THE CALL OF THE SEA

THE CALL OF THE SEA

1. Visualization
Close your eyes and think of the sea. What sights and
sounds come to your mind? What do you feel when you
think about the sea? Now open your eyes and spend a few
minutes writing down whatever came into your mind, in
your own language or English.
2. Sea Vocabulary: Odd word out
In pairs or small groups, circle the word which does not
belong to each of the following groups. Use a dictionary
to help you.
3. Sea Vocabulary: Onomatopoeic
words
A. Certain words are called onomatopoeic because the
sound of the word is like its meaning.
Example: I love hearing the birds twitter on a Sunday
morning
Twitter is an onomatopoeic word because it sounds like
the sounds birds actually make.
Sea vocabulary is often onomatopoeic. Match these
sounds to the things which make them. Some sounds can
be linked to more than one thing

SEA ASSOCIATIONS
Lapping Slapping
Which of these words is not Screeching Hooting
associated with the sea? Roaring Squelching
Spray, tides, waves, ocean, cliffs, Howling Splashing
bay, shore, rocks, hive, port, surf, Crashing
current , shipwreck, voyage, Boats waves seagulls wind mud
channel, dock, jetty, cargo, port
B. What other onomatopoeic words do you know? Make a
ON THE BEACH
list with your partner.
Which items would you not expect to find on the beach? C. What other onomatopoeic words do you know in your
shingle, pebbles, shells, rocks, starfish, own language? Share them with your group.
sand, spanner, sand dunes, seaweed,
driftwood, turtle 4. Writing a descriptive paragraph
Yesterday you made a trip to the coast.
SEA Write a paragraph describing what you saw,
CREATURES the sounds you heard and the way you felt.
Which creature is not Write about 75 words.
associated with the sea?
……………………………………………………………………………………………
Porpoise, turtle, lobster, whale, shark, seal, dolphin, puffin, ……………………………………………………………………………………………
penguin, crab, squirrel ……………………………………………………………………………………………
……………………………………………………………………………………………
WORDS FOR BOAT
……………………………………………………………………………………………
Which of the following is not a word for a ……………………………………………………………………………………………
kind of boat? ……………………………………………………………………………………………
yacht, dinghy, raft, tram, tug, speedboat, ……………………………………………………………………………………………
canoe, barge, car, ferry, catamaran, oil ……………………………………………………………………………………………
tanker, galleon, trawler ……………………………………………………………………………………………
……………………………………………………………………………………………
 THE STORY OF ROBINSON CRUSOE
Read the version below of the story of Robinson Crusoe. Try to guess the meaning of unfamiliar words

As you read, number these events in order in which they happened.

a. Crusoe is shipwrecked
b. He meets Friday
c. He is made a slave
d. He returns to England
e. He manages a plantation
f. He sees an English ship on the horizon
g. He rescues the ships’ captain
h. He builds a home on the island
i. He runs away to sea
j. He accepts his life on the island
k. He salvages things from the shipwreck

