The Storm by Kate Chopin

Hi, I am here again. If it were not for the date on the blog, I would never remember the last time I published something here. Well, there is a reasonable explanation for that: I have been writing and reading a lot in my Master’s program.

One of the things I am studying is (American and English) literature. So, every week we are supposed to read, analyze, and write something. That’s why I shouldn't be blogging right now; I should be reading, writing or analyzing something instead, right?

However, I would like to share this story with you guys . I hope you like Kate Chopin!

See you guys around. I gotta go back to my academic routine. 

Oh yes... er... Happy Easter everyone! 

Kate Chopin, born Katherine O'Flaherty in St. Louis, Missouri on February 8, 1850, is considered one of the first feminist authors of the 20th century. She was following a rather conventional path as a housewife until an unfortunate tragedy -- the untimely death of her husband -- altered the course of her life. >>>MORE ABOUT HER<<< 

I

The leaves were so still that even Bibi thought it was going to rain. Bobint, who was accustomed to converse on terms of perfect equality with his little son, called the child's attention to certain sombre clouds that were rolling with sinister intention from the west, accompanied by a sullen, threatening roar. They were at Friedheimer's store and decided to remain there till the storm had passed. They sat within the door on two empty kegs. Bibi was four years old and looked very wise.

"Mama'll be 'fraid, yes, he suggested with blinking eyes.

"She'll shut the house. Maybe she got Sylvie helpin' her this evenin'," Bobint responded reassuringly.

"No; she ent got Sylvie. Sylvie was helpin' her yistiday,' piped Bibi.

Bobint arose and going across to the counter purchased a can of shrimps, of which Calixta was very fond. Then he retumed to his perch on the keg and sat stolidly holding the can of shrimps while the storm burst. It shook the wooden store and seemed to be ripping great furrows in the distant field. Bibi laid his little hand on his father's knee and was not afraid.

II

Calixta, at home, felt no uneasiness for their safety. She sat at a side window sewing furiously on a sewing machine. She was greatly occupied and did not notice the approaching storm. But she felt very warm and often stopped to mop her face on which the perspiration gathered in beads. She unfastened her white sacque at the throat. It began to grow dark, and suddenly realizing the situation she got up hurriedly and went about closing windows and doors.

Out on the small front gallery she had hung Bobint's Sunday clothes to dry and she hastened out to gather them before the rain fell. As she stepped outside, Alce Laballire rode in at the gate. She had not seen him very often since her marriage, and never alone. She stood there with Bobint's coat in her hands, and the big rain drops began to fall. Alce rode his horse under the shelter of a side projection where the chickens had huddled and there were plows and a harrow piled up in the corner.

"May I come and wait on your gallery till the storm is over, Calixta?" he asked.

Come 'long in, M'sieur Alce."

What is your favorite radio station?

I have asked some of my Quora contacts if they could help me find some online radio stations they liked. The answers were almost instantaneously. I would like to share this one from New York, but I’ll post more options in the future.

I hope you listen to it as much as you can!

Remember: if you want to improve your English, you should listen to as many different resources as possible. The more you listen, the more you improve it (your listening skill).

WNYC =  http://www.wnyc.org/

PORTAL DA LÍNGUA INGLESA has no responsibility for the persistence or accuracy of URLs for external or third-partly internet websites referred to in this post, and does not guarantee that any context on such websites is, or will remain, accurate or appropriate.

In some instances, I have been unable to trace the owners of the pictures used here; therefore, I would appreciate any information that would enable me to do so. Thank you very much.

Is something important missing? Report an error or suggest an improvement. Please, I strive for accuracy and fairness. If you see something that doesn't look right, contact me!

Did you spot a typo?

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What streaming radio stations are your favorite ones?

I have asked some of my Quora contacts if they could help me find some online radio stations they liked. The answers were almost instantaneously. The one I liked most was this one from Santa Monica, but I’ll post more options in the future.

I hope you listen to it as much as you can!

Remember: if you want to improve your English, you should listen to as many different resources as possible. The more you listen, the more you improve it (your listening skill).

KCRW = http://www.kcrw.com/

PORTAL DA LÍNGUA INGLESA has no responsibility for the persistence or accuracy of URLs for external or third-partly internet websites referred to in this post, and does not guarantee that any context on such websites is, or will remain, accurate or appropriate.

