Form: 4 Bestari Topic: Tanjong Rhu (Short story by Minfong Ho) Objectives: At the end of this lesson, students should be able to: 1. (3.1.a) retelling the story in one’s own words (Level 1: iii) 2. (3.1.b) describing the place and time the story took place (Level 2: v) Specific objectives: During the lesson, students will be able to: 1. retelling the story in their own words, 2. identifying at least 3 places (settings) where the events take place, and 3. arranging the storyline according to its chronological order. Values: Family bonds and respect. Background knowledge: NIL Teaching aids: Handout and worksheet. Time/Stages Set Induction (5 minutes)
Presentation (25 minutes)
Practice (20 minutes)
Teacher’s Activity 1. Teacher introduces the short story. 1. Teacher asks the students to tell about the story briefly. 2. Teacher discusses the storyline and settings with students. 1. Teacher asks students to get into group of four. 2. Teacher gives worksheet to the students
Students’ Activity 1. Students listen to teacher’s explanation. 1. Students share about the story briefly. 2. Students participate in the discussion.
1. Students get into group of four. 2. Students complete the task given. 3. Students discuss the answer with
Remarks
Worksheet and handout.
3.
Production (20 minutes)
1.
2.
3.
Closure (10 minutes)
1.
and asks them to arrange the storyline in a chronologic al order. Teacher discusses the answer with students. Teacher distribute worksheet to students. Teacher asks them to fill in the settings or the event(s) based on the information given. Teacher discuss the answer with students. Teacher recaps the whole lesson and asks one student to share the synopsis briefly in his/her own words.
teacher.
1. Students take one worksheet each. 2. Students complete the task given. 3. Students discuss the answer with teacher.
1. Student shares the synopsis briefly.
Worksheet.
Tanjong Rhu by Minfong Ho Synopsis Mr T. W. Li, a successful businessman, has just lost his mother. As he mourns her death, he recalls some important events before her demise, most significantly revolving around a pair of binoculars. He had bought his mother a pair of binoculars so that she could see farther as she had cataracts. However, his mother’s only concern was to see Tanjong Rhu, a place where they used to live while he was growing up. His father owned a small shipyard there before it was torn down about thirty years ago. When Mr Li finally convinced his mother to use the binoculars, he was upset that she still could not see the ships at the harbor, in front of his office. Instead, in her mind’s eye, she saw Tanjong Rhu in the past, back when Mr Li was still a young boy accompanying his mother digging for crabs along the beach. He became impatient with his mother who seemed adamant to hold on to the past and had no interest in the present. He refused to listen to her stories. Back in the present, Mr Li regrets his actions as now he too long to go back to his childhood in Tanjong Rhu. He finds that his memories are vague and there are many things that he does not remember clearly. Unfortunately, there is no one to answer his questions as the person who shares the memories with him, his mother, has passed on.
Arrange the storylines in its correct order.
He brought her mother to his office to see Tanjong Rhu by using the binoculars he bought for her. Unfortunately, she could not see anything and the memories from the past appeared in her mind’s eye. Mr Li refused to listen to her when she tried to talk about it. Mr Li regrets his actions for not listening to his mother stories of the past. However, his memories of the past are vague and he does not remember clearly and the only one that shares the memories with him has passed away, there is no longer anyone that can answer his questions. Mr Li recalls some important events before his mother died and it revolves around a pair of binoculars that he bought for her.
In her mind, the memories seemed very vivid. Mr Li and his mother used to live at Tanjong Rhu, where his father owned a shipyard. Mr Li used to accompany her at the Tanjong Rhu when he was a little boy. They would dig for crabs along the beach.
Fill in the blanks with the correct answer.
Place
Key Events Ah-Ma visits this office to try and see Tanjong Rhu where her children grew up. Mr Li presents the new binoculars to his mother in the garden.
The altar room
The hospital room
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Mr Li’s father worked in the shipyard building fishing boats. Ah-Wah played one the beach, went for walks with his mother and dug for crabs.