Never had any adventurer’s misfortunes, I believe, begun
earlier or continued longer than mine. I’m Robinson Crusoe
and this is my story …
I was born in the year 1632 in the city of New York. I had
always wanted to go to the sea but my father wanted me to
enter the law. Against the wishes of my parents I joined a big
trading ship when it was in the dock at Hull. I knew I was
breaking my father’s heart but the call of the sea was too
strong.
At first I was terribly seasick but I gradually learned to
adapt and weather the great storms which blew up. On one
occasion, to my misfortune, I was taken as a slave but I
escaped. For some time I even ran a plantation in Brazil but I
could not resist returning to the sea. This time, however, the
ship was wrecked and I was the only survivor.
The sea had washed me onto a deserted tropical island.
‘Am I all alone?’ I called, and my despair knew no depths as I
realized I was condemned to live in a silent world, forever an
outcast in this horrid place.
I knew I had to swim back to the ship before it sank
completely and salvage everything of value. The task was
urgent as my survival depended on it. On the
boat I found the ship’s dog and two cats. These
creatures, with a parrot I taught to speak, and a
goat, were for many years my only companions
on the island.
For a home, I built a strong shelter close to fresh water. I
explored the island and found fruit trees and a herd of goats. I
sowed barley I had taken from the ship, and made a calendar
to mark the passing of the days. I resolved to look on the
bright side rather than the dark side of my condition. The
doings of the greedy, material world and my own past
wickedness became more and more remote. I spent many
hours in hard labour, improvising
baskets, pots, a boat and other
necessities, but I always made time for spiritual
contemplation.
Each year the crops increased, and ‘my family’ was
contented and I learned to love the beauty of the island. Yet I
longed to see a human face and hear a human voice.
My solitude ended when, walking towards
my boat, I stopped, thunderstruck, at the sight
of strange footprint in the island. This incident
marked the beginning of my friendship with a
man who lived on a distant island. He was
escaping the anger of his countrymen and I gave him refuge.
‘Friday’, as I called him, wanted to learn English and gradually
we learned to understand one another and appreciate each
other’s way of life.
My luck changed when an English ship appeared on the
horizon. Friday and I observed a rowing boat coming ashore.
My guess was right. The crew of the ship had mutinied and the
captain and some of his loyal followers had been taken
prisoner. Friday and I worked out a way to capture the
mutineers and set the captain free.
The captain of the ship offered to take me back to
England. Friday, who I found as true and good as a friend as a
man could ever wish for, was going to accompany me.
So, on December 19th 1686, after 28 years on the island,
one of the strangest stories ended as I, Robinson Crusoe sailed
away from the island, never to return.
 THE STORY OF ROBINSON CRUSOE
5. Comprehension check

1. What future did Crusoe’s father want for his son?

2. Even before the shipwreck, Crusoe had many adventures. What were they?
3. How did Crusoe feel when he realised he was all alone on the island?
4. What did he manage to do before the wrecked ship sank?
5. Describe Crusoe’s way of life on the island.
6. What was the first sign that another human being had visited the island?
7. How did Crusoe finally manage to escape from the island?
8. Explain the meaning of the mutineer

6. Continuing a story creatively

Try imagining that you are Robinson Crusoe, on your way back to England. Use these questions to help you continue his
story.
 What will you most miss about your island life?
 What did you choose to take with you?
 What have you learned from your experiences? Do you feel the hardships of the island made you a better and more
understanding person?
 Who will remember you at home? Who will you want to see?
 How will you make your living?
 What might be the difficulties of fitting into a normal life again?
 What will be your future plans and dreams
Share your ideas with your classmates.
Word-limit: 100 to 150 words
 FUTURE DREAMS
WRITING FOR TALKNIG – My dreams for the future
1. Think about your future. How do you see your life …?
 Next year
 In the five years’ of time
 In the ten years’ time
Write some notes about your hops and ambitions at each of these times
Ask and answer questions about them with a partner.

2. Read Susannah’s talk on her future dreams. What are her definite plans? What is she not sure about? What are her hopes,
ambitions, and dreams?

My dreams for the future 3. Now read Susannah’s talk again carefully. There
are six paragraphs. In each one underline any
Hello everyone. My name is Susannah, Suzie for short. I’ m 18 years
words or expressions that would be useful when
old. At the moment I’m in my second year at art school and I often
you write a talk about your future. Compare with
dream about my future. I have big plans and I would like to tell you a
your partner.
bit about them.

My most immediate plans are holiday plans. I’m going to visit my 4. Rewrite the first paragraph about. Read it aloud to
brother who is working in Australia. My mother and I are going to your partner.
spend Christmas with him in the summer sun. I’ m excited about that.
5. Write a talk about your future plans and dreams
When I return, I have to make a final decision about which course I’m (word limit – 100 to 200 words). Mark pauses and
going to study next year. I’m still not sure – I might do fashion design words you want to stress. Practise reading it
or I might do landscape design. It is difficult because I’m interested in aloud. Give your talk to the class. Answer any
both clothes and gardens. If I choose landscape, I would like to work questions
with my friend Jasper. He is brilliant with gardens and we have
already worked on two projects together. It was great fun and we get
on very well.

In five or ten years’ time I would like to have my own business and
work for myself, like my father. He has his own building business. I
might even do a business course after I finish art school.

