Reading for meaning - Interactive ebook
Let’s Talk About Proverbs (1974-1977)
Institución Universitaria Pascual Bravo (Medellín - Colombia)
University Of the Potomac (Maryland - USA)
Editorial: Red Educativa Digital Descartes
Pza. Conde de Gavia
Córdoba (España)
2022
Reading for Meaning
Let’s Talk About Proverbs
Reading for Meaning
Let’s Talk About Proverbs
1974-1977
Authors:
Stephan Malinowski - Ramiro Antonio Lopera Sánchez
Graphic design and layout: Ramiro A. Lopera S.
Female Voice: Professor Ginger Leopoldo (UOTP)
Male Voice: Professor Stephan Malinowski (UOTP)
JavaScript code for the book: Joel Espinosa Longi, IMATE, UNAM.
Avatars: Demetrio Adrian Meza - Oscar Javier Latorre
Development and additional programming:
Ramiro A. Lopera S. (IUPascual Bravo)
Interactive resources: DescartesJS
Images: Envato Elements
Fonts: Poppins
Interactive Book Core: July 2022
Red Educativa Digital Descartes
Córdoba (España)
descartes@proyectodescartes.org
https://proyectodescartes.org
Proyecto iCartesiLibri
https://proyectodescartes.org/iCartesiLibri/index.htm
ISBN: 978-84-18834-36-3
Esta obra está bajo una licencia Creative Commons 4.0 internacional: Reconocimiento-No Comercial-Compartir Igual.
This ebook was created through ‘Descartes Project', the platform was born in 1998 as a supporting tool for the teaching and learning of mathematics, but given its versatility and the incorporation of new functionalities, it attracted other disciplines such as Physics and Chemistry.
Years later, projects such as Pizarra Interactiva and @prende.mx emerged that offer digital content in the mother tongue (Spanish) and GEOgráfica as a contribution to learning world geography. Currently, the Descartes Digital Educational NetworkThe Descartes Project https://proyectodescartes.org offers the academic community a variety of content in disciplines such as mathematics, physics, chemistry, natural sciences, languages, English, strength of materials, statics, visual arts, administrative sciences, computational sciences and social and human sciences; that is, the Descartes Digital Educational Network extends its field of intervention to every discipline, including literature.
All images presented were obtained from the Envato repository licensed by I.U.Pascual Bravo. Regarding the own and other interactive scenes, these were designed with DescartesJS or, failing that, they are adjustments of the templates available in the Descartes project.Templates https://proyectodescartes.org/plantillas/index.htm
The DescartesJS tool is characterized by an innate interactivity, by allowing representations of two and three-dimensional objects, by managing text expressions and formulas, by integrating multimedia objects such as images, audios and videos, by having the possibility of reflecting specific cases and also promote the conceptualization of tasks and procedures through the use of random seeds and numerical, graphic and text controls, and with them be able to approach the evaluation automatically, both corrective and formative. With DescartesJS it is possible to design and develop educational objects that promote meaningful learning, enabling the desired construction of knowledge.
Some recommendations to make your learning experience through this ebook dynamic and fun:
This icon allows you to watch Professor Ginger Leopoldo narrating the proverb.
This icon allows you to watch Professor Stephan Malinowski narrating the proverb.
This icon activates a simple training activity so that you can validate yourself if you have understood the context of each proverb.
Use this icon to open interactive activity in full screen window.
This icons allow you to hear (MP3 audio version) the narration of the proverb in the voices of professors Leopoldo or Malinowski.
Some words are underlined and correspond to the glossary of the ebook and allows you to expand its meaning.
The collection of short introductory stories were created to connect local ‘proverbs or sayings’ with English language learning.
These proverbial stories were written because the children could study and learn more about their cultural heritage in written form and because of the need for hard copy printed library materials for Caribbean children to read and to be able to answer questions in class or at home. As a Peace Corps Volunteer, an independent agency for the United States Government, I was assigned to teach English in a classroom setting for two years. During that period, it became clear that it would be necessary to raise funds to purchase books from the local publishing house in Trinidad.