In some instances, I have been unable to trace the owners of the pictures used here; therefore, I would appreciate any information that would enable me to do so. Thank you very much.

Is something important missing? Report an error or suggest an improvement. Please, I strive for accuracy and fairness. If you see something that doesn't look right, contact me!

Did you spot a typo?

Do you have any tips or examples to improve this page?

Do you disagree with something on this page?

Use one of your social-media accounts to share this page:

Ernest Hemingway – ‘Cat in the Rain’

There were only two Americans stopping at the hotel. They did not know any of the people they passed on the stairs on their way to and from their room. Their room was on the second floor facing the sea. It also faced the public garden and the war monument. There were big palms and green benches in the public garden.

In the good weather there was always an artist with his easel. Artists liked the way the palms grew and the bright colors of the hotels facing the gardens and the sea.

Italians came from a long way off to look up at the war monument. It was made of bronze and glistened in the rain. It was raining. The rain dripped from the palm trees. Water stood in pools on the gravel paths. The sea broke in a long line in the rain and slipped back down the beach to come up and break again in a long line in the rain. The motor cars were gone from the square by the war monument. Across the square in the doorway of the café a waiter stood looking out at the empty square.

The American wife stood at the window looking out. Outside right under their window a cat was crouched under one of the dripping green tables. The cat was trying to make herself so compact that she would not be dripped on.

‘I’m going down and get that kitty,’ the American wife said.

‘I’ll do it,’ her husband offered from the bed.

‘No, I’ll get it. The poor kitty out trying to keep dry under a table.’

The husband went on reading, lying propped up with the two pillows at the foot of the bed.

‘Don’t get wet,’ he said.

The wife went downstairs and the hotel owner stood up and bowed to her as she passed the office. His desk was at the far end of the office. He was an old man and very tall.

‘Il piove, ’the wife said. She liked the hotel-keeper.

‘Si, Si, Signora, brutto tempo. It is very bad weather.’

He stood behind his desk in the far end of the dim room. The wife liked him. She liked the deadly serious way he received any complaints. She liked his dignity. She liked the way he wanted to serve her. She liked the way he felt about being a hotel-keeper. She liked his old, heavy face and big hands.

Liking him she opened the door and looked out. It was raining harder. A man in a rubber cape was crossing the empty square to the café. The cat would be around to the right. Perhaps she could go along under the eaves. As she stood in the doorway an umbrella opened behind her. It was the maid who looked after their room.

‘You must not get wet,’ she smiled, speaking Italian. Of course, the hotel-keeper had sent her.

With the maid holding the umbrella over her, she walked along the gravel path until she was under their window. The table was there, washed bright green in the rain, but the cat was gone. She was suddenly disappointed. The maid looked up at her.

‘Ha perduto qualque cosa, Signora?’

 ‘There was a cat,’ said the American girl.

‘A cat?’ ‘Si, il gatto.’

‘A cat?’ the maid laughed.

‘A cat in the rain?’

‘Yes, –’ she said, ‘under the table.’ Then, ‘Oh, I wanted it so much. I wanted a kitty.’

When she talked English the maid’s face tightened.

‘Come, Signora,’ she said. ‘We must get back inside. You will be wet.’

‘I suppose so,’ said the American girl.

They went back along the gravel path and passed in the door. The maid stayed outside to close the umbrella. As the American girl passed the office, the padrone bowed from his desk. Something felt very small and tight inside the girl. The padrone made her feel very small and at the same time really important. She had a momentary feeling of being of supreme importance. She went on up the stairs. She opened the door of the room. George was on the bed, reading.

‘Did you get the cat?’ he asked, putting the book down.

‘It was gone.’

‘Wonder where it went to,’ he said, resting his eyes from reading.

She sat down on the bed.

‘I wanted it so much,’ she said. ‘I don’t know why I wanted it so much. I wanted that poor kitty. It isn’t any fun to be a poor kitty out in the rain.’

George was reading again.

She went over and sat in front of the mirror of the dressing table looking at herself with the hand glass. She studied her profile, first one side and then the other. Then she studied the back of her head and her neck.

‘Don’t you think it would be a good idea if I let my hair grow out?’ she asked, looking at her profile again.

George looked up and saw the back of her neck, clipped close like a boy’s.