Of course, one day I hope to marry and have children – ideally, before
I’m 30, but I can’t plan that until I meet the right person.

In my dreams I see myself at 40 running a successful gardening

company with about 20 employees. I’ll design beautiful gardens for
people. I’ll have a beautiful house, two beautiful children and, of
course a husband, who is as successful as I am.
 VOCABULARY : TEXT COMPLETION – A HAPPY ENDING

Activity 1- TEXT COMPLETION

Read this story from a teenage magazine about a seaside holiday and fill in the gaps by adapting
the words in the brackets

A HAPPY ENDING

Have you ever ____________ (be) on holiday with your family and really wished you had a friend of your own age
around? Last summer my parents and I were _____________ (stay) in a caravan on the coast. I loved the area but was
feeling a little sad as my best friend, who was suppose to be with me, had _____________ (cancel) at the last minute.
One morning I ____________ (wake) up very early and decided to collect shells on the beach. The crisp freshness of
the early morning air was ______________ (delight) after the stuffiness of our holiday caravan. I closed the door behind me
as _____________ (quiet) as I could, aware of the humped shapes of my parents still fast asleep in their narrow caravan
bed.
It was a _____________ (glory) morning. The night before, a ____________ (violence) storm had blown up, and I
heard the huge waves ______________ (crash) onto the shore. It is said that in the past many sailors sadly __________
(drown) here, their boats _____________ (cruel) smashed on the rocks. This morning, however, the raging energy of the
storm had drained away and the air was still and peaceful, like a patient _______________ (recover) from a fever which has
burned itself out. On the horizon a boat hooted, and above me seagulls _______________ (screech) and circled.
The tide was out and the sand was wet and ridged. Eagerly, I rolled up my jeans and _______________ (splash)
through the cold, shallow water. Now and again a silvery fish slipped across my feet, _______________ (remind) me of the
underwater world that one day I would love to explore. The sand was studded with shells, and I chose
the most interesting looking ones for my _______________ (collect). I bent down and dug out a starfish
from the sand, to _____________ (inspection) its intricate shape more closely.
The growing warmth of the sun told me that time was ______________ (pass). My parents would
be waking up and wondering where I was. I was reluctantly turning back when I heard a voice calling my name. To my
___________ (astonish), I saw my friend Caroline standing on the top cliff and waving. She told me her family’s plan had
changed and they had _______________ (decide) to come to the coast after all.
My brilliant holiday by the sea was now perfect!
 VOCABULARY : ONOMATOPOEIC WORDS

Activity 2 – ONOMATOPOEIC WORDS

A. Choose the right onomatopoeic word in each sentence.

1. Little Bella loves squelching/ squeaking/squashing through the mud after a rainy day.
2. The children ran into the sea and screamed with delight as they slipped/sloshed/splashed
each other with cold water.
3. Can you hear the howling/cracking/flapping of the wind on a stormy night?
4. The waves roared/slapped/booted against the side of our boat as we sped through the water.
5. The twittering/screeching/lapping of the seagulls woke me up on my first day at the seaside.
6. Have you ever tried smacking/skimming/sliding stones over the lake?

B. Choose an appropriate word from the box below to complete the sentences.

Trickling groaned clinked whirred

Click sizzling crash splashing

1. She heard his key ………………………………………………………… as it turned in the lock.

2. The blades of the propeller ………………………..…………………………….. noisily.
3. I love to hear sausages ……………………………..…………………………………… in the pan!
4. They ……………………………………………………………………. glasses and drank to each other’s health.
5. There was a terrible car ………………………………………………………………….……….. on the motorway today.
6. Everyone ……………………………………………………… with disappointment at the
news.
7. The baby loves …………………………………………………………………. In its bath.
8. I can feel raindrops …………………………………………………… down the back of my
neck.