However, this fell short of my expectations since there were hundreds of children and teenagers who never ‘checked out a book’ from the library. Two years later, with funds raised locally and donations from abroad, the school library was refurbished. With the generous support from the Cleveland Public Library, approximately 17,000 classroom books were shipped prepaid to the island nation which launched a modified American-British style school library system to include several Primary schools, one Junior Secondary School and ‘a paid college preparatory school.’
My tour of duty was extended for one additional year to assist in training new volunteers. The regional Peace Corps agency provided a school librarian and another teacher. Only after hearing accounts from teachers and reading stories about local customs, that I felt qualified to write about these local proverbs and of course acquired some skill in refurbishing an unfinished library building with chairs, tables and bookshelves.
It was truly a labor of love.
Stephan Malinowski
Sometimes we recite word phrases that have special meaning. For example, “A good beginning has a good ending”. Hence the phrase lives longer than its originator. We say this phrase has withstood the test of time. It became a classic.
In time, someone begins to collect these proverbs and put them into a book. Turn the pages in this book and look for them. Try to interpret their meaning. Ask your teacher “HOW CAN WE WRITE OUR OWN PROVERBS? “.
The stories in this student reader are rooted in Caribbean West Indian Culture and the local proverbs that evolved as part of the English Language local dialect.
One day a man was walking along the road carrying a bag full of frogs. He was going to sell them at the market. Along the way he saw a pond and decided Decided: choose to do something (verb) to stop for a drink of water. When he bent Bent: to lean over (verb) over to drink, the frogs dropped into the pond from a hole in the bag.
''Wulloss'', said the man, ''all my labour gone in Maxwell's Pond.'' The name of that pond later became part of a Barbadian proverb Proverb: a wise saying (noun) which is still very popular Popular: well liked (adj.) today.
Mr. Boatswain was a carpenter Carpenter: work man who makes the wooden parts of a building (noun). who lived with his wife and son, David, on Carriacou. David was seven years old when he started following his father to the workshop every day. Mr. Boatswain was pleased to see that his son was interested Interested: like to know an idea (adj.) in carpentry Carpentry: work of a carpenter’s nature (noun). .
As David grew older, his father taught him how to use the tools and to help with the work. David was glad to help clean the shop after work and put the tools away in their proper Proper: what is right or fitting (adj.) place.
'A good carpenter uses the best tools in a clean shop,' said Mr. Boatswain, ''Someday you may have a shop of your own.''
On my way home from school, I passed by an old house. Perhaps it is better to say that the house has aged Aged: having lived long (adj.) from the weather. The foundation is made of concrete, its walls constructed Constructed: built out of something (verb) of wood, with a tin roof.
The outside walls have no paint and the shutters seem to hang like an old shirt. If you stand at the doorway, you can smell the stale Stale: not fresh (adj.) air. Finally, if you look closely, you’ll know that the wood is rotting away.
The grass in the yard has grown over the footpath and the rain gutters leak. A gentle breeze carries the spider’s web across the room. The owners moved away years ago. Do you think a high wind would know this house?
Jonathan was a young lad who lived in Carriacou. He attended Attended: to take part in, to be part of (verb) school but could not concentrate Concentrate: to pay attention (verb) on his work. Almost every time the mail boat left for St. George’s he would post a letter to a friend or relative who had moved abroad. He too, wanted to leave someday.
At school Jonathan paid little attention to his teachers. All he could think about was leaving Carriacou. School Leaving Day came not a moment too soon for Jonathan. He took all his money and left. Do you think Jonathan was prepared Prepared – to be read (verb) to leave?
He began to look for a job soon after his arrival Arrival: come to a place, end of a journey (noun) . After one month, he was able to find work washing dishes. He did not enjoy this work. Things went poorly for him because he could not make enough money. If he couldn’t get a better job, he would soon have to return to his homeland Homeland – place of birth (noun) .
He asked his friend, Bob, for advice. Bob replied, “Do you have a skill that is needed and added that, “well paid jobs are not so easy to get these days.”
