it got run over by a car. And that afternoon Cambridge United, who had hitherto been finding life difficult in the Second Division (two wins all season, one home, one away), beat Orient 3-1, and a ritual was born. Before each home game we all of us trooped into the sweet shop, purchased our mice, walked outside, bit the head off as though we were removing the pin from a grenade, and tossed the torsos under the wheels of oncoming cars; Jack Reynolds would stand in the doorway watching us, shaking his head sorrowfully. United, thus protected, remained unbeaten at the Abbey for months.
I know that I am particularly stupid about rituals, and have been ever since I started going to football matches, and I know also that I am not alone. I can remember when I was young having to take with me to Highbury a piece of putty, or blu-tack, or some stupid thing, which I pulled on nervously all afternoon (I was a smoker even before I was old enough to smoke); I can also remember having to buy a programme from the same programme seller, and having to enter the stadium through the same turnstile.

There have been hundreds of similar bits of nonsense, all designed to guarantee victories for one or other of my two teams. During Arsenal’s protracted and nerve-racking semi-final campaign against Liverpool in 1980, I turned the radio off half-way through the second half of the last game; Arsenal were winning 1-0, and as Liverpool had equalised in the last seconds of the previous game, I couldn’t bear to hear it through to the end. I played a Buzzcocks album instead (the Singles – Going Steady compilation album), knowing that side one would take me through to the final whistle. We won the match, and I insisted that my flatmate, who worked in a record store, should play the album at twenty past four on Cup Final afternoon, although it did no good. (I have my suspicions that he might have forgotten.)

I have tried “smoking” goals in (Arsenal once scored as three of us were lighting cigarettes), and eating cheese-and-onion crisps at a certain point in the first half; I have tried not setting the video for live games (the team seems to have suffered badly in the past when I have taped the matches in order to study the performance when I get home); I have tried lucky socks, and lucky shirts, and lucky hats, and lucky friends, and have attempted to exclude others who I feel bring with them nothing but trouble for the team.

Nothing (apart from the sugar mice) has ever been any good. But what else can we do when we’re so weak! We invest hours each day, months each year, years each lifetime in something over which we have no control; is it any wonder then, that we are reduced to creating ingenious but bizarre liturgies designed to give us the illusion that we are powerful after all, just as every other primitive community has done when faced with a deep and apparently impenetrable mystery?

 

1) Name at least 5 rituals mentioned in the text. Which has been the most successful?

 

2) How did the 'sugar mouse ritual' originate?

3) How did the 'Buzzcocks' ritual start? Why does the writer think didn't it work in the Finals?

4) What does the writer mean when he talks about 'smoking goals in'? What about 'lucky friends'?

5) Analyse the idea of 'power' in the last paragraph.

6) Find an expression in the text that means...

a. until now or until a particular time (paragraph 1)

b. sadly (paragraph 1)

c. an idea, something said or written, or behaviour that is silly or stupid (paragraph 3)

d. something that is difficult to do and causes a lot of worry for the person involved in it (paragraph 3)

e. a rite, a particular set of words, music and actions used in ceremonies in some religions (paragraph 5)

Please hand in your assignment by e-mail (mmasuyama.nes@gmail.com)

Self-assessment

So, we have been working on this blog for a bit over a month now. I think it would be a good idea to stop and reflect on our work so far.

Some students brought up the fact that they had trouble getting used to working in this way. Let's see if we can share some strategies:

1) How often have you been visiting the blog?

2) Do you always access the blog on the same day/time, or do you do it whenever you have free time?

3) Do you regard this as a real part of the subject, or just as something 'extra' that you have to do?

4) How long does it take you to complete the activities each week?

5) Which activities are easy for you to do, and which do you find difficult?

6) Do you work individually or with your classmates?

7) Do you get enough feedback, or would you like me to provide more detailed corrections?

8) Have you found the activities and topics appealing/interesting so far?

9) Suggest topics or activities you'd like us to work with.