C. Can you guess the meaning of the underlined words from their sounds?
1. The child splashed through the puddles
2. If you have a sore throat, try gargling with some salt water.
3. I couldn’t concentrate on the play because of the rustle of papers behind me
4. Speak up! Don’t mumble.
5. He wacked the ball into the air.
 DREAM CARS AND NIGHTMARE JOURNEYS

Dream cars & Nightmare Journeys

1. Driving verbs
A. Look at the picture story. Complete the gaps in the text, using the
correct form of verbs in the list

Overtake, reverse, break, crash into (2), put on, fill up,
Run out of, break down, park, turn on
…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
At 8.30 Damon got into his car. He __________ (1) his seat-belt
and _________ (2) the engine. He __________ (3) his car out of the
garage and __________ (4) a dustbin that was on the pavement. He
didn’t stop to pick it up but continued his journey. He realised he was
about to __________ (5) petrol so he stopped at a petrol station to
__________ (6).
The lorry in front of him was going very slowly and Damon was in
a hurry, so he decided to __________ (7) it without looking to see if the
road was clear. He nearly __________ (8) a car which was coming
towards him. The driver was furious but Damon drove on. When he went
round the next corner, he had to __________ (9) quickly because he
hadn’t seen a car which __________ (10). Damon shouted angrily at the
driver.
Finally he arrived at work. He __________ (11) his car under a ‘No
parking sign’ and walked into Damon’s Driving school.
Q. What kind of driver do you think Damon is? Give reasons to your answer.
Q. Do you think he is worthy of being an instructor in a driving school? Why or why not.
………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..………………………………
B. What do the following traffic signs mean? Use You mustn’t or You have to.

1.

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2. ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..
3. ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..
4. ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..
5. ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..
 NIGHTMARE JOURNEYS
A. Read the two mixed up stories: the wedding and the interview. Which four paragraphs belong to
each story? Write the correct order 1-4
 The Wedding: 1. _____, 2. _____, 3. _____, 4. _____
 The Interview: 1. _____, 2. _____, 3. _____, 4. _____

NIGHTMARE JOURNEYS
We asked our readers to send us their ‘nightmare’ journeys.
Here are this week’s two best stories called The Wedding and The Interview.

A After a few agonizing minutes of indecision I decided to abandon the car and take a taxi.
But even the taxi too ages to get there because there was a terrible traffic jam. I
eventually arrived, ten minutes late, hot, sweaty and really stressed. When I walked into
the manager’s office, the first thing she asked me was, ‘Did you have a good journey?’
‘Oh, yes,’ I said. ‘It was fine.’ But at least the story had a happy ending, because I got the
job!

Finally, with my car repaired, I reached the village at two o’clock in the afternoon, but
B the wedding had already finished. My friend was furious because I’d missed one of the
most important moments of his life. ‘Why don’t you buy a normal car,’ he said, ‘which
doesn’t always break down when you really need it?’

C I started to change the wheel myself, but I was wearing a very tight white skirt and
jacket and was afraid of getting dirty. Time was running out, and I knew that being late
for the interview would be disastrous. They might not even believe what had really
happened.

But when I arrived at the first crossroads, I took the wrong turning and I soon found
D myself completely lost. The engine was beginning to get very hot and suddenly black
smoke began coming out. Five minutes later the car broke down. In my elegant suit I
began walking towards the nearest village to find a mechanic. Luckily, a passing car
stopped and gave me a lift to the garage.

The worst journey I’ve ever had was three years ago when I was going to a friend’s
E
wedding at a small village in Scotland. I was the best man so it was very important for to
arrive early.

First of all, I saw that I’d almost run out of petrol, and had to stop at a garage. Then as I
F was driving towards the centre, another car hooted at me and I realized that I had a
puncture. I couldn’t believe it!
My nightmare journey happened last year. I’d been unemployed for about six months
G but I had just been called for an interview for a job. The interview was at 4.15 in the
centre of the town. But as soon as I got into the car, everything started to go wrong.

H The ceremony was at 1 p.m., but my car, an old sports car which I loved, was eighteen
years old and sometimes used to break down. Although it was only an hour’s journey
from my home in Aberdeen, I’d decided to set off at 11.00 in the morning.
B. Look at the underlined words and expressions in the text. Guess the meaning from the context. Later check with your
dictionary or the teacher
 A NIGHTMARE JOURNEYS
C. In groups of three or four, talk about your experience of a nightmare journey (car, bus, boat …etc).Use
the space given below to jot down points and Present your experiences to the other group members

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