I HAD A HERO

An American guy, Michael, visited the villages which Ilunga is the master. Michael taught him how to raise fish. Michael told Ilunga that he need the pond site which there’s a small stream or a spring. After they found the good spot, Ilunga borrowed the shovel from Mike and he is going to dig for ten-by-fifteen meters pond size. Ilunga kept working like a marathon. Ilunga wanted a pond fifteen by twenty meters, so he was continue doing it with his heart. He kept doing without stopping and he had less break time. Michael helped him a bit because he has a limit. While Ilunga was digging the pond, he was sick. His hand was very hot, but he didn’t stop digging the pond. He wanted to finish it. Finally, the pond was done. Michael and Ilunga were having a cerebration, pointed on the fish and gave them name.
Who is the Hero in the story? Of course Ilunga is the hero. He digs the fifteen by twenty meters pond by himself with a shovel. Ilunga is stubborn, determined, a hard worker and diligent person. Even he felt tired or sick, he didn’t stop it. Also when he was sick and his body was hot like a fire, he was still digging the pond. I was trying to imagine this picture. A sick guy is digging a huge pond without stop. He would looks tired with lots of sweat. He might be dead someday if he doesn’t stop. He should take care of his health. I used a dictionary to find the meaning of some vocabularies. For example: machete (p.3, page 17) it means like a huge knife. I tried to picture of this stuff. I have tried measure the size of ten by fifteen meters and it was bigger than my teacher’s room. If he use only a shovel, that’s going to be really tough work. I felt a kind of pity to him for non-stop digging pond. I also tried to understand the sentence by re read the sentence, “with a shovel I sold him on credit against his next corn harvest.” It means if he can sell corns, then he will give money back to Michael. Even we know that Ilunga is the hero, can Michael also be a hero? I think yes because he taught Ilunga to raise fish, he lend Ilunga the shovel and he also helped Ilunga for a bit of digging. He couldn’t help Ilunga much because he has a limited.

RAISE YOUR VOICE #6

Jay was a kind of shy when he has to show Terry his own song. Terry helped Jay to change some parts of the song. A guy name Kiwi, Terry and Jay’s friend wanted to know a girl named Slone. Terry helped them knowing each other by going out in evening. They get to know each other more. Kiwi thanked to Terry. I think many people have an experience like this too. Like know a new girl or boy by your friends. In that day, Terry’s aunt called Terry to immediately go back to her house. Terry’s dad was coming to see her and if he didn’t see her at Terry’s aunt house, then she would get into trouble. Terry finally went back before her dad arrived; she felt a thrill of fear. My younger brother always did like this too. He liked to hang out with his friend even my dad didn’t allow him to go. He just went out and came back before my dad came back. He sometimes couldn’t arrive home before my dad, so he got a punishment. After Terry's dad went back home, she came back to the musical school. Everyone was studying in the class, but Terry was absent because she was sick. In the class time Jay’s ex-girl friend was upset because she didn’t get the round that she wanted to sing and the teacher said that we have to wait for Terry. She deserved this round because she has tried so hard. Jay’s ex-girl friend came out of the class and cried. Jay walked pass her and asked what was happening. She begged Jay to talk in privacy. They went into piano room and Jay’s ex-girl friend was trying to persuade Jay to come back to her. She kissed him. Frightened, Terry push the door and she saw they were kissing, so she ran away from him. Actually Jay didn't do that, but his ex-girl friend did it. Jay followed her and told his ex-girl friend to stayed away from him. Terry was depressing. Terry didn’t talk with Jay even he came and reconcile. If I am Terry, I will be so sad too because I would hate if my lover does something like this to others. Everyone would feel like me too. Some would forgive, but some won’t. Let see what Jay will do. Will he reconcile her until she get meek or he will no talk to her anymore.