‘I like it the way it is.’

‘I get so tired of it,’ she said. ‘I get so tired of looking like a boy.’

George shifted his position in the bed. He hadn’t looked away from her since she started to speak.

‘You look pretty darn nice,’ he said.

She laid the mirror down on the dresser and went over to the window and looked out. It was getting dark.

‘I want to pull my hair back tight and smooth and make a big knot at the back that I can feel,’ she said. ‘I want to have a kitty to sit on my lap and purr when I stroke her.’

‘Yeah?’ George said from the bed.

‘And I want to eat at a table with my own silver and I want candles. And I want it to be spring and I want to brush my hair out in front of a mirror and I want a kitty and I want some new clothes.’

‘Oh, shut up and get something to read,’ George said. He was reading again.

His wife was looking out of the window. It was quite dark now and still raining in the palm trees.

‘Anyway, I want a cat,’ she said, ‘I want a cat. I want a cat now. If I can’t have long hair or any fun, I can have a cat.’

George was not listening. He was reading his book. His wife looked out of the window where the light had come on in the square.

Someone knocked at the door.

‘Avanti,’ George said. He looked up from his book.

In the doorway stood the maid. She held a big tortoiseshell cat pressed tight against her and swung down against her body.

‘Excuse me,’ she said, ‘the padrone asked me to bring this for the Signora.’

PORTAL DA LÍNGUA INGLESA has no responsibility for the persistence or accuracy of URLs for external or third-partly internet websites referred to in this post, and does not guarantee that any context on such websites is, or will remain, accurate or appropriate.

In some instances, I have been unable to trace the owners of the pictures used here; therefore, I would appreciate any information that would enable me to do so. Thank you very much.

Is something important missing? Report an error or suggest an improvement. Please, I strive for accuracy and fairness. If you see something that doesn't look right, contact me!

Did you spot a typo?

Do you have any tips or examples to improve this page?

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Podcast: Michael Jackson, 1958-2009: He Amazed the World With His Music and Dancing.

Michael Jackson, 1958-2009: He Amazed the World With His Music and Dancing.

 

docedezoito.com

((( LISTEN TO IT HERE ))) (Right-click or option-click the link.)

VOICE ONE:

I'm Faith Lapidus.

VOICE TWO:

And I'm Bob Doughty with PEOPLE IN AMERICA in VOA Special English. Today we tell about one of the most famous performers in the world, Michael Jackson. Known as the "King of Pop," Jackson sold more than seven hundred fifty million albums over his career. Michael Jackson redefined popular culture with his energetic music, dance moves and revolutionary music videos.

But Jackson's huge success as a performer was not always easy. He was a complex individual with an often troubled private life.

(MUSIC: "Billie Jean")

VOICE ONE:

That was a song that hardly needs an introduction. "Billie Jean" first came out on the nineteen eighty-two hit album "Thriller." The Guinness World Records lists that record as the best-selling album of all time. Other famous songs on the album include "Thriller," "Beat It" and "Wanna Be Startin' Somethin'."

The album "Thriller" was as much about moves as it was about music. Michael Jackson brought attention to his body's movements by wearing a shiny white glove, shortened black pants and white socks. He created dance movements that were electrifying. He could be as hard as a robot, or as smooth as liquid. While doing his famous "moonwalk" step, he seemed to be walking backwards on air.

(MUSIC: "I Want You Back")

VOICE TWO:

Michael Jackson was born in Gary, Indiana in nineteen fifty-eight. He was the seventh of nine children. He was five years old when he began singing with his brothers in a group called the Jackson 5. In nineteen sixty-eight the group signed a recording deal from Motown Records. Michael was eleven years old when they released their first album a year later.

The Jackson 5 became an immediate success. Their music set records. Their first four songs were "I Want You Back," "ABC," "The Love You Save" and "I'll Be There." They all reached the number one position in pop music record sales in nineteen seventy.

VOICE ONE:

Michael was the star of the group. He was the lead singer and danced with great energy. His extraordinary skill and presence on stage was remarkable, especially for someone so young. The group made youthful and fun music that was very popular with both African-Americans and white listeners.

In the nineteen seventies, the group changed record companies and shortened their name to the Jacksons. They continued to perform together, although Michael Jackson started to record music on his own as well. His first album performing alone was "Off the Wall," released in nineteen seventy-nine.

