ER: A different ending

Have you ever regretted reading a story (or watching a film) because you wish the ending were different? You then complained about why the main character died or why the couple could not live happily in the end. Or perhaps, on the other hand, you wish the ending could be darker with a few characters dead and a cliffhanger of the villain winning the battle and continuing the evil mission. 

This week's assignment on my Extensive Reading class asks students to think of and create a new, different ending to a story they have read. They can either narrate the new ending or write a summary of that. 

I have read Jaws, written by Peter Benchley. It's a 29-page, A2-level horror story, with a total of 10,888 words. Jaws is actually a popular thriller film, released in 1975, and I can remember how scared I was as I watched the film on TV in the 90s.

The book narrates the terror caused by a giant shark, preying on visitors on Old Mill Beach. It killed more and more people, and that forced the local police chief, Brody, to close the beach area. He also sought help from Hooper, a shark scientist, and Quint, a shark hunter, to capture and kill the creature. The three made a few attempts and always failed. 

Hooper decided to dive in a shark cage, trying to get a closer look at the beast and kill it. However, the shark managed to ruin the cage and killed Hooper. Quint was furious, no longer interested in hunting the shark to get any money, and he vowed to kill the giant fish. In the end, Quint harpooned the shark several times, badly wounding the shark, but he was dragged deep into the dark sea as the shark tried to escape. The shark eventually died,  and it was only Brody who survived.

I had to write my new ending too. So, here's the ending, 

To be added soon.

What about my students? Are you interested in reading their original endings to the stories they have read? Here's the list of my students' blog updates on this project. I mention the book titles, so perhaps you are also interested in reading some familiar titles.

• Yohanna Amanda Putri, The Snow Goose by Gallico Paul
• Johanna Jerusha Prasodjo, The Masque of the Red Death by Edgar Allan Poe
• Vinsensius Brahmantya Adityawan, Amazon Rally by Amos Eduardo
• Sony Chrissetiyaki, The lovely Lady by D. H. Lawrence
• Theresia Ratna Shela Puspita Sari, The Prince and the Servants by Jane Rollason
• Gracia Marchelly, Rapacini's Daughter by Nathaniel Hawthorne
• Diki Setyawan Kristiananda, The Night Train at Deoli by Ruskin Bond
• Yeremia Edo Surya Noegraha, Joey's Luck by John Escott
• Melkisedek Osibas Tauho, Halloween Horror by Clemen D. B. Gina
• Emmanuela Kurnianti, The Knowledge by Sue Leather
• Nevel Petroza Andrew, Me Before You by Jojo Moyes
• Tri Widhiastuti, The Golden Stone Saga I by Jenny Dooley
• Nola Leticia Luntungan, The Prince and the Servants by Jane Rollason

What do you think of this assignment? And do you like my new ending? Share your ideas in the comment box below.

ER: That Perfect Song

I introduced my students to English e-Reader, another free source of graded readers. While ER Central has several levels in numbers, English e-Reader uses CEFR Levels. The texts or stories are longer on English e-Reader. Once students log in to the site and read a story, their progress will be automatically recorded and they can check their track of which story they are still reading and which they have finished reading. 

Another thing I like about this site is that English e-Reader has that feature that allows me to customize the reading view. I can adjust the font size and color as well as the layout of the text. I'm a visual learner, so that lets me enjoy the reading experience more. 

I have also tried reading a few stories there. One is an A1-level (or Starter) story, titled Sister Love. The site categorizes it as a crime story. It is written by John Escott, consisting of 7 pages with a total of 2,704 words. It is surely a short one; still, the story is interesting.

Sister Love, by John Escott

It tells the story of Marcia and his partner, Howard. They loved each other, but things got more interesting when Howard began to meet Karin, Marcia's sister, more frequently. Apparently, Karin was also interested in that man and cunningly-plus-secretly flirted with him. Things went fishy and of course, Marcia learned the bitter truth about their affair. She surprisingly did something to her sister to get Howard back to her in the end.

My students' assignment this week is to choose and write about a perfect soundtrack for the story they have read. I want to pick a soundtrack for that story I have read also. 

For this love triangle, considering Marcia's effort to win Howard back, I'd like to use Jason Mraz's I Won't Give Up.

When I look into your eyes,
it's like watching the night sky

Or a beautiful sunrise;
Well, there's so much they hold

It was Marcia who first met and loved Howard. Then, Karin started to see the 'beauty' in Howard and fell in love with him. I'd agree that what Karin did was mean. Wicked. Both Marcia and Karin made their effort to win Howard, regardless Karin's evil intention to steal Howard from her sister. Neither of the sisters gave up on their struggle to get the man's attention.

Well, I won't give up on us
even if the skies get rough

I'm giving you all my love;
I'm still looking up

Marcia could have confronted them when she secretly found out their affair, but she didn't. She pretended that she knew nothing. She still hoped that Howard would turn back to him and somehow, she let them meet each other while waiting and preparing her best move. 

