A class in English is in progress at the Chung Hwa Chinese School. There are 32 Chinese children of the average age of eight in the class.
Class: (stands up as Lin Sen, their teacher enters the class , in Mandarin) Good morning, Teacher.
Teacher: (Also in Mandarin) Good morning, we are going to study English this morning. Please open your book to page 1. There are three new words to learn on this page. I'll write the words on the blackboard. Siew Yin, the third row, please spell the first word.
Siew Yin: "A" ...... (hesitates)......
Teacher: What's the letter? "P", yes another "P". What's after "P", Ah Bang?
Ah Bang: "L" , Teacher.
Teacher: Good, Ah Bang. Next letter, Siew Yin?
Siew Yin: "E", Teacher.
Teacher: Right, Siew Yin. Now, the whole class, spell the word.
Class: (in a loud chorus) "A P P L E" !
Teacher: Yes, "APPLE", apple. Look at the picture of the apple in your books. Now, hands up all those who have seen a real apple.
(Not a single hand goes up.....)
Teacher: (Suddenly realizes.) Oh, I forget, you were all born before the War and apples have not come back to the village since the War ended six months ago. Never mind, I'll bring the class some apples when I come across them in town.
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