1. Essay on 'The Gate of School Opens' - Version 4
The work *The School Gate Opens* reads like a heartfelt diary, soft and intimate. This narrative allows us to feel the deep love and affection of a mother for her child and underscores the significant role education plays in shaping one's life.
I. SUMMARY OF THE CONTENT OF *THE SCHOOL GATE OPENS*:
The night before sending her child off to school, the mother couldn’t sleep. She watches her child sleep soundly, moved by a flood of emotions. She reminisces about the child’s actions during the day and recalls her own childhood, particularly the first day of school. Anxious about her child's future, she thinks of the school opening in Japan—a day celebrated by all, emphasizing society’s concern for the younger generation. This represents the mother's faith and hopes for her child’s future.
II. COMPREHENSION QUESTIONS FOR *THE SCHOOL GATE OPENS*:
Question 1: After reading, summarize the content of *The School Gate Opens* in a few short sentences. (What is the author writing about?)
Answer: *The School Gate Opens* captures the emotional turmoil of a mother the night before sending her child to their first day of school. The child, unaware, is excited but peacefully sleeps, while the mother reflects on her own childhood school days and imagines the future ahead for her child as they step into the world of school.
Question 2: The night before the first day of school, the mother and the child’s emotions are very different. How is this reflected in the story?
Answer: The child is excited for the first day of school, thinking only about waking up on time. The mother, on the other hand, lies awake, unable to focus on anything, constantly reflecting on her own memories and worrying about her child’s future.
Question 3: Why is the mother unable to sleep? Which detail shows that the school day made a lasting impression on her?
Answer: The mother’s inability to sleep is due to the importance of the first school day for both her and her child. She wants to capture the emotions of the day and preserve them in her child’s memory. This day also brings back her own memories of starting school and thinking about how significant such moments are. Her thoughts on school openings in Japan and the societal importance of education reflect her deep feelings.
Question 4: Is the mother speaking directly to her child? Who is she actually talking to? What is the effect of this style?
Answer: Though the mother appears to be speaking to her child, she is actually having an internal monologue with herself. This method of writing allows the author to express the deep, unspoken emotions of a mother and highlights the internal conflict and love she feels.
Question 5: Which sentence emphasizes the importance of school for the younger generation?
Answer: The sentence that emphasizes the importance of school is: "Go, my child, be brave, the world is yours, and stepping through the school gate opens a magical world." This reflects the mother’s belief in the transformative power of education and her hopes for her child’s future.
Question 6: The mother says, "...step through the school gate and a magical world will open up." After seven years of stepping through the school gate, what do you understand by this 'magical world'?
Answer: This statement conveys the immense value of education. The 'magical world' symbolizes the vast opportunities and growth that come from knowledge, friendships, and the experiences one gains in school. It is a world of dreams, aspirations, and the pursuit of wisdom, where every step leads to new horizons.
III. PRACTICE QUESTIONS FOR *THE SCHOOL GATE OPENS*:
Question 1. A classmate suggests that while there are many school openings, the first day of grade school is the most memorable. Do you agree? Why or why not?
Answer: I fully agree. The first day of school marks a huge change in a child's life. It’s the beginning of a new chapter filled with new experiences, where excitement and nervousness collide. The memory of this day lasts forever.
Question 2. Write a paragraph about your most memorable experience on your first day of school.
Answer: I still remember my first day of school as if it was yesterday. That morning, my mother woke me up early, and I quickly got ready to start my day. She dressed me in a neat uniform and gave me a new backpack. I was both excited and nervous. As I entered the school, I joined my classmates, eager to meet new friends and discover the new world that awaited me. The cool September breeze and the clear blue sky made it a perfect day, filled with promise and joy.
Lesson Plan: "The Gate of School Opens" - Part 4
2. Lesson Plan: "The Gate of School Opens" - Part 5
Work: "The Gate of School Opens"
Structure:
- Part 1 (The night before the first school day...): The emotions of a mother and child on the evening before school starts.
- Part 2 (The remaining part): The mother's reflection on childhood and her thoughts on the future.
Summary:
On the night before sending her child to school, the mother couldn't sleep. Watching her child peacefully sleep, her heart was filled with emotions: memories of the child’s actions earlier in the day, and reflections on her own first day at school. Concerned for her child's future, she thought of how school in Japan is a grand societal event—everyone demonstrates deep care for the next generation. She imagined walking her child into this magical world, representing the trust, love, and hope a mother holds for her child's future.