And when you're needing your space

To do some navigating

I'll be here patiently waiting

To see what you find

I'm imagining this part of the song being played with a piano, no vocal, as Marcia stealthily witness her lover and sister affair behind their back. She was heartbroken and I guess she must have been angry, but she decided to hold her back and wait. Haha.

I don't wanna be someone
who walks away so easily

I'm here to stay and make
the difference that I can make

So, I guess the Mraz's song is suitable to accompany the story. It beautifully articulates both sisters' effort to win Howard's affection and their not giving up. 

Want to check what my students pick for the story they have read? Well, here's the list of their blogs and the songs they chose. Go, check their updates.

• Yohanna Amanda Putri - Can't Take My Eyes Off You by Frankie Valli (covered by Joseph Vincent)
• Johanna Jerusha Prasodjo - Lose Yourself by Eminem
• Vinsensius Brahmantya Adityawan - 
• Sony Chrissetiyaki - All I Ask by Adele
• Theresia Ratna Shela Puspita Sari - 
• Gracia Marchelly - Alone by Alan Walker
• Diki Setyawan Kristiananda - Goodbye to a World by Porter Robinson 
• Yeremia Edo Surya Noegraha - We Don't Talk Anymore by Charlie Puth (feat. Selena Gomez)
• Melkisedek Osibas Tauho - Believer by Imagine Dragons
• Emmanuela Kurnianti - You and Me by Lifehouse 
• Nevel Petroza Andrew - You've Got a Friend in Me by Randy Newman
• Tri Widhiastuti
• Nola Leticia Luntungan - Thank You for Loving Me by Bon Jovi

Do you want to share any story you have read? Can you think of a soundtrack that perfectly suits the story?

ER: My Special Gift for X

One of the students' assignments in the extensive reading class is that they need to think as if they were preparing a special gift for a character in the story. I love this assignment!

Years ago, back then when I was sitting in my extensive reading class as a student, I had to present my gifts in front of my friends. I picked The Prince of Egypt. 

It is an easy one, Level 2, and actually an adaptation of Spielberg's animated film. The book narrates the story of Moses and how he grew up as a prince in Egypt, once saved by the Egyptian queen when he was still a baby. Appointed by God, Moses was tasked to lead and free his people from slavery in Egypt, standing against his stepbrother, Ramses. 

I had to think of what gift was special for Moses. I remembered my favorite scene in that book, that is when Moses stood before the river/sea, prayed to God, raised his staff, and let his people witness the powerful God split the sea before them. It is that scene that I always imagine when I read the same story told in the Bible. I thought of giving him this item. 

A wooden walking cane

So, instead of walking with that old, curvy wooden staff, Moses could walk and move more elegantly with this new wooden staff. And that scene would be way cooler when he raised this stylish staff! And he could do more miraculous things later with his staff, too!

The next person I chose was from the same story: Ramses. Well, it would not have been fair if I had treated Moses but his stepbrother. After all, I would like to make the story more interesting. Haha. 😎 

I knew Ramses .was the wicked one. Although Moses had reminded him how omnipotent God is--remember those ten plagues, Ramses was headstrong and ignorant. Even when he seemingly let Moses and his people walk away from his land, he tried to chase and capture them back. Then, they were riding their chariots but got stopped--and trapped--when the sea closed. 

Forgive me for my being 'naughty', but here is what I would like to give Ramses (and his army). Tadaaa!

A jetski!

The chase would not have ended right there when the sea closed. I would love to see how this stubborn Ramses kept chasing Moses and his people. And what next would God show to those people? I would love to witness more miraculous things to happen and let Moses utilize his new staff too! Haha. 

What about my students? Well, let me tease the gifts they have prepared for the characters. Please check their blog updates, too.

• Yohanna Amanda Putri -- a water pump and a pile of money
• Johanna Jerusha Prasodjo -- a stylish outfit and an enamel necklace
• Vinsensius Brahmantya Adityawan -- an alarm clock and a notebook
• Sony Chrissetiyaki -- a VIP movie ticket and an Iron Man figure
• Theresia Ratna Shela Puspita Sari -- a trophy and a typewriter
• Gracia Marchelly -- a rocking horse and a jumbo cat house
• Diki Setyawan Kristiananda -- an alarm clock and an air compressor
• Yeremia Edo Surya Noegraha -- an axe and a chic car.
• Melkisedek Osibas Tauho -- earphones and an alarm clock
• Emmanuela Kurnianti -- a trophy and a LEGO Batman Minifigure!
• Nevel Petroza Andrew -- a Nobel Prize Medal and a time-traveling car! 
• Tri Widhiastuti -- a lot of food and a piece of blank paper
• Nola Leticia Luntungan -- a bone and a cake.

What about you? Who is your favorite character? And what special present would you like to give him/her? Mind sharing your ideas? 😉