The Teacher's Secret

"What's the matter? Why are you all lying in the floor?" (p. 16)

  This is set in a school in Korea. A teacher eats dried fruit in secret everyday but one day his students find it and eat. Then they work to hide it, they pretend to eat poison.
  I like this story because I read a story which is similar to this before. It appeared on an English text when I was a high school student. But at that time the story is set in Japan, and not a teacher but a chief priest appeared. The students were the monks of a temple. I thought the monks are full of wit so I liked the story.
  Do you remember the story of textbook which you read before? Are there your favorite story?


Hannam, J. (2002). The Teacher's Secret. Dominoes.

The Legend of Sleepy Hollow

The Night is very dark. Ichabod thinks about Katrina and he feels terrible. Then he hears a noise. (p. 30)

  Ichabod Crane is a teacher who works in a small town. There is a rumor that a ghost, called Sleepy Hollow, appears in the forest. One day Ichabod goes to a party held by a rich man who has a daughter. He wants to marry her so he tries to approach her. In the party he interrupts other men who is talking her. But after the party on the way to his house, he feels something strange behind him...
  Ichabod gives up the daughter and does out the town, but after all it is a man's work. He is interrupted in the party by Ichabod so he surprises him. Ichabod's character of greedy causes this result. There are a lot of story like this in the world.
  This story is a comic and the details of people's facial expressions are drawn. So it is easy to read and interesting because it is different from Japanese comics. If you are interested in, please check it out!


Irving, W. (2002). Rip Van Winkle & The Legend of Sleepy Hollow. Dominoes

Rip Van Winkle

Just then, he puts his hand to his face, and finds he has a long white beard! (p. 8)

 Rip Van Winkle likes liquor and doesn't work. One day his wife tells him to work, but he goes out without saying something. In a forest he meets an old man and follows him. They arrive the man's house and drink liquor together until night. Next morning, Rip is under a tree when he gets up. Then he is very surprised because he turns into an old man.
 This story reminds me of a Japanese story, Urashimataro. He also becomes an old man in the end. However Rip enjoys the rest of his life and tells his strange experience to people, so I think it's a happy story in contrast to Urashimatato. If you know the continuation of Urashimataro, please tell me!


Irving, W. (2002). Rip Van Winkle & The Legend of Sleepy Hollow. Dominoes

The Nightingale and the Rose

"Death is a price to pay for a red rose," says the Nightingale. (p. 51)

 This story is about a Nightingale which dies for a man. She likes him but he likes an another woman who is a daughter of the Professor. He tries to invite her to a dance, and she requests him a red rose for his invitation. So he looks for a red rose but there is no red rose. At that time the Nightingale sees him and she wants to help him. She sticks a branch of rose in her heart to dye a white rose to a red rose. However the Nightingale's death isn't paid in the end.
 This story is sad but it tells us pure love. A Nightingale gives her life for a man because she likes him. I think her love for him is so strong and she is so brave. I was moved by her strong will.


Gerngross, G. (2007). The Nightingale and the Rose. Helbling Readers.

Zadie's Big Day

"You're the best footballr, Zadie, and the best skateboarder!" (p. 53)

 Zadie is a good football player and she is called hero by her team mates. One day she meets a new student, Simon, in her school. He plays skateboard very well. Zadie and Simon have a competition of skateboard, but she hurts her leg.
 Zadie is competitive, so she practices skateboard if she isn't good at it. I can understand her feeling that she doesn't want to give up. When I was a child, I often had a quarrel with my brother. Though I couldn't beat him, I didn't want to give up. Do you have experiences which you feel you're competitive?



Hobbs, M. (2009). Zadie's Big Day. Helbling Readers.