Job Discussion Forums

[Iam]

Hi folks,

Starting Thursday, I'll have a sort of private, advanced level student, here in Barcelona.

I suspect/hope the choice of reader will be up to me, & would like to use a purely unadulterated "Master & Commander", as it's one of my favourite books, a ripping good read, & one of the two central characters is part Catalan.

However, it's not available as a reader with graded language.

Do you reckon I can use it, perhaps with an eye on how the student progresses, & a readiness to give him sonething simpler if it turns out to be impenetrable to him?

Iam.

[Cdaniels]

How closely does the movie follow the book?
If I were a student I'd get the video and watch it-
I assume you're planning to only take certain selections from the book, but the video may help and/or be detrimental at specific points.

[Iam]

I'm planning to have the student read all through the book, as additional English practise, not use it for part of the lessons as such.

The book - plot wise at least - bares very little resemblance to the film, which took the title of the first book in a series of about 14 novels (if I remember right), then used the plot(s) from others.

The books themselves are far more humourous than the film ... characters are far better developed & more extreme than in the film. Russel Crowe's part in particular is - in the books - in some ways a typical British thug, a little like your average soccer hooligan, & in some things clever, & others very much a bumpkin.

Iam.

[Aramas]

I may be confusing O'Brien with another maritime fiction writer, but isn't his writing style rather tortuous and heavy handed? Additionally, the genre contains so much archaic English, maritime slang and technical jargon that it seems rather pointless for anyone other than an avid sailor and maritime history buff. Do you really want to spend most of the lessons explaining why someone would want to free their sheets, crap in their heads and polish their monkeys?

I suspect a more modern writer with an easy, open style would be more appropriate. How about JK Rowling?

[dmb]

Just because you like the book, doesn't mean the student would like it. why do you want to chose it? Let the student chose. motivation is a big factor.

[Iam]

Yep, fair points to consider.

The book is full of maritime jargon - but that doesn't need to be understood to enjoy the book - I don't understand most of it myself.

Torturous & archaic English? Not really .. it's well written, don't think it's archaic at all, suppose you could argue for moderately tortuous though.

I will discuss it with the student, see if he's a book he's more interested in, sound advice, thank you. If he's not, then I may give P O'Brien a go ... like I said in original post, there's a Catalan link, as well as it being a very good & hoipefully interesting book.


Iam.

[Iam]

Dmb - sorry, just saw your advice re J K Rowling - lol, & over this newbie English teacher's dead body

Iam.