Generalitat de Catalunya
Departament d’Ensenyament
Escoles Oficials d’Idiomes
“SLAM” by Nick Hornby
Student Worksheet
1. Read this extraxt taken from the Guardian.
Discuss in groups of three:
People wanting to become UK citizens will have to take compulsory English
language tests and an exam on the ways of British life.
Immigrants will also face an oath or "citizen's pledge" to help them embrace
British values, laws and customs.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/politics/2002/feb/07/immigrationpolicy
Is there a similar law in your country? Should this law be introduced in
Spain/Catalonia?
2. Read the extract from the book Slam by Nick Hornby ( pages 167-170 )
Discuss in groups of three:
1. Have you ever met anybody like Sam’s dad? Would you like to meet someone
like him? Why?
2. How do you feel when you hear a foreigner making mistakes in your own
language?
3. We have some clear examples of people who have been living in Catalonia for
a long time and still make mistakes. Why do you think this happens? Does this
bother you?
4. What kind of mistakes do they make? Give examples
5. Underline Consuela’s mistakes
6. Do you think you ever make the same mistakes as Consuela?
7. How do you think Consuela might feel after Sam’s dad’s comments?
8. Do these mistakes impede conveying the message? If not? Do you think they
are serious mistakes?
Materials elaborats pel grup de treball Brit-lit – Departament d’Ensenyament / British Council
Slam, Nick Hornby, Student Worksheet
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Generalitat de Catalunya
Departament d’Ensenyament
Escoles Oficials d’Idiomes
3. What is sarcasm?
”Sarcasm is the lowest form of wit,” said Oscar Wilde
Sarcasm is a way of using words that are the opposite of what you mean in order to be
unpleasant to somebody or to make fun of them.
The following is a video of two men talking:
What happened to David?
What’s wrong with Derrick?
Click the video box to start the video ...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MjMYQyhjiYA
Go back to the extract
Can you find examples of sarcasm in the extract?
4. Vocabulary
Look for two or three words or expressions you don’t understand and check the
meaning.
Compare your list with your partner.
Materials elaborats pel grup de treball Brit-lit – Departament d’Ensenyament / British Council
Slam, Nick Hornby, Student Worksheet
3