Work in pairs - discuss the questions:
A
1. Were you a ‘good’ student at primary (elementary) school?
2. Do you remember learning to read?
3. Did you read independently as a kid?
4. Did the teacher sometimes pick on you at school?
5. Did the teacher overlook you in class?
6. Have you ever been “teacher’s pet”?
7. Did your parents put a lot of pressure on you to do well at
school?
8. It has been said that often the “class clown” ends up
becoming a teacher. Why do you think this is?
9. What do you think teachers discuss in the staff room?
10. Do you think you’d make a good teacher?
John Corcoran grew up in the US during the 1940s and 50s. As
a kid, John was really looking forward to go to school like his older siblings.
But once he got there, he realised he had a problem: he couldn't learn how to
read and write. John felt demoralised and degraded, but he kept his secret for
more than 40 years. During that time he managed to finish school, graduate, and
he even became a high school teacher. How did he do that?
The Teacher Who Couldn't Read
showstopper
chances are
earth-shattering
deceitful
How do you think John managed to get away with being a teacher who couldn't read?
late bloomer
language aquisition
high hopes
the written word
as easy as A-B-C
CAPD
1970s
diagnosis
non-existent
demoralised
degraded
articulate
the dumb row
having a hard time
Did you ever, do you still, have special difficulty with a subject at school? or even another skill like bike riding?
Were you a late bloomer?
teacher conference
defiant
acting out
in retrospect
Were you the naughty kid at school?
fed up
excelled at
teacher's pet
Have you ever been the teacher's pet?
Have you ever suddenly changed your attitude because you realised you wanted something? What?
How do you think John passed English?
How do you think John got into college?
Do you think anyone suspected John couldn't read?
charisma
run around with
adept at
resort to
What do you think John had to do to pass exams in college?
bit off more than I could chew
went to all sorts of lengths
out of bounds
painstakingly
What do you think the deal was with the friend?
What do you think John's next adventure will be?
awkward
fix him up with
let alone
disarmed bombs
reckless
cat burglar
file cabinet
campus
locksmith
Have you ever done anything like that?
Why didn't John ask for help?
wracked with guilt
horrendous
lion's cage
to taunt the lion
Why do you think John chose to become a teacher?
How would he read the register each day?
John could type, but not read. How is that possible?
to enlist
the military
worked his charm
aides
to cotton on
faculty meeting
to call on sb
playbook
Why was John terrified of brainstorming sessions?
If John's students didn't suspect that he was illiterate, does that mean he was a good teacher?
to come clean
a sacrament
improbable
clicks
severe
trauma
keep up a lie
What do you think about what Cathy did?
Why did it not feel better now that Cathy was in on John's secret?
pin-striped suit
to have sb do sth
reluctant
so-called
What do you think of John?
Language review
Earth-shattering
events, news, result, discovery
To enlist
in the military, army, navy, police force, as a soldier
To enrol
in a university, as a voter, in a course, as a student
Let alone
I wouldn't even shake his hand, let alone make friends with him.
That car isn't safe enough to drive around the city, let alone driving around the countryside.
She's too afraid to leave her own house, let alone travel to another country.
Come clean
It's time I came clean about your missing socks. I threw them out because they smelt.
It's better that you come clean now than I find out by interrogating your brothers.
Have to do with
What does intelligence have to do with playing football? It's all a matter of instinct.
Does your good behaviour have anything to do with the fact that it's pocket money day?
To go to lengths
He went to great lengths to cover up his crimes.
I'd go to any lengths to protect my kids.
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