Understanding American English and Culture Through Folktales and
"Toto, I don't think we're in Kansas anymore" .........
"use Pied Piper Exterminators",
"it was a Goldilocks day at the Dow, not too high, not too low, but juuuust right," "the
emperor has no clothes ... rampant fraud finally revealed in the local schools today"
Even the most fluent ESL student won't have a clue as to the meanings of those common adult statements unless the student knows the original stories.
Open Sesame is a course text for high intermediate to advanced, teaching core vocabulary and grammar while reinforcing critical thinking, and stimulating
cross cultural discussions. Included are clues on guessing vocabulary from the context, a brief discussion of American History, an introduction to the key values of American mainstream culture.
After reading and discussing the twenty six most important stories in the American schemata, the student gains the cultural hooks necessary for true fluency.
Contents in Brief:
How to Guess Vocabulary in Context, Solving the Puzzle of American Culture,
Folktales and Fairy Tales. The stories are: Cinderella, Snow White, Three Little Pigs, Johnny Appleseed, Wizard of Oz, Charlotte's Web,
Paul Bunyan, Rip Van Winkle, Sleeping Beauty, Goldilocks and the Three Bears,
The Emperor Has No Clothes, Hansel and Gretel
" . . a very useful ESL textbook, engaging students to improve their reading skills by using
guessing strategies for vocabulary and grasping the cultural conception of America through folk tales." -
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