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Future Home
Thursday, January 21, 2010, 9:01 PM
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We read in Mao's Last Dancer, a description of his home. We also discussed briefily the difference between a house and a home. Have you ever wondered what a future home might be like? Here's a peak into the future:


You asked if the world becomes so automated, there will not be enough jobs to go round. What will we being doing? Watch Wall-E to have a look at life in the 26th Century!



This world could become a reality for our future descendants!

A Wedding
Wednesday, January 13, 2010, 10:50 AM
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In the prelude to chapter 1, you were given an insight into a Chinese Wedding. In class, you were given a comprehension passage comparing between a Chinese and Indian wedding. It is interesting to note that traditions have always been followed in a wedding. I asked if a wedding can be creative. I showed this video of JK's Wedding:


Remember, if you want your writing to catch the attention of the reader, creativity is the key. Look at how this couple made an impact with just a simple twist to their wedding entrance. The dancers were even interviewed!



Copycats tried to make a spoof of this popular video and here's the 'divorce' clip:

Originality is lost when it's copied. Message of the day - BE ORIGINAL - especially in your writing *smiles*

Ancestors watches over us?
, 10:13 AM
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In Chapter 3, page 38 we read a little about how Cunxin's family beliefs in ancestral help - "They had the power to help us and influence our fate." If you can't visualise this, watch this clip from Mulan on how her ancestors were awakened to watch over her.

Women's status in China
, 10:05 AM
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In chapter 1, pg 4, a woman's place in the household is described as 'The woman of the house would sew, wash, clean and cook.' Here's a video clip of how the women folk in Mosu tribe live their lives:



Notice the status of women in this tribe lived and work like Cunxin's mother however, they have a higher status in society unlike their counterparts in other parts of China.

In chapter 1, pg 11, Cunxin gave us an insight into their diet 'We had dried yams, steamed or boiled, almost daily, week after week, month after month, year after year.' You will be able to catch a glimpse of a litte boy eating boiled potato in this video clip, in the case of Cunxin, he lived on a diet of yams instead.

Mao's Last Dancer
Friday, January 8, 2010, 10:21 AM
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Here's a movie trailer on the novel you would be reading for your English lessons:

Mind your language - The First Lesson
Thursday, January 7, 2010, 9:12 PM
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Ladies in 2/7,

Here's the video clips shown to convince us of the need to speak well and be understood. Together we cmi (CAN make it!)

During my growing up years, I used to watched this comedy every week. Mind Your Language is about a language teacher who tries to make a living by teaching immigrants English. With Indian, French, Chinese and many other pupils, his lessons do not always go as planned. Have a look at how his First lesson went:

(Part 1)
(Part 2)
(Part 3)

Notice Su Lee's and her little red book! Her devotion to Chairman Mao and China is to be admired!

Happy New Year 2010!
Tuesday, January 5, 2010, 8:59 PM
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Hello Ladies,

Here's a blog for you to revisit some of the websites or video clips that I've used in class. For this week, the book Mao's Last Dancer was introduced. Here's what it looks like


Here's a quick synopsis (blurb [sic]) to the book:
It is the true story of Li, who was born in rural China in the 1950s. His boyhood is spent in an environment totally foreign to most of us in Australia, with ongoing hunger and poverty for the family of seven boys, and unremitting drudgery for their parents. Despite this, the boys are provided with a loving and nurturing family environment, and a strong sense of community.
Li is selected almost at random from his school at age 11 to attend Madam Mao’s dance school in the large city, where he is to be trained in classical ballet. He has never seen a dancer before, or indeed a city. The rigours of the Chinese method and the teachers are severe, and Li hates his new school for two years, as he struggles with his home-sickness. He comes to realise at quite a young age, though, that dance is his ticket out of the poverty cycle, and a way of making his parents and country proud of him.
The story of his teens continues with hard work to the exclusion of all else in his desire to become the best dancer his country has produced. Winning competitions, and being invited to the USA prove to be a starting point for an international career. He is forced to seek political asylum in America in order to remain in a country which allows him to dance in the way he wishes, and it is many years before he sees his beloved parents again.
A happy marriage to an Australian dancer, the birth of two children, and adjustment to a life outside of dancing in his mid 30s complete his fortunate life.

Taken from: http://www.glenrowangazette.org.au/dbookreviews.html#mao
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