Loss of Memory

Michael Berman, UK

Michael Berman works as a teacher, teacher trainer, and writer. Publications include The Power of Metaphor for Crown House, The Nature of Shamanism and the Shamanic Story for Cambridge Scholars Publishing, and All God’s Creatures: Stories Old and New for Pendraig Publishing. ELT publications include a resource book for teachers on storytelling, In a Faraway Land, and On Business and for Pleasure - a self-study workbook for Business English students. E-mail: michaelberman@blueyonder.co.uk, www.Thestoryteller.org.uk

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Story
Notes for teachers
Comments
Worksheet

Story

Hua Tzu of the state of Sung suffered from a loss of memory in his middle years. Whatever he took in the morning was forgotten by the evening and whatever he gave in the evening was forgotten by the morning. On the road he would forget to move ahead and indoors he would forget to sit down. Here and now, he has forgotten then and later he will not remember the here and now.

He consulted an astrologer, but divination provided no answer. Then he sought the help of a medium, but prayer could not control the problem either. Finally he visited a doctor, but once again the treatment brought no relief.

Now in the state of Lu there was a Confucian scholar who claimed that he could cure the disease, and Hua Tzu’s wife paid him half their estate to do it. "No sign or omen," said the Confucian, "can solve this. No prayer can preserve him and no medicine will work. I must try to transform his mind, alter his way of thinking, and then there may be hope." The scholar stripped Hua Tzu, and the naked man demanded clothes. The scholar starved Hua Tzu, and he demanded food. He locked Hua Tzu in a dark room, and he demanded light.

"This illness can be cured," the Confucian advised Hua Tzu’s son. "But my remedy is a secret handed down for generations, a secret that has never been revealed to anyone outside our family. I must ask you to dismiss all your father’s attendants so that he can live alone with me for seven days." The son agreed.

Nobody knows what methods the scholar used, but Hua Tzu’s ailment of many years miraculously cleared up. When Hua Tzu realized that he was cured, though, he flew into a rage and acted like a man possessed. He chastised his wife, punished his son, and drove off the Confucian with weapons. People seized Hua Tzu and asked him the reason for his strange behaviour.

"In my forgetfulness I was a free man, unaware if heaven and earth even existed or not," said Hua Tzu. "But now I remember all that has passed, all that remains or has perished, all that was gained or lost, all that brought sorrow or joy, all that was loved or hated - the ten thousand problems that have plagued my life. And I fear that these same things will disturb my mind no less in times to come. Where shall I find another moment’s peace? That’s the reason why."

Notes for teachers

Level: Upper Intermediate - Advanced
Target Audience: Adults
Language / Skills Focus: Listening & Speaking
Materials: Photocopies of the worksheet. Photocopies of the story (optional) to hand out at the end of the session.

IN CLASS

1. Pre-listening: The story is about a man who suffers from loss of memory Who do you thinks succeeds in helping him overcome the problem - an astrologer, a medium, a doctor or a Confucian scholar? Now listen to the story to find out if your predictions were correct or not.
2. Post-listening: Hand out copies of the worksheet for the learners to work on in pairs or small groups.

Match the numbers on the left with the letters on the right to find explanations for the new vocabulary. ANSWERS: 1-e 2-b 3-h 4-c 5-j 6-a 7-m 8-l 9-i 10-k 11-f 12-g 13-d

Pair Work Interviews: With larger classes, there is unlikely to be enough time available for individual feedback to the class as a whole. This can be done instead in groups or circles of eight. Alternatively, you can ask each person to tell the class the most interesting thing they found out about their partners during the interview.

Comments

This traditional Chinese tale has been adapted from a story in "Chinese Fairy Tales & Fantasies" translated and edited by Moss Roberts (Pantheon Books 1979). It can be used as a lead-in to work on the topic of The Supernatural and / or a discussion on techniques used for retaining new vocabulary.

Worksheet

Match the numbers on the left with the letters on the right to find explanations for the new vocabulary:

Choose a couple of the following questions to ask the person sitting next to you. Then report back what you found out to the rest of the class:

1. What kinds of things do you tend to forget?
2. Some people tie knots in their handkerchiefs to help them remember things. What tricks do you use?
3. What do you do to help you remember new vocabulary?
4. If you had been the man in the story, who would you have gone to for help?
5. How superstitious are you?
6. Have you ever visited a fortune-teller? Did the predictions come true?
7. How often do you read your horoscope and what do you do you know about your zodiac sign?
8. Tell me about something important in the past that you remember doing and / or about something important you must remember to do this week.

Please check the Creative Methodology for the Classroom course at Pilgrims website.