Conclusion

Comment on all these questions. Remember to give reasons based on the book!! In your answers pay particular attention to the Chapters and pages suggested in each question, if any.

1. Did you enjoy the book? Why /not?

2. Could you draw any conclusion after reading the book? What did you learn from it? Reffer to:

• The incident with Daniel, whose father was dying in hospital. (pg. 59)
• The advice Frank Mc Court gives to a young part time teacher. "Find what you love and do it" (pg.68)
• Guy, the boy with a black cloth over his eye, and Rachel Blaunstain, the girl whose life was perfect. (pg. 70)

The Role of the Teacher

Comment on all these questions. Remember to give reasons based on the book!! In your answers pay particular attention to the Chapters and pages suggested in each question, if any.

1. What ´s your opinion on Frank McCourt´s teaching practise? Is he a good or a bad teacher? Why? Give examples. What makes a good teacher, from your point of view?

2. Comment on the sentence "You have a duty to think for yourselves" and the reaction of the class about it. (pg 32.Chapter 9)

Education

Comment on all these questions. Remember to give reasons based on the book!! In your answers pay particular attention to the Chapters and pages suggested in each question, if any.

1. From the book, comment on the differences between the American educative system and the Spanish system. Ideas: open school days, guidance counselors, principals. etc., Give examples and reffer to chapters and/or pages.

Society in the USA

Comment on all these questions. Remember to give reasons based on the book!! In your answers pay particular attention to the Chapters and pages suggested in each question, if any.

1. The USA is often reffered to as a "melting pot", where can you see it in the book. Give examples.

2. From the book, do you think there is racism in the American society and American schools? Give examples from the book.

3. American society is often considered as an example for mobility as it is supposed to give opportunities for people willing to go up the "social ladder". Examples of self-made men: Bill Gates, Onasis. From the book, do you think there are real opportunities in the USA for poor, underpriviledged people? Give examples and justify your answer.

Stereotypes

Comment on all these questions. Remember to give reasons based on the book!! In your answers pay particular attention to the Chapters and pages suggested in each question.

1. Did you find stereotypes for the nationalities of the characters in the book? Which ones? Mention pages and chapters.

2. What are, according to the book, the Irish stereotypes in the USA? Check the following pages:

Accent. pg: 41
Complaining. pg. 55
Drinking. pg. 38

Mention any other you found in the book.

Migration

Comment on all these questions. Remember to give reasons based on the book!! In your answers pay particular attention to the Chapters and pages suggested in each question.

1.How does the author feel about living in the USA? Does he miss Ireland? Does he view the USA as a land of opportunities? Why /not? (Chapter 4. Stories. pgs. 10, 11, 12 and Chapter 15. A Failed Everything pg. 51)

2. Why does F. Mc Court say:"There were no teenagers in Ireland, not in my world. (...) In a few years you went to England to work as a builder or to join the army." (pgs. 4 & 5). Explain your answer.

3. Coment the incident with Hector, the Cuban boy. (pgs. 37 & 38)

Welcome to our blog

Hello everybody and welcome to this blog. We´ll be using it this year for extra info and references.

I hope you enjoy it and find it useful!

1st Reading

Remember our first reading this year is Teacher Man by Frank Mc Court. Penguin Readers.

Reading comprehension test will be based on a number of questions about the book, you have to answer and comment on. Please, feel free to give your interpretations about facts in the book.

But first, let´s watch an interesting interview on the book and his opinions about the teaching profession at: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/10049232/

Do you agree with him that teachers should be more appreciated and taken into consideration?