RAISE YOUR VOICE#5

Terry was studying in the singing class. Her teacher talked to her after class and he showed her DVD that Paul sent it over there which made Terry missed him so much. Paul sent the DVD to the musical school to help terry when she was attending to the school. In the DVD was all about Terry which Paul took her daily life. Terry ran out of the room. I didn’t understand why she was running out of the room for going back to her room and packing all stuff back home. She shouldn’t give up. She must follow her goal. Anyways, Jay saw when Terry was crying and going back to the room, so he followed her. Finally, Jay came in her room and tried to change Terry’s mind that “Why are you here?”, “Why am I here!”, “Why is everyone here!!” Don’t stop your dream. It made you feel comfortable and happy isn’t it? Terry agreed with him. Afterwards, Paul always stayed beside her. If I am Terry, I’ll be so please that someone is staying beside me and giving me a moral support. If you are one of the students there, are you going to change Terry’s mind for not going back home? Or you will just let her go? Everyone is like an enemy for getting the scholarship, but for me, I will help her. Friends and follow your dream is better than being an enemy. It is not exactly a competition, but it is just like who has done in studied the best. Terry did a wonderful job in every class. She helped Jay writing the song.

After Thoughts, Reviewing Lamberton.

After I have read through the story and having discussion with my classmates, I thought the man was an awesome father. He had 3 daughters and one lovely wife. I didn’t understand why he was in the prison, but finally, I realize that he has been trying to run away with his student which was a 14 years old girl. How could he do that? His age was like 30-40years old and she wasn’t even become one’s legal age. I’ll understand their love if their ages are the same even they’re a teacher and student. I think he did feel sorry to his family after his children came visit him at the prison, and he has found that he shouldn’t do like that. He has his four lovers which include his wife and children. Anyways, he has already done it. By the way, others won’t believe him anymore. The school principle will think that he has not enough property for being a teacher. His wife will think that how could he did that to her. But the children might not really understand the situation, so they didn’t feel angry to his father. However, if I’m his wife, I won’t forgive him for doing this. On the other hand, if I’m the father, I will show my apology to them until they have forgiven me and I will promise them not doing like that again.

The Wisdom of Toads

I have read the Wisdom of Toad in English class which was written by Ken Lamberton. I have learned that the man which was a teacher has married with her wife when she was 14 years old. I think this guy is a kind of attentive father. He taught them those stuffs and also trying to catch the toad for his children. I want to know that, how come the man was in the prison? What has he done so wrong?
In the story, the men were licking the frog for getting high. Before they were using drugs, but they found that frog is good also. They feel relief from the walls and bars. The author describes and run the story very interesting. This story is a kind of difficult to guess or predict what it is going to happen next. By reading this story, I used many reading strategies. I slowly read it and also use a dictionary to define the meanings. There are lots of difficult words which I have never seen before. For example: legislative, testimony, resentencing, prosecutor, and etc. I also picture the story in my mind when I know that the guy was really married with 14 girl years old and also when he try to catch the toad. His wife is not even over 18 yet, so it is quite like illegal things. Sometimes, I have to re-read the story because some part might confuse me. It might be because of the tough words and it also perplexes me.
What he did that was wrong is that he wanted to have a new life with a girl who was only 14 years old. She is too young for him, but they got married anyways.
I think it’s enough for his punishment because just get married with the young girl doesn’t mean that he is going to harm somebody. He just loved her. I think actually, age is not important for the word, “LOVE.”

RAISE YOUR VOICE#4

In the beginning of the musical school for Terry, she met her roommate which was not really care of others. She only focuses on the scholarship to continue her studying. This school has a scholarship for students by showing their gift to the committee and parents. The prize is $10000, so everyone must do their best and study hard. I think friend is the most important thing in school life. Friend is good for your connections and future life. People can’t live alone; they must have at least a friend. In this school when they have a free time, students always play the music together. Some sings, some playing guitar, they play whatever they choose. It’s up to the students. They would study of what they want. It makes the music get into their lineage with happiness. People have a chance to do things and they should do what they like. Terry starts study in many classes. She studied of how to distinguish of the music notes. Sing the song and make the sound goes more with details. Also being on time is very important. Of course in the school life, there should be a teenage love. Terry was starting talking to a guy called Jay. Let’s see how great it’s going to be. Danice, Terry’s roommate, is playing her musical instrument which she does it at some hotel to get the money. It’s very excellent to make money by ourselves while we’re in the school life.

