Lesson 4: The Best of Both Worlds
Carmen Hernandez is from Mexico. She has been in Russ’s English class for nearly
a year. She speaks English fluently but does not know how to read and write. She is
learning little by little and really enjoys coming to English class. Lately, however, her
family problems are making it difficult for her to concentrate on her studies.
Carmen’s husband was born in the United States. He speaks a little Spanish but
mostly he and Carmen communicate in English. Their two small sons also speak mostly
English. Carmen is sad about this because she wants them to be bilingual, to speak both
English and Spanish fluently. Her husband has a different opinion. He believes the
children should only learn English. He says that if they speak Spanish at home they will
not learn enough English to do well in school.
Carmen is not sure if her husband is correct but she does know that she wants her
children to communicate with their relatives in Mexico. Once a year, they visit Carmen’s
parents in Mexico. Unfortunately, the children cannot communicate with their
grandparents, aunts, uncles, or cousins. Carmen loves living in the United States but she
wants her children to have the best of both worlds; all the opportunities the United
States has to offer and the opportunity to experience their beautiful Mexican culture.
Today in class, Carmen is reading an article about supporting children’s education.
Suddenly, she begins to smile. According to the text, “bilingual children have better
communication skills in their native language, learn other languages faster, score better
on state tests, and have more job opportunities when they grow up than children who
speak only one language”. The text goes on to say that “one of the greatest contributions
we can give our children is a bilingual education”.
That night after Carmen and her husband put the boys to bed, Carmen gives the
article to her husband. “I know we don’t agree about speaking Spanish at home,” she
says to him, “but I read this article and it says there are many benefits to being bilingual.”
Her husband reads the article and shakes his head. “I had no idea,” he said. “I
thought that learning two languages would be too difficult for them. I think it’s time to
start speaking Spanish at home. I guess it will really help me learn Spanish too.”
Carmen leans over and kisses his cheek. “Gracias, mi amor1,” she says. With a clear
heart and mind, she opens her book and begins to study her English.
1“Thanks,
my love” in Spanish
1
Part 1: Vocabulary: Complete each sentence with vocabulary from the text. Use
strategies to understand the words. Write a definition in your own words.
1. She speaks English _____________ but does not know how to read and write.
My strategy (circle): sound out
break down
, looks like
read around
My definition: _____________________________________________
2. Her family problems are making it difficult for her to_____________ on her studies.
My strategy (circle): sound out
break down
, looks like
read around
My definition: _____________________________________________
3. Her husband has a different ______________.
My strategy (circle): sound out
break down
, looks like
read around
My definition: _____________________________________________
4. _____________to the text, “bilingual children have better communication skills in
their native language.
My strategy (circle): sound out
break down
, looks like
read around
My definition: _____________________________________________
5. There are many ____________ to being bilingual.
My strategy (circle): sound out
break down
, looks like
read around
My definition: _____________________________________________
Part 1: Main Idea: What is the main idea? Circle a, b, or c.
a. Carmen speaks English fluently but does not read and write.
b. Carmen and her husband disagree about speaking Spanish in their home.
c. Bilingual children score better on state assessments.
Fill in the graphic organizer with information from the text.
Problem:
Carmen’s opinion Her husband’s opinion Evidence from the article
1.
2.
3.
4.
Solution:
2
Part 3: Questions:
A. Text Only: Read each question. Write evidence from the text to show how the text
explicitly answers the question. Answer the question in your own words.
Note: Use quotations around the words and sentences you quote (copy) from the text.