(MUSIC: "Don't Stop 'Til You Get Enough")

VOICE TWO:

Three years later, Jackson released "Thriller." The album was not just the best selling album of all time. It also won eight Grammy Awards and seven American Music Awards. And it helped establish the popularity of a new form of entertainment, music videos. The video for the song "Thriller" was important in the history of the music industry. Michael Jackson understood the power of these videos in bringing attention to his music and to his image. He worked hard to make exciting videos with complex stories and dances.

VOICE ONE:

In nineteen eighty-five, Michael Jackson helped write the song "We Are the World." He recorded it with many other famous performers. The aim of the record was to raise money for starving people in Africa. The project raised millions of dollars with this best selling song.

Michael Jackson's next album, "Bad," produced five number one hits, including "The Way You Make Me Feel."

(MUSIC: "The Way You Make Me Feel")

VOICE TWO:

Michael Jackson was a huge success, but he was also a very troubled man. His behavior and appearance became increasingly strange. He had many operations to change his face.

He acted and spoke in a childlike way. Jackson bought a huge property in California which he called Neverland after the children's story of Peter Pan. He had amusement park rides, a zoo and a large movie theater built for his home. Michael Jackson also went into major debt.And he suffered from injuries and illness that reportedly led him to take many kinds of pain-killing medicines.

VOICE ONE:

In nineteen ninety-three, a thirteen-year-old boy accused him of sexual abuse. The child molestation case was settled out of court with Jackson reportedly paying the boy millions of dollars. But ten years later, a similar accusation by another boy led to a criminal trial which began in two thousand five. A jury cleared Jackson of all charges. He called the trial the hardest thing he had ever done in his life.

During this time, Michael Jackson kept recording and performing music. His later albums include "Dangerous," "HIStory" and "Invincible."

(MUSIC: "Black and White")

VOICE TWO:

Michael Jackson was briefly married to Lisa Marie Presley, the daughter of musician Elvis Presley. He later married a nurse named Deborah Rowe. They had two children, Michael Joseph Jackson and Paris Michael Katherine Jackson. The couple divorced in nineteen ninety-nine. Mr. Jackson later had a third child, Prince Michael Jackson.

VOICE ONE:

After his two thousand five trial, the singer spent much of his time in Europe and the Middle East. He returned to the United States with the aim of planning what was to be a victorious comeback.   Michael Jackson died on June twenty-fifth, two thousand nine of heart failure. He was just days away from launching a series of fifty concerts in London.

VOICE TWO:

Fans around the world mourned his death. Prisoners in a jail in the Philippines danced for him. Fans in Paris, France attended a service at the city's ancient religious center in his honor. Famous performers around the world told about the influence he had on their work. Michael Jackson left a huge mark on popular culture. His memory will live on in his unforgettable music.

(MUSIC: "Man in the Mirror")

VOICE ONE:

This program was written and produced by Dana Demange. I'm Faith Lapidus

VOICE TWO:

And I'm Bob Doughty. You can learn about other famous Americans on our Web site, voaspecialenglish.com. Join us again next week for PEOPLE IN AMERICA in VOA Special English.

Learning English from videos: No pressure.

TRANSCRIPT

TEACHER: Right kids, just before you go, there’s a brilliant idea in the air that I’d like to run by you. Now, it’s called 10:10 and the idea is that everyone starts cutting their carbon emissions by ten per cent, thus keeping the planet safe for everyone eventually. Now, this hasn’t got to be a huge thing, but I would love it if you and your families would think about doing something.

PUPIL 1: What sort of thing, miss?

TEACHER: Well, like getting your dad to insulate the loft, or taking your next holiday by train instead of flying, or buying energy-saving light bulbs.

PUPIL 2: We’re thinking of using our car less. I’m going to cycle to school.

TEACHER: That’s fantastic, Jemima. Now, no pressure at all, but it’d be great to get a sense of how many of you might to this, just a rough percentage. That’s fantastic. And those not? Philip and Tracy. That’s fine, absolutely fine. Your own choice. OK class, thank you so much for today, and I will see you all tomorrow. Oh, just before you go. I just need to press this little button here. Now everybody please remember to read chapters five and six on volcanoes and glaciations, except for Philip and Tracy, of course.