The Summer the Sun Did Not Blow Up

Have you ever make up any serious rumor? Whenever you heard about any news, you better think about it deeply. The story "The Summer the Sun Did Not Blow up" was written by Birmati Lakhan. This story is about an Indian family that lived in Fiji. One day, the children heard the rumor that they were going to be death on next month. It happed sometimes during Christmas day. So they were finding the way to stay alive, but finally, they were stop being impatient about that coming up deathly because it wasn’t true. When I read this story I began to understand how people feel when they heard about some frightened rumor. People shouldn’t invent a fake story for others to be fear.
There were the children who live in Fiji that heard about the rumor. Actually, I didn’t know the meaning of rumor, so I used a dictionary to help me understand and now I know what it is. Continual, their aunt told the children that next month, the sun will blow up and the sea would rise and drown all the land and houses. This sentence is very important to the story, so I slow down to understand it. The children were scared of death, so they were thinking about the way to be alive. There was many ideas come up. "I suggest that we dig a large hole, get inside, and cover ourselves with a big wet rug.” Then, the second ideas came up, “We decided that we’d have to light a small fire inside the refrigerator, just enough to stop us from freezing.” The children told the eldest brother that they need a steel boat and a refrigerator. For these quotes, I try to picture in my mind what I have just read to help me remember what I read. It makes all older people having a meeting because the rumor was getting out of hand. The father and the eldest brother were very angry and tried to find out who had started the rumor. Finally, the 14 years old girl had read an article and it said that it could happen in next millions of years, not next month. As a result, everyone was end with the fake story and be relaxed. For me, if I heard about the rumor, I won’t believe until it happens. But of course I will feel scare of death. The theme of this story is rumors are easy to start but hard to stop. From one people tell another one, then that two people tell another, and then it will add more and more.
When people have listened to any rumor, if they want to tell others, then they must say what exactly they have heard. Sometimes, the rumor might change by saying the wrong things. Like in the story, “millions of years.” How come the children have heard that next month the sun will blow up. However, the reading strategies help me a lot to understand the meaning of words and to understand clearly of the important part. I also imagine of the picture in my mind which make the story get more fun. Next time of reading I will do the same things and underline or circle information in the text and predict the story to challenge myself. Remember to think of what you’re going to say carefully because the story would gain to others.

RAISE YOU VOICE THEME

As I have read 3 chapters of the book, it already tells me the theme of the book. I think if anyone read my 1st, 2nd, 3rd chapters, then they would also know the theme of the book either. "Follow your goal for your brilliant life," is the theme of the story. Terry has lied to her father for doing what she likes. She should have a chance for her goal whether her father likes or not. The future is going to be her own life. No one could force her, but they can only give her an advice. However, she is going to start her dream soon. You will see how exciting and enjoyable in her musical school.

RAISE YOUR VOICE#3

Terry lied to her parents that she is going to stay with her aunt for a summer vacation, but actually, she was going to the musical school which her mom feel free for her to study there. But her father thought that his girl is too young for staying alone in dangerous LA City. Outstanding, Terry has a wonderful gift. She can sing very well.
Even Terry knows her goal; her father still doesn’t allow her to study at the musical school. Lying is not good, but sometimes people have to do it like Terry. She needs to follow her goal. People should have a responsibility and Terry is going to stay at the school. She is old enough, so I think it is not fair for her. Anyways, even she lied to her dad, she should have a chance to do what she wants.

RAISE YOUR VOICE#3

Terry lied to her parents that she is going to stay with her aunt for a summer vacation, but actually, she was going to the musical school which her mom feel free for her to study there. But her father thought that his girl is too young for staying alone in dangerous LA City. Outstanding, Terry has a wonderful gift. She can sing very well.
Even Terry knows her goal; her father still doesn’t allow her to study at the musical school. Lying is not good, but sometimes people have to do it like Terry. She needs to follow her goal. People should have a responsibility and Terry is going to stay at the school. She is old enough, so I think it is not fair for her. Anyways, even she lied to her dad, she should have a change to do what she wants.

The Lady or the Tiger

The interesting story “The Lady or the Tiger” was written by Frank Stockton. In the story, a princess has to choose a way for her lover which is death or live. The king, princess’s father put a guy into the prison and he forced him to choose the two doors. One of them has the tiger and another one has one of the most beautiful girl young women at court. He would marry her. Finally, the princess know the secret of the two doors and she has promised to her lover the she would help. Will she leave him die, or be happy with another girl? Either way, he will lose him.
By reading the story, I have tried to picture in my mind for the two doors which a guy need to choose the way. I also read slowly and carefully when the text becomes difficult to make sure that what I read is the right thing. Sometimes, I have to re-read when I lose my concentration. I also predict the way that the princess will choose. And I think she would choose him live because if she really loves him, then she won’t let him die.