"Say What?"

GOALS:

1. Work individually to translate West Indies quotes from The Cay into modern English.

2. Create translations from everyday "adolescent lingo" into modern English.

RESOURCES:

1. Multiple copies of The Cay Taylor, T. (1969). The Cay. Santa Barbara: Cornerstone.

2. "Say What?" handout

LESSON ADAPTED FROM:

Sterling, M. E. (1990). Thematic Unit: Oceans. Huntington Beach: Teacher Created Materials, Inc.

TIME:

Not including the time it will take to read the novel, this lesson will require between 1 hour and 2 hours. (Part 2 [15 to 30 minutes]; Part 3 [15 to 45 minutes]; Part 4 [30 to 45 minutes])

PROCEDURE:

Introduction:

Students will translate quotes from The Cay into modern English to help them to better comprehend Timothy's dialect used in the story. Additionally, they will translate everyday "adolescent lingo" into proper English.

Part 1:

Step 1- Read the novel The Cay.

Part 2:

Step 2- Discuss different dialects. Perhaps, if the class is multi-cultural, students could share their dialects through demonstrating or discussing their family backgrounds' dialect.

Part 3:

Step 3- Distribute "Say What?" handouts to each student.

Step 4- Each student is to complete the handout by translating Timothy's quotes from The Cay into modern English.

Step 5- Students must also find five quotes from The Cay not listed on the handout to translate on their own.

Part 4:

Step 6- Students will write their own quotes of modern adolescent language. Then switch with a classmate and translate them into proper English.

ASSESSMENT:

1. Each student must complete and hand in the handout "Say What?". (Criteria for success= X number of quotes translated correctly. Reasonable criteria= 4 out of 5 correctly translated.)

2. Each student must hand in their original quotes which have been translated by a classmate. (Criteria for success= X number of original quotes. Reasonable criteria= two original quotes.)

CURRICULAR STRANDS AND MAJOR CONCEPTS:

1. Language Arts- Using The Cay to translate West Indies dialect into modern English. Finding additional quotes in the book to translate. Creating and writing original quotes from adolescent lingo.

2. Social Studies- Discussion of various cultures' dialects. Translation of dialects.

POSSIBLE EXTENSIONS:

1. Given certain phrases (example: Hello, How are you? Good-bye), have students find out how to translate the phrases into a foreign language of their choice.

2. Research various authors (especially Shakespeare) to find "out-dated" quotes. Students can translate and act out scenes in skits.