10) Is there anything that you'd like to change about the way in which we've been working?

Please write your answers in a comment below.

I've also updated your grades. Make sure you look at them and let me know if you have any questions.

Writing a Short Story

Today we are going to write a short story. First, watch the following video and pay attention to the tips mentioned:



I also suggest that you read these tips on writing a short story.

Remember it's very important to use narrative tenses.

Choose one of the following topics for your short story:

• an unlucky day
• a superstitious sportsman

(you can draw inspiration from the videos we watched last week)

I would also like you to include at least five of these words: glance - step  - shriek - slam - shudder - scream - leap - jerk - pound - gasp (remember you looked them up in the dictionary?)

Write your story in around 150 words. Send your story by e-mail (mmasuyama.nes@gmail.com)   

Superstitions in Sport

Watch the following videos:

Would you say the rituals shown are superstitions? Which of them do you think is the most absurd? 

Have you heard of any such rituals in connection with sports?

Do you have any rituals of your own (for example, before a sports match, before an exam, etc.)?

Write your answers in a comment below.

Mr Lucky

Watch the following video:



What superstitions are represented in the video?
Write your answers in a comment below.

Urban Myths, Old Wives' Tales and Superstitions

Listen to the following podcast from Canada about urban myths, old wives' tales and superstitions:
Urban Legends by mmasuyama

According to the speakers,
1) What's and urban myth or legend? How do people learn about them?
2) What's an old wives' tale? Why are they called that?
3) What's a superstition? Are Robin and Maura superstitious?

Look at the following pictures,
4) What urban myth, old wives' tale or superstition are they connected to? Explain them.

5) Which of these are popular in our country? Do you believe in any of them? Why (not)?

Please send your answers by e-mail (mmasuyama.nes@gmail.com)

Grades so far

I've already been sending some of you some feedback or corrections on your assignments. Let me tell you a liitle bit about how I'm going to evaluate your work:

Activities where you have to comment (express opinion, look up information, discuss a video, etc.) will get 'participation' grades (MB - B - R - M). In these cases you will be assessed on content, not language. I will pay attention to whether you answered the questions relevantly and thoroughly.

Activities which are handed in by e-mail will be evaluated on a scale out of 10. Here, you will be assessed on language skills (reading, listening, writing, use of English). I'm still trying to figure out how I'm going to evaluate speaking, though!

Here's what I have so far:

6° ESO E-LEARNING NOTAS

Make sure you ask me if you don't understand the grade/mark you got. In addition, check out if there's any work you haven't done yet, and please hand it in promptly. 

Please comment below if you have any questions or ideas you'd like to contribute on the topic.

Narrative Tenses

I've been told that you have been or will be working with urban myths and superstitions. Today, we will have a look at a ghost story called "La Mala Hora". Have you ever heard of it?

And also we are going to start revising narrative tenses. Consider the opening paragraph:

My friend Isabela called me one evening before dinner. She was sobbing as she told me that she and her husband Enrique were getting divorced. He had moved out of the house earlier that day and Isabela was distraught.

1. Name the three tenses used in the introduction.

2. Why are they used?

I'm sure that, by now, you are very familiar with Past Simple. If not, feel free to watch this video.

Let's have a look at the two other major narrative tenses, in contrast with Past Simple:

3. Are the explanations clear? Do you find the examples helpful?

4. Now, going back to "La Mala Hora", read the rest of the story and put the verbs in the right tense.

My friend Isabela called me one evening before dinner. She was sobbing as she told me that she and her husband Enrique were getting divorced. He had moved out of the house earlier that day and Isabela was distraught.

I _________ (call) my husband, who was on a business trip in Chicago, and he agreed that I should go stay with Isabela for a few days to help her during this difficult time. I _________ (pack) a small suitcase and got right into the car. It was late, and it would take me at least four hours to drive from my home to Sante Fe. Isabela _________ (expect) me to arrive around midnight.