1. What language do Carmen and her husband usually use to communicate?
Short Answer: ____________________________
Text Evidence: “________________________________________________________”
Summary Sentence: ______________________________________________________
2. What does Carmen’s husband think about speaking Spanish at home?
Short Answer: ____________________________
Text Evidence: “________________________________________________________”
Summary Sentence: ______________________________________________________
3. Where do Carmen and her family go once a year? Why?
Short Answer: _________________________________________________________
Text Evidence: “________________________________________________________”
Summary Sentence: ______________________________________________________
4. Why does Carmen want her children to speak Spanish?
Short Answer: ____________________________
Text Evidence: “________________________________________________________”
Summary Sentence: ______________________________________________________
5. What does Carmen tell her husband about the article she read?
Short Answer: ____________________________
Text Evidence: “________________________________________________________”
Summary Sentence: ______________________________________________________
Challenge Question: Search the text…
6. What language or languages does each member of Carmen’s family speak?
a.
b.
c.
d.
Carmen: __________________________________________________
Her husband: ______________________________________________
Her children: _______________________________________________
Her parents: _______________________________________________
Write a summary.
Carmen’s family members speak ______________________________. Carmen speaks
________________________, her ___________speaks ______________________, her
___________ speak __________________ , and her __________ speak _____________.
3
B. Text +: To answer some questions you must find evidence in the text AND think
outside the text. These questions require you to interpret or infer.
Text + = Interpret or Infer
 Interpret means to use point of view to understand the text. What is the point of
view of the author or character?
 Infer means to make conclusions about the text. What does the text NOT say that
I need to add myself?
1. The text says, “The children cannot communicate with their grandparents, aunts,
uncles, or cousins”. Why can’t they communicate?
My idea: ____________________________________________________________
Text evidence: _______________________________________________________
My Inference
The text says “__________________________________________” and
I think that means _____________________________________because
the text also says ___________________________________________.
2. The text says that Carmen “wants her children to have the best of both worlds”. How
will being bilingual help them “have the best of both worlds”?
My idea: ____________________________________________________________
Text evidence: _______________________________________________________
My Inference
The text says “__________________________________________” and
I think that means _____________________________________because
the text also says ____________________________________________.
3. The last line of the text says “With a clear heart and mind, she opens her book and
begins to study her English. What does this mean and why are her heart and mind
clear?
My idea: ____________________________________________________________
Text evidence: _______________________________________________________
My Inference
The text says “__________________________________________” and
I think that means _____________________________________because
the text also says ____________________________________________.
4
Part 4 Word Study: Look at each word in bold. First break the word into syllables.
Then find the base word, prefix, and suffix. The base word is the simple form of the
word that carries the meaning. The prefix is the part of the word that comes before the
base word. The suffix is the word ending.
1. Bilingual children have better communication skills in their native language.
Break down
bi|lin|gual prefix ___ base word ________
Sound out
bi lin gual
Complete: ___________ children have better communication skills in their native
language.
2. She speaks English fluently.
Break down
flu|ent|ly
base word ________ suffix ___
Sound out
flu ent ly
Complete: She speaks English ______________.
3. Unfortunately, the children cannot communicate with their grandparents.
Break down
un|for|tun|ate|ly prefix __ base word _____e suffix ___ suffix __
Sound out
un for tun ate ly
Complete: ____________, the children cannot communicate with their grandparents.
4. Bilingual children have better communication skills in their native language.
Break down
com|mun|i|ca|tion base word ______e suffix ___ suffix ___
Sound out
com mun i ca tion
Complete: Bilingual children have better ____________skills in their native language.
5. Lately, her family problems are making it difficult for her to concentrate on her
studies.
Break down
late|ly
base word ________ suffix ____
Sound out
late ly
Complete: __________, her family problems are making it difficult for her to
concentrate on her studies.
6. Supporting education is the biggest contribution you can make to their future.
Break down
con|tri|bu|tion base word ________e suffix ____
Sound out
con tri bu tion
Complete: Supporting education is the biggest _____________you can make to their
future.
5
Name: ___________________________________
Date: _______________
Listening Quizzes (Parts 1 – 4 Optional)
Part 1: Letter Sounds: Listen and write the missing letters.
1. __an
6. d__t__
2. ___at
7. p__ n
3. __at
8. sta__ __
4. h__t
9. sa__ __
5. t__k__
10. ca__ __
Part 2: Word Families: Listen and write the long ‘a’ words.