I. Lesson Plan:
Q1 (page 8, Literature 7, Volume 1): Summarize the content of the text:
- This essay captures the thoughts and worries of a mother on the night before her child starts school, reflecting on the significance of education for the future generation.
Q2 (page 8, Literature 7, Volume 1):
* The emotions of the mother and child are very different:
- The mother is pensive and anxious, lost in deep thought.
- The child is eager, behaving as if they have grown up, easily falling asleep.
* This contrast is illustrated through specific details:
- The mother is restless, unable to sleep: she lies in bed, tossing and turning, still worrying despite having no real cause for concern.
- The child: helping the mother tidy up, putting toys away as if saying goodbye, before peacefully drifting off to sleep like sipping a glass of milk or eating a candy.
Q3 (page 8, Literature 7, Volume 1):
- The mother’s sleeplessness stems from her concerns for her child’s future and her nostalgic thoughts of her own first school day.
- A key detail highlighting the lasting impression of her own school days is: Every year, at the end of autumn... My mother would gently hold my hand and walk me down the narrow village road.
Q4 (page 8, Literature 7, Volume 1):
- In the text, the mother does not speak directly to the child or anyone else, but rather reflects to herself, talking to her inner self.
- This style allows the author to deeply explore the mother’s internal world, vividly describing her emotional turmoil, anticipation, and hopes.
Q5 (page 8, Literature 7, Volume 1):
- The sentence that emphasizes the role of education for the younger generation is: Everyone knows that a single mistake in education can affect an entire generation, and even a small error can steer that generation far off course in the future.
Q6 (page 8, Literature 7, Volume 1):
What is the magical world referred to here? Students can interpret this in many ways; here are some possible answers:
- It’s the world of knowledge and enlightenment.
- It’s the world of dreams and lofty aspirations.
- A world of sacred teacher-student bonds, beautiful friendships, and pure, innocent love.
- A world filled with joy, hope, setbacks, growth, personal effort, and success.
II. Practice:
Q1 (page 9, Literature 7, Volume 1):
- Agree because:
+ It’s the first major change in life, stepping into a new environment.
+ The feelings are a mix of excitement and joy (new clothes, new bag...) and anxiety, uncertainty, and shyness about the unfamiliar surroundings.
Q2 (page 9, Literature 7, Volume 1):
The first day of school remains a memorable experience. That day, my mother took me to school. The road to school is only a little over a kilometer, but it felt so long that day. My mother led me to Class 1B and handed me over to the teacher. I immediately burst into tears and ran after her. In my rush, I stumbled and fell. At that moment, a gentle hand helped me up, and a kind, warm voice asked if I was okay. I looked up to see my teacher's kind face. I felt a strange warmth and comfort. I stopped crying and followed her into the classroom. Even today, I cannot forget my teacher's gentle face and voice—she became my second mother.
Lesson Plan: "The Gate of School Opens" - Part 5
3. Lesson Plan: The School Gate Opens - Part 1
Guidelines for preparing the lesson:
Structure:
- Paragraph 1: (From the beginning... the world the mother just stepped into): The mother's emotions before the school opening day.
- Paragraph 2: (The rest): The role of the school in educating the younger generation.
1. Answer the questions from the textbook:
Question 1 (Page 8, Literature 7, Volume 1):
Summary: The night before her child returns to school, the mother is restless. As her child falls into a deep sleep, the mother reflects on her child's day and recalls her own memories from her first day of school. She contemplates the child's future and the significance of school opening ceremonies in Japan, a day that embodies the entire society's commitment to the future generation.
Question 2 (Page 8, Literature 7, Volume 1):
The night before the school opening, the mother and child have very different emotions:
- Child: excitedly arranging toys, quickly falls asleep after a brief lullaby from mother.
- Mother: restless, thinking back to her own school days and worrying about her child's future.
Question 3 (Page 8, Literature 7, Volume 1):
The mother cannot sleep because she is:
- Restlessly thinking about her child's first day of school.
- Nostalgically recalling her own memories from her first school day.
- Reflecting on the deep meaning of the first school day for everyone.
Question 4 (Page 8, Literature 7, Volume 1):
- In terms of form, this sounds like the mother's monologue to her sleeping child, but since the child is asleep, it can be seen as a self-reflection (talking to herself, reminiscing).
→ This shows the mother's deep love and care for her child. As she lulls the child to sleep, she carries all the worries and anxieties herself.
- This style emphasizes the emotions and inner thoughts that are too difficult to express directly.