As I _________ (travel) down the dark, wet highway, I kept feeling chills, as if someone or something _________ (watch) me. I kept looking in the rear view mirror, and glancing into the back seat. No one was there. 'Don't be ridiculous', I told myself, wishing fervently that I was home in my bed instead of driving on a dark, rainy highway. There was almost no traffic, and I heartily wished that I would soon reach Sante Fe.

I turned off the highway just before I reached the city, and started down the side roads that led to Isabela's house. As I approached a small crossroads, I _________ (see) a woman step into the street directly in front of my car. I shrieked in fright and slammed on my brakes, praying I would miss her.

The car shuddered to a halt, and I looked frantically around for the woman. Then I saw her, right beside my window; she _________ (look) in at me. She _________ (have) the face of a demon, twisted, eyes glowing red, and short pointed teeth. I screamed as she leapt at my window, her clawed hands striking the glass. I _________ (put) my foot down on the accelerator and the car leapt forward. For a few terrible moments, she ran along side the car, keeping up easily and striking at me again and again. Then she fell behind and in the rear view mirror I saw her growing taller and taller, until she was as large as a tree. Red light swirled around her like mist, and she pointed after me, her mouth moving though I could not make out the words. I jerked my attention back to the road, afraid what might happen to me if my car ran off the street.

I _________ (make) it to Isabela's house in record time and flung myself out of the car, pounding on her door frantically and looking behind me to see if the demon-faced woman _________ (follow) me. Isabela came running to the door and let me in.

"Shut the door! Shut it!" I cried frantically, brushing past her into the safety of the house.

"Jane, what is wrong?" she asked, slamming the door shut. She _________ (grab) my hand and led me into the living room. I sank onto the couch and started sobbing in fear and reaction. After several minutes, I managed to gasp out my story. Isabela _________ (gasp) and said: "Are you sure you were at a crossroads when you saw her?"

I nodded, puzzled by her question.

"It must have been La malhora," Isabela said, wringing her hands.

"The bad hour?" I asked.

"This is bad, Jane. Very bad," Isabela cried. "La Malhora only appears at a crossroads when someone is going to die."

Ordinarily, I would have laughed at such a superstition, but the appearance of the demon-woman _________ (shake) me. Isabela got me a cup of hot cocoa, brought my luggage in from the car, and sent me to bed. She was so concerned for me that she _________ (not/mention)  the divorce or Enrique.

I felt much better the next morning, but I _________ (can/not) shake the feeling of dread that grew within me all day. Neither of us mentioned La Malhora, but we _________ (both/think) of her when I told Isabela that I wanted to go home. Isabela insisted on accompanying me. I flatly refused to drive after dark. I was afraid I would see the demon-woman again when I passed the crossroads.

We left the next morning, and we _________ (not/be) home more than twenty minutes when a police car pulled into my driveway. I _________ (know) at once what it meant, and so did Isabella.

The officers spoke very gently to me, but nothing could soften the news. My husband had been mugged on the way back to his hotel after dinner last night. His body _________ (not be) found until this morning. He had been shot in the head and was killed instantly.

Finally, you know that it's important to use a wide range of dramatic verbs to make the story more vivid. For example, 'sob' in paragraph 1 is much more dramatic than, say, 'cry', although both of them share a similar meaning.


5) Look up these dramatic verbs in a dictionary. Write the definition and an example -from the dictionary or one of your own:

glance
step
shriek
slam
shudder 
scream
leap
jerk
pound
gasp 

Please hand in your assignment by e-mail (mmasuyama.nes@gmail.com)

Where's the homework?

Dear all,

I know I said I would be posting new assignments on Wednesday afternoon, but today I won't be able to do so. In fact, I'm off to see the amazing Foo Fighters concert, and I will probably get home late.

So, drop by tomorrow (Thursday) to check out new posts.

Let me share one of Dave Grohl's favourite anecdotes and a song with you:

Foo Fighters by mmasuyama

Everlong by mmasuyama  

And happy Easter!