TALK TO ME!

My First Pay Cheque I like to visualize things – particularly happy situations, like my receiving my very first pay cheque. What a wonderful day it would be…. I place my salary check very carefully at the bottom of my backpack, so there is no chance of it falling out in the bus. Then, upon reaching home, I pull it out with a flourish and hold it up before my mother’s face. I see a few tears flow down her cheeks, as she places it gently in front of my grandfather’s garlanded picture on the table. My younger sister impatiently tugs at my sleeve, jumps up and down, and demands to know what it is I am going to buy for her. Just then, my father walks in, looking very fatigued after a hard day’s work. I turn to him and say, “Papa, from now on, you and I shall share the burden of expenses for the home.” First, there is a look of surprise on his face, and then, great delight. In a voice filled with emotion, he says, “ My son, I was happy when you got your first job, and even hap...

Coyote: The Survivor of North America The coyote is a relative of the dog, wolf and jackal. Like its relatives, it is a predator and mostly eats other mammals. It will, however, eat a wide variety of foods, including insects, fruits and vegetables. Coyotes are found throughout most of North America, from Mexico and Central America to Canada and Alaska. The colour of its coat depends on where it lives. Mountain coyotes are darker than those living in the desert. Coyotes are now found in most large urban areas. They find an abundant supply of food in these areas, since coyotes are willing to eat garbage, rodents and even small pets, such as cats. Scientists estimate that as many as 2,000 coyotes may be living in the Chicago area. Because of its adaptability, the coyote is not an endangered species, or even a threatened species. It has been classified as “least concern,” which means it has the lowest risk of extinction. (A) Discussion :          ...

NATURE & SAVING THE ENVIRONMENT Nature surrounds us wherever we are. Even among all the buildings of a big city like New Delhi, a red flower, a green tree, the golden sun, the orange sunset, the blue sky reminds us of the beauty that surrounds us.  Not only is nature beautiful, it is ever changing through different seasons – Spring, Summer, Monsoon and Winter.  Nature meets three of our most important needs - food, water and shelter. Nature gives us food to eat, water to drink and wood to build houses. It’s our responsibility to save nature. However, have you noticed how we human beings destroy nature? We cut trees from the forest to burn fires, build our homes and make furniture.  By cutting trees we reduce the level of oxygen in the air. Industries, cars, air conditioners and sprays also emit poisonous gases that cause air pollution. How can we respect nature and our environment ?  It will require a lot of commitment from each one of us....

MY FAMILY My family is a small nuclear family, comprising four members - my father, mother, my younger sister and I. We live in Ghaziabad, and my paternal   and maternal grandparents live in the village. My family provides me with love, a sense of belonging and a sense of security. We are all emotionally attached to each other in our happiness and sadness.  Each generation of the family enriches the lineage. This way the family has a strong foundation, contributes to society and to the nation. My great grandfather has made a family tree, and tells us about the different family members. My uncle was a war hero.  My cousin is a pilot. I have great pride in my family. I will always work with integrity to make my family proud of me.  (A)    (A)   Vocabulary:   Make sentences of your own with the following words from the passage.                      C omprising   ...

My City, My Responsibility When I take a look around me, I don’t always like what I see and hear. The garbage on the streets. The paan stains on walls. The smell of urine on the roadside.  The maddening traffic. The non-stop honking of cars, trucks and buses. People pushing each other, and refusing to stand in queues at ticket counters and bank counters. The list is endless. But rather than blame others, I have decided that I CAN take responsibility for my city! How? By doing little things, and setting an example for others. For instance, I CAN make sure that I never throw garbage on the road. I CAN wait patiently for the pedestrian ’s light to turn green before I cross the road. I CAN tell the owner of the momo stall to keep a trash-can near his stall. I CAN request my neighbours and friends to use their vehicle horn only when necessary. I CAN do so much for my city. This list, too, is endless. All I have to do is take responsibility for my city, a...

How well do I know Delhi? Although I have grown up in Delhi, there are still many local attractions for me to discover . Last month, my aunt’s children decided to come from their village,  and spend a few days with us in Delhi.  They were excited to visit the capital of India. They pestered us to take them to see the President’s home – Rashtrapati Bhawan.  So, I researched the best route to take via Metro and bus, and discovered that I could also show them India Gate and Rajpath on the same day. But my cousins were eager to see more. So, after checking on the Internet, I made a very interesting schedule for them to explore Delhi. When it was time for them to return home to their village, they were happy and satisfied that they had seen Red Fort, Qutab Minar, Humayun’s Tomb, Jama Masjid, and even Dilli Haat. V ocabulary: 1.       Local   - Belonging to a certain place. 2.     ...

Guess What Grasses Do? No matter where you live you use grasses every day. Cows eat grass. Chickens eat the seeds of some grasses. Think about what would happen if cows weren’t able to eat grass and chickens had no grass seeds to feed on? Song birds need to eat, so they can survive and sing. What do they eat? Yes, you’ve guessed correctly: they eat seeds of grasses. Grass seeds are cereal. Oats and rice, barley, corn and wheat are all grass seeds. From these seeds, we make flour for baking bread and cake. Without grass, the earth would become a dust bowl under the hot sun. Grass is home to millions of tiny creatures: mice, birds, rabbits, frogs, and crickets. Did you know that an oil called citronella is extracted from the leaves and stems of lemongrass? This oil is very effective in keeping mosquitoes away. The brooms that we sweep with are bundles of grass or twigs tied to a stick. Dried grasses can be woven in beautiful designs to make trays and baskets to hold food a...