Question 5 (Page 8, Literature 7, Volume 1):
The most important sentence in the text: “Everyone knows that one mistake… can lead to a lifetime of consequences.”
- This sentence highlights the crucial role of education in shaping the future. Education needs passion and clarity to avoid negatively affecting an entire generation.
Question 6 (Page 8, Literature 7, Volume 1):
The magical world:
- It is the world of knowledge and learning. Teachers help students access the vast repository of human knowledge, both classical and modern.
- It is the world of emotions, connections, and the bonds between teachers and students, and among friends.
→ The school is a place that nurtures the mind, emotions, values, and relationships such as friendship and teacher-student bonds.
2. Exercises:
Exercise 1 (Page 9, Literature 7, Volume 1):
The school life is filled with many opening days, but the day one enters First Grade leaves the deepest impression on the heart.
Because:
- First-grade students experience all kinds of emotions—nervousness, excitement, and anxiety. The first experiences are always the most sacred and memorable.
- First-graders receive special attention because it is a crucial age where significant cognitive development occurs, especially when transitioning to a new environment.
Exercise 2 (Page 9, Literature 7, Volume 1):
Write a paragraph following this outline:
- Preparations before the school opening day.
- Feelings the night before school starts.
- The scene on the way to school.
- Emotions and thoughts when stepping out of mother's embrace and into the school gate.
- The sights of the new school (trees, schoolyard, classroom, new friends, teachers…).
- Emotions upon hearing the principal's opening speech.
- The feelings upon meeting the homeroom teacher.
Lesson Plan: The School Gate Opens - Part 1
4. Lesson Plan: The School Gate Opens - Part 2
I. General Introduction to the Essay 'The School Gate Opens':
1. Author:
The author is best known for her essay 'The School Gate Opens'.
She is also the translator of the Harry Potter series.
2. The Work:
This excerpt is taken from her famous essay of the same name.
3. Structure:
- Paragraph 1 (From the beginning… the world that the mother has just entered): The mother’s emotions before the school day begins.
- Paragraph 2 (The rest): The role of the school in shaping the younger generation.
II. Understanding the Essay 'The School Gate Opens':
Question 1 (Page 8, Literature Textbook, Grade 7, Volume 1):
Summary: The author reflects on the child’s anxiety the night before school and how the mother comforts the child.
Question 2 (Page 8, Literature Textbook, Grade 7, Volume 1):
The differing emotions of the mother and child are expressed as:
- The mother: "Restless, unable to sleep", anxious and concerned.
- The child: carefree, eager, "with no other worries".
Question 3 (Page 8, Literature Textbook, Grade 7, Volume 1):
The mother cannot sleep because she, as a mature adult, understands the significance of the first day of school, and is also concerned about her child’s future.
The details show how deeply the first school day has affected the mother’s soul: the sound of reciting lessons rings in her ears, “Every year… long and narrow”; she vividly remembers the anxious feelings when she had to leave her grandmother’s embrace and enter class.
Question 4 (Page 8, Literature Textbook, Grade 7, Volume 1):
The mother is not directly speaking to the child or anyone else but is conversing with herself. This narrative style deeply exposes the mother’s emotions, making them more moving.
Question 5 (Page 8, Literature Textbook, Grade 7, Volume 1):
This sentence emphasizes the importance of school for the younger generation: "This world is yours, and once you step through the school gate, a magical world will unfold."
Question 6 (Page 8, Literature Textbook, Grade 7, Volume 1):
It represents a world filled with friends, beloved teachers, and vast, open knowledge—a place where we grow, become morally better, and receive sincere care and love.
Question 7 (Page 8, Literature Textbook, Grade 7, Volume 1):
Personal Reflection on the Ending:
- The passage expresses the mother’s hopes and dreams.
- It encapsulates the essence of the entire essay.
- It feels like a quiet whisper of the mother’s love as she releases her child at the school gate.
- The language and imagery in this section are highly expressive and emotionally rich.
III. Exercises on the Essay 'The School Gate Opens':
Question 1 (Page 9, Literature Textbook, Grade 7, Volume 1):
Agreed, because:
This is the first time we step out of the embrace of our mothers into a new world.
It’s also the moment we meet new people, new teachers, and experience being ourselves for the first time.
Question 2 (Page 9, Literature Textbook, Grade 7, Volume 1):
On my first day of school, I cried and felt choked up as I left my mother’s embrace. It felt like I grew up in that moment—so much so. What moved me most was when I had to part from my mother and hold the warm hands of my teacher. She gave me kindness, love, and affection that I had never forgotten. She seemed so distant yet so familiar, so sacred yet so warm, simple, and close.
