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 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/

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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.

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Fazendo uma rápida busca na internet, encontrei esse material para a prática do Listening (habilidade auditiva). Trata-se de um link que direciona direto para um site com Podcasts. Espero que o mesmo ajude aos meus alunos.

Clique nesse link>>