Good Days, Good Ideas. I had a very good day today. Maybe it was because I woke up feeling very refreshed. I went to bed early last night and slept well. I woke up on time in the morning, and was not rushing around madly as usual. I was wide awake in class, and even found the lecture interesting. During lunch-break, my best friend told me all about the new professional course he/she has started in the evenings. She suggested that I enrol as well. So, with a little help from her, I filled out my application, and emailed it to the Institute. I will probably receive a response within a few days. I’m excited about learning something new, and adding to my skills. ( A) Dialogue: 1. Have you ever considered taking up an additional professional/hobby course? 2. What field interests you? 3. Do you know of any Institutes that offer you the program you are looking for? 4. Let’s research some together. (B) Vocabulary: 1. Refresh - (verb) - Give new strength and energy 2. Prof...

FRIENDSHIP I am very fortunate because I have many good friends. But my closest friend is Irfaan. My mother told me that we were born on the same day. I still remember our first day of school, and how we ran in together, excited about our new school bags! Over the years, there has been so much that we have shared and enjoyed in each other’s company. Playing football, cricket, watching WWF on TV, and sometimes, just talking about our dreams. But of late, I find Irfan is quieter. He makes excuses when I suggest we meet. The other day, I saw him with a group of boys who are known as the “bad elements” of our neighbourhood. I called out to him. He looked embarrassed and fled in the opposite direction. I want to help my friend get out of the clutches of bad influences. I hope I can succeed. (A) Vocabulary: 1. Fortunate - Lucky 2. Bad Elements - Not good persons 3. Neighbourhood – Area surrounding your home 4. Embarrassed - To feel shy and uneasy 5. Flee - Ran away 6. ...

DREAMS Rina works in Shruti’s house. As she cleans the house, she often sees Shruti sitting in her room, quietly absorbed in a book. One evening, Rina asked Shruti what she was reading. Shruti smiled, “I’m reading a book called The Little Princess. This kind-hearted princess helps people by making their dreams come true.” That evening as Rina walked to her home, tired after a hard day’s work, she wished her life could be different. Next morning, she was gently awakened by her mother, and told that there was someone waiting to see her. Rubbing the sleep from her eyes, she stepped out of her little home, and saw a young lady in a blue and white kurta smiling at her. “Hello Rina,” she said. “I am your new teacher, Ms.Verma. From today onwards, you will be going to Shruti’s house, not to clean and scrub, but to learn to read and write. So hurry up and get ready. I’ll be waiting for you there.” Rina didn’t know what to say. How could this have happened? She was still in a daze...

An Act of Kindness The bus was very crowded today. People were squeezed together, pushing each other for an inch of space. I was beginning to get angry and impatient, and was thinking of jumping off at the next stop. Just then, I noticed a frail old man get up from his seat, and gesture to a young expectant mother to come sit on his seat. He boldly waved aside the people in her way, and made sure she was safely seated. As he stood, clinging on to the rod of the swerving bus, I realized that even the worst moments can bring out the best in a person. A) Vocabulary: 1. Impatient (adjective) – Not willing to wait 2. Frail ( adjective) - Weak in health 3. Gesture (verb) – Movement of the hand 4. Aside (adverb) – To one side 5. Cling (verb) – To hold tightly 6. Swerve (verb) – To turn suddenly Use the new words in your own sentences. B) Pick a word to describe the action of the old man: 1. Courteous. 2. Respectful. 3. Caring. 4. All of the above. C)Please write/talk ab...

Lesson 17                                               Rooted in Nature     The river was roaring like an angry cheetah. About a hundred feet below, the water was churning with force as it flowed over huge rocks. Four of my family members who were with me when we started the trek had already crossed the river over the bridge to the other side. The bridge I was struggling to cross to reach the village located close to Cherrapunji in Meghalaya, is made of living roots that have been entwined to form a network over the river. These root bridges of the Khasi Hills showcase the ingenuity of the Khasi tribals. Realising the hurdles involved in building and maintaining bridges using conventional materials, the Khasi people decided to use the supple roots of the “Ficus elastic” tree, which were intertwined  to form bridges that can hold several peo...

Lesson 16                                    A Walk in the Desert   Two friends were walking through the desert.  During the journey they had an argument.  One friend slapped the other one on his face.  The one who got slapped was hurt, but without saying anything, wrote in the sand :   TODAY MY BEST FRIEND SLAPPED ME ON MY FACE. They kept on walking until they found an oasis.  They decided to rest and take a bath. The one who had been slapped got stuck in the mire and started drowning, but his friend saved him. After he recovered from nearly drowning, he wrote on a stone :                                                             TODAY MY BEST FRIEND SAVED MY LIFE. The friend who had slapped and save...