MANAGER: Right, just want to check on that 10:10 thing. Um, had some brilliant ideas from lots of you, how the firm can cut down emissions by ten per cent. Just quick show of hands, everyone who want to get involved. Great, that’s nearly everybody. And, yeah, just for the record, no pressure, those who aren’t quite convinced by that yet? Cool. It’s no problem. Your choice. OK, so those of you planning something here or at home should probably get working on it, um, oh gorgeous, and those of you who aren’t. Excellent. Have a great weekend everyone.

DAVID GINOLA: Well, hello everyone. It’s great to be back here at Spurs. So many happy memories for me. Anyway, tell me something, what is this 10:10 thing the club is doing?

TRAINER: Well, it means that we’re trying to cut our carbon emissions by ten per cent this year. And Tottenham Hotspur Football Club was the first to sign up.

PLAYER 1: We’ve changed the floodlights at White Hart Lane, so they’re low energy.

PLAYER 2: Lots of our fans are coming to matches on buses, trains, and bikes and stuff rather than coming by car.

DAVID GINOLA: I see. Whatever. I wouldn’t do it. It seems like distraction from football to me.

TRAINER: That’s just fine, David. You don’t have to join in. Just ignore it. No pressure.(Presses button) Right lads, let’s do some penalties.

VOICEOVER: 10:10. Hundreds of thousands of people. Schools, businesses, hospitals, knitting circles, scout troops, presidents and governments all tackling climate change in more than 40 countries. Care to join us? No pressure.

GILLIAN ANDERSON: Was that OK?

TECHNICIAN: It sounded great to me. Thanks Gillian.

GILLIAN ANDERSON: Happy to help.

TECHNICIAN: So, what are you thinking of doing for 10:10 yourself?

GILLIAN ANDERSON: What, are you kidding me? I thought that by doing this voiceover that was my contribution.

TECHNICIAN: Right. No, absolutely. No pressure.

GILLIAN ANDERSON: OK, bye.

TECHNICIAN: Bye, thank you.

GILLIAN ANDERSON: Jesus.

SUGESTÃO DE ATIVIDADES: LISTENING.

Essa atividade serve para os níveis iniciais e para ser utilizada quando o tema for nacionalidades (nationalities).

É bem simples: O professor ler o texto e depois entrega somente as perguntas para os alunos. Antes de iniciar a leitura, peça para os alunos focarem a atenção na pronuncia das nacionalidades e países.

Essa atividade é simples e não exige muito preparo do professor. Apenas temos que observar aqui, a necessidade da pronuncia na hora da leitura. O professor pode ainda pedir para os alunos reescreverem o texto trocando apenas as nacionalidades e o nome dos países.

Lembrem-se sempre que as atividades devem ser um pouco desafiadoras. Você pode dizer o nome dos países e pedir para os alunos darem as nacionalidades. Outra sugestão é falar o nome de famosos e pedir para completarem com suas nacionalidades. Nesse caso, lembre-se de ativar os conhecimentos prévios dos pupilos.

Segue a atividade:

READING COMPREHENSION FOR BEGINNERS:

MY FRIEND PETER.

UNDERLINE THE COUNTRIES AND CIRCLE THE NATIONALITIES.

My friend's name is Peter. Peter is from Amsterdam, in Holland. He is Dutch. He is married and has two children. His wife, Jane, is American. She is from Boston in The United States. Her family is still in Boston, but she now works and lives with Peter in Milan. They speak English, Dutch, German and Italian! Their children are pupils at a local primary school. The children go to school with other children from all over the world. Flora, their daughter, has friends from France, Switzerland, Austria and Sweden. Hans, their son, goes to school with students from South Africa, Portugal, Spain and Canada. Of course, there are many children from Italy. Imagine, French, Swiss, Austrian, Swedish, South African, American, Italian, Spanish and Canadian children all learning together in Italy!

Comprehension check questions

1. Where is Peter from?

2. Where is his wife from?

3. Where are they now?

4. Where is her family?

5. What are the children's names?

6. How can you describe the school?

Check true or false. Correct the false ones.

1. Jane is Canadian.

2. Peter is Dutch.

3. There are many children from different countries at the school.

4. There are children from Australia at the school.

English Teacher Bruno Coriolano

www.portaldalinguainglesa.blogspot.com