Homework for 200-level classes: Two exercises

Here's the homework this week: a pair of grammar/lexicon exercises. Please bring the answers for B4 through B10 ("Late Delivery") and A22 through A28 ("An Amazing Story") to class during the week of January 30-February 3.

Exercise from Elena Klekovkina, Malcolm Mann, Steve Taylore-Knowles, Practice Tests for the Russian State Exam. Moscow, Macmillan Russia, 2006.

Tracy Chapman, "Give Me One Reason to Stay Here"

The video above shows her performing the song on the television program Saturday Night Live, years before the song became her biggest hit. You can also see the official video of that hit here.

On Tracy Chapman in English, in Russian.

Here's the audio version we used in class.

And this version is by the great blues harpist Junior Wells:


Writer: CHAPMAN, TRACY L

Give me one reason to stay here
And I'll turn right back around
Give me one reason to stay here
And I'll turn right back around
Because I don't want leave you lonely
But you got to make me change my mind

Baby I got your number and I know that you got mine
But you know that I called you, I called too many times
You can call me baby, you can call me anytime
But you got to call me

Give me one reason to stay here
And I'll turn right back around
Give me one reason to stay here
And I'll turn right back around
Because I don't want leave you lonely
But you got to make me change my mind

I don't want no one to squeeze me, they might take away my life
I don't want no one to squeeze me, they might take away my life
I just want someone to hold me and rock me through the night

This youthful heart can love you and give you what you need
This youthful heart can love you and give you what you need
But I'm too old to go chasing you around
Wasting my precious energy

Give me one reason to stay here
And I'll turn right back around
Give me one reason to stay here
And I'll turn right back around
Because I don't want leave you lonely
But you got to make me change my mind

Baby just give me one reason, Give me just one reason why
Baby just give me one reason, Give me just one reason why I should stay
Because I told you that I loved you
And there ain't no more to say

Homework for 200-level courses: Essay on video games

You have 40 minutes to do this task. Please be prepared to read your essay when your class meets during the week of January 16.... Please comment on this statement:

Nowadays, a lot of children play video games. Many parents think these games are violent and affect their children in negative ways. Others disagree and feel that the games can even be beneficial.

What is your opinion? Should children be allowed to play video games or not? If so, under what conditions?

Write 200-250 words using the following plan:

• write an introduction (state the topic)
• express your personal opinion and give reasons for it
• give arguments for the other point of view and explain why you don’t agree with those arguments
• draw a conclusion.

"Stille Nacht" on a different guitar.

Christmas blessings

  to all my dear students and colleagues!!

Here's a wonderful blues guitar version of "Stille Nacht." This Christmas hymn was originally written for guitar, but perhaps not exactly this kind of guitar!