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Sam : November 17, 2007 Updated: 2007-11-17 08:15:14 Description: This is a “PMP” What does PMP mean? Maybe it means “portable memory portal?” How much memory does it have/hold? About 40 Gigabytes. Is that a lot? Well, your computer has about seventy, I think. How is your English class in school going? Sam: In English class, we usually just have a study hall. At this time, my friends just talk, and don’t really pay attention to the teacher, because the teacher just teaches us strange things. Charles: (About “study hall”) What kind of “strange things” does the teacher teach during study hall? Sam: Well, the students don’t want to study during that time, so the teacher just does what they want. Genie: But that’s not a usual thing, right? That happens rarely? Does that always happen? Sam: No, it almost always happens. There are too many classes at school, and maybe English is considered secondary. We don’t like this teacher actually. Her tests are difficult, and she gives/offers us nothing to prepare. Genie: So then it’s hard for you to like the English teacher. Charles: In the West, a teacher like that would be reprimanded (seriously talked to; chastised; yelled at), or even fired, eventually. To me, Koreans do amazing things; whatever needs to be done! Why can’t they change the education system? Sam: We have a Parent Teachers’ Association here, but maybe the parents here fear that interrupting, or interfering with the education system can cause a breakdown in the childrens’ studies. Parents also think—for example—'if my son is moved to a lower level, it is my son’s fault, not the teacher’s fault,' so they try to push, even punish their children when ‘necessary.’ Charles: Does your English teacher speak English well? Sam: She’s a grammar teacher. The Report Card Sam: The PTA is mentioned in this book. Nora goes to school and watches what the teachers do; all the time. She even researches about grades and homework. Her teachers think she is hard to understand; the way she speaks and writes—because of her bad grades. Charles: Wait Sam. I’m not clear on this: They think she is hard to understand because of her grades or because of her mind? Sam: They think that because of her mind; because of who she is; that she has bad grades. She likes thinking; she’s inquisitive. On the internet she found the Connecticut (/Kun-Et-I-Kit/) Mastery Testing website. There she found information about the school system and grades, but suddenly a teacher came in and before the teacher noticed, Nora switched screens. Then she took Nora to a conference room. The teacher did. Many teachers were there; Nora’s parents were there too. This was sudden; it was a surprise. Nora hadn’t expected it. Genie: Do you have any questions here (about the book)? Sam: What does this mean; ‘So what if it’s a whole lot sooner?’ Charles: Nora says to herself—she’s thinking, right?—‘You knew something like this was going to happen sooner or later….’ Then she says ‘So what if it’s a whole lot sooner?’ Charles: So it means ‘it doesn’t matter when it happens.’ Get it over with (get it done). Do it now, rather than later. Deal with it now, rather than later. Charles: In other words, she is tough, and thinks, ‘I can deal with this now if I can deal with it later. What’s the difference?’ Sam: I got it. Genie: Have some sweet potatoes. Sam: Thanks. I have to go to the hospital soon. Genie: What time? Charles: May I ask why you are going? Is it for your allergies? Sam: No. (It’s) my eye. Ah, yeah, my allergies. Genie: So this is over? We’re done with this (The Report Card)? Charles and Sam: Yeah. Charles: (holding up his cup) Do you know about this picture? It’s famous. Maybe you’ve seen it in a Japanese restaurant? It’s called Kanagawa no Tsunami, The Great Wave of Kanagawa. It’s a woodblock print. It was done by Katsushika Hokusai. Look at the style; like animation right? But it was done a few hundred years ago. Genie: (Picks up Sam’s workbook) Where did you work in here; until where? Sam: (pointing to the pages) Here. Genie: Do you have questions here? Sam: Yeah. Here. I cannot understand the meaning of this passage. Charles: Can you say that? Good. What’s a settlement? Sam: I know what it is, but…let me think of how to say it in English. A settlement is a place where people decide 'to settle,' or settle down; make a new home (in a new place). In this passage 'proved' means discovered to be. LISTEN NOW | DOWNLOAD |
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