Jonathan remembered the moments when he paid no attention to his teachers at school. Now he wished he had prepared himself properly for life in a big country.
Do you sometimes wonder what it would be like to live in a foreign land? There are many challenges Challenge: to solve new problem (noun) to meet and many places to see. This is the story of James Thomas.
James went abroad to make a new life. He found a good job. In time he made some fine friends. James was happy.
One night James met some fellow countrymen at a fete. They laughed and joked about their local customs Custom: old tradition, old way (noun) and talked about old times at home. After the fete, James stopped to visit his friend, Peter. They talked for awhile.
“I miss home”, said James, “the fete tonight brought back old memories”.
“Be patient Patient: waiting calmly (adj.) ,” said Peter. “Wait until your vacation and then go visit your family.”
“That’s a good idea”, said James. “it will give me time to save money for the trip”.
“Yes”, said Peter, “the sound of music begins at home”.
There were two Carriacouans, George and Sam, who had just bought a new car together. Like most car owners in Carriacou, they began to drive a taxi.
Now George was an ambitious Ambitious: strongly desirous of something (adj.) fellow. Sam took things cool and did not rush through life. Then one day George said to Sam, “In one year we could make enough money to repay our debt Debt: owning money (noun) .”
“You’re eating a hot roti”, replied Sam.
What do you mean by that George asked?
“If you wait until the hot roti cools off, you would enjoy your meal”, answered Sam.
“You mean that I can enjoy my work and earn money” asked George.
“ Exactly Exactly: free from wrong meaning (adj.) !” replied Sam.
One day a shepherd boy went to the mountains to tend Tend: watch over, take care of (verb) his flock. He sat on a rock to rest. Suddenly a little man lept out from behind a tree and said to the shepherd boy, “Think well, think fast; make a wish that will last!”
The boy had never seen such a creature before. He thought for awhile, saying to himself, “Shall I ask for a long life, prosperity Prosperity: good fortune: state of being, successful (noun) or money”. The poor lad was uncertain Uncertain: not sure of something (adj.) ”.
Then he remembered his lost sheep and began to worry about them.
“I cannot waste time in foolishness,” said the boy, “you have caused me delay in finding my sheep.”
“What! Cried the little man. “You do not want a wish
“I am happy to be alive,” answered the boy, Should I ask for less A smile crossed the little man’s face.
“You are a wise person,” voiced the little man. “Even I could not grant such a precious Precious: something having great value (adj.) gift”
Think of this proverb as a riddle Riddle: an idea not so easily seen or understood (noun) . You must decide Decide: to settle a question (verb) .
What is measured like a temperature,
lies within a circle,
and shows us “many ways to go?
Now, if you were a sailor, the answer would seem obvious Obvious: easily seen or understood (adj.) .
It is a compass. It is an instrument that looks like a clock but shows direction. Sailors use a similar Similar: almost the same as (adj.) instrument to sail by.
A clock tells us an interesting story, too. It measures time. This tells the sailor how long he travels. Once the sailor chooses which way to go, only time will tell which is the “only one to come”.
At age 50, I was an avid tennis and recreational baseball player (PONCE de Leon League) while employed with the federal service in Washington DC and my wife was working for local photo studio in Rockville Md.
During this period I enjoyed the role of house captain for several projects at the National Christmas in April program in Montgomery County Maryland Sponsored by a local Parish. Serving as a volunteer afforded the the opportunity at developing leadership, mentoring and fund raising skills. Ideally, One day each year was set aside for supervision of volunteers and purchasing building materials for home reconstruction.
I continue to be just as active at age seventy one (March 12,2021) and currently working as an adjunct English as a Second Language instructor at the University of the Potomac in Washington DC preparing international students for language certification. A goodwill ambassador is the Fifth pillar of a Returned Peace Corps Volunteer (1974-77). Currently I’m working on an Electronic Book called ‘Reading for Meaning’ that I wrote and saved a hardcopy since 1974-77. Read the preface for more details after it’s website publication. I enjoy writing stories and hope to continue writing short stories.
Stephan Malinowski
Click on each word to go to the proverb in which it is mentioned.