1. _____________
4. _____________
2. _____________
5. _____________
3. _____________
6. _____________
Part 3: Sound Match: Listen and circle the words you hear.
1.
can
cane
came
2.
same
Sam
sum
3.
made
mud
mad
4.
talk
take
tack
5.
let
lit
late
6.
met
mat
mate
Part 4: Sight Words: Listen and write the sight words.
1. ___________
6. ___________
2. ___________
7. ___________
3. ___________
8. ___________
4. ___________
9. ___________
5. ___________
10. __________
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Part 5: Dictation: Listen and complete the sentences.
1. ___________________________________________________________________
2. ___________________________________________________________________
3. ____________________________________________________________________
4. ____________________________________________________________________
5. ____________________________________________________________________
6. ____________________________________________________________________
7. ____________________________________________________________________
8. ____________________________________________________________________
9. ____________________________________________________________________
10. ___________________________________________________________________
Part 6: Multi-syllable words: Listen to each word. Break it into syllables. Write the word.
1. ___|_______
_________________
2. ___|___|____|___
_________________
3. ___|____|____|___
_________________
4. ___|___|___| ____
_________________
5. _____|____|____|___|__
_________________
Part 7: Vocabulary: Listen to each vocabulary word and the sample sentence that follows.
What does the word mean? Match it to the correct definition below.
1. A. To be helpful to someone
B. Relating to money
C. A choice between two or more
things
2. A. The answer to a problem
B. A problem
C. The careful study to collect
information about a subject
4. A. To be helpful to someone
B. A choice between two or more things
C. A problem that makes it difficult to
achieve a goal
5. A. The answer to a problem
B. A choice between two or more things
C. The act of giving something of value
such as money or time
3. A. The solution or way to achieve a
goal
B. An interesting situation
C. To be too stressful to manage
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Lesson 1: Listening Script
Part 1:
1. can
2. sat
3. that
4. hat
5. take
6. date
7. pan
8. state
9. safe
10.cash
Part 2:
1. cane
2. math
3. than
4. face
5. land
6. gate
Part 3:
1. cane
2. sum
3. mad
4. take
5. late
6. mat
Part 4:
1. about
2. which
3. other
4. their
5. will
6. them
7. when
8. many
9. then
10. do
Part 5:
1. A good education can be the difference between a
good life and a difficult one.
2. We can make sure our children succeed in school.
3. Research shows that reading in any language helps
prepare children for school.
4. Reading is the most important skill your child can
learn in elementary school.
5. It is important to get your child extra help if they are
having difficulty.
6. Parents must set up a time and place for homework.
7. Let your child know the importance of completing
homework.
8. Colleges and universities offer two-year and four-year
degree programs.
9. A good education is key to success in the United
States.
10. Supporting education is the biggest contribution you
can make to the future.
Part 6:
1. pre|school
preschool
2. vo|ca|tion|al
vocational
3. fi|nan |cial|ly
supportive
4. con|tri|bu |tion contribution
5. post|sec|ond|ar|y
post-secondary
Part 7:
1. financially (B)
2. research (C)
3. key (A)
4. option (B)
5. contribution (C)
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Lesson 3: Fluency Tests
Pre-Test:
Name: ______________________________
Date: _______________
Reading Time: _______
Test Score: ___/ 5_
Circle True or False:
1. Adults with post-secondary education can better support their families.
True
False
2. Children must go to preschool to learn letters and numbers.
True
False
3. Only read to your children in English.
True
False
4. Reading is important for all subjects.
True
False
5. Vocational schools have four-year degrees.
True
False
Post-Test:
Name: ______________________________
Date: _______________
Reading Time: _______
Test Score: ___/ 5_
Circle True or False:
1. Not all of us can get a post-secondary certificate or degree.
True
False
2. You must teach your children letters and numbers only in English. True
False
3. High school students do not need to do homework.
True
False
4. Universities only offer two-year degree programs.
True
False
5. Helping your children get a good education is important.
True
False
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