Essay 'The School Gate Opens' - Part 2
5. Essay 'The School Gate Opens' - Part 3
I. ABOUT THE WORK:
- The work is a practical text.
- A practical text deals with topics relevant to daily life, such as nature, environment, population, health, children's rights, drug hazards, etc.
- The expression methods in practical texts are diverse, including journals, reports, records, letters, and more.
- Examples of practical texts include: "The Gate to School Opens" by Li Lan, "My Mother" (Excerpt from Noble Hearts) by Edmondo de Amicis, "The Farewell of the Dolls" by Khanh Hoai, and "Ca Hue on the Huong River" by Ha Anh Minh.
II. ANSWERING THE QUESTIONS FROM THE TEXTBOOK:
1. After reading, summarize the content of the text 'The Gate to School Opens' in a few short sentences. (Answer the question: What is the author writing about?)
Answer:
The text recounts the emotional turmoil and careful worries of a mother who cannot sleep the night before her child’s first day of school.
2. On the night before the first day of school, how do the mother and child’s moods differ? How is this shown in the details of the text?
Answer:
- On the night before school, the mother and child have different emotional states: The mother tosses and turns, unable to sleep, reflecting on past memories, while the child, though excited, sleeps peacefully.
- The details that show this are:
+ The child is excited about going to the first grade but feels no other concerns except making sure to wake up on time.
+ Meanwhile, the mother tosses and turns, unable to focus on anything, troubled by restless thoughts.
3. Why do you think the mother couldn’t sleep? Which details show that the first day of school left a deep impression on the mother?
Answer:
- The reason the mother couldn’t sleep:
+ The first day of school is an important milestone for both the child and the mother, marking a significant moment in one’s life.
+ The mother wants to imprint in her child’s heart the excited, nostalgic, and emotional feelings of the first day of school.
+ The day evokes memories of the mother’s own first day, including the sound of reading lessons and the anxious feeling when the school gate closed.
+ The mother also thinks of the first day of school in Japan, where the entire society, including government officials, shows concern.
+ The mother feels a deep nostalgia, imagining taking her child’s hand and walking with them toward the school gate, about to enter a magical world.
- The first day of school left such a deep mark on the mother’s soul that whenever she closes her eyes, she can almost hear the sound of reading lessons: 'Every year, at the end of autumn... My mother lovingly holds my hand, leading me down the narrow, long village road.'
4. Is the mother speaking directly to her child? Who do you think the mother is confiding in? What effect does this writing style have?
Answer:
In this text, the mother is not speaking directly to her child or anyone else. She is reflecting on her thoughts while watching her child sleep soundly. Suddenly, old memories come flooding back. This writing style portrays the deep, unspoken emotions of the mother, which she often finds difficult to express directly.
5. Which sentence expresses the importance of school for future generations?
Answer:
The sentence that expresses the importance of school for future generations is at the end of the text: "Go, my child, be brave, the world is yours, and when you cross the school gate, a magical world will open up."
- Explanation of words and phrases:
+ Brave: Having a strong spirit, not afraid of difficulties or dangers.
+ The world: Refers to all of humanity around the world.
+ Magical world: Magical refers to something strange and beautiful.
→ The meaning of the entire sentence: It reflects the deep belief in the importance of education in shaping a person’s life and in believing in a bright future that lies ahead for the child. The school gate symbolizes the opening of the child’s intellectual and emotional world.
6. The mother says: 'Crossing the school gate opens up a magical world.' After seven years of passing through the school gate, do you understand what this magical world is?
Answer:
The mother’s words, 'Crossing the school gate opens up a magical world,' are now clearer to me after my seven years of school. The magical world refers to the world created by the school, where:
- Students enjoy spending time with each other, surrounded by the love of teachers and friends.
- Students gain knowledge about life and how to interact with others.
- Most importantly, students learn to read and write, preserving their cultural heritage. This knowledge allows them to read books, newspapers, and continue learning more valuable things.
PRACTICE EXERCISES:
1. A friend believes that there are many first days of school, but the first day of first grade leaves the most lasting impression on a person’s soul. Do you agree with this opinion? Why or why not?
Answer:
I completely agree with this statement. It marks a significant change in life, as I enter a new environment. On that day, I was both excited by the new clothes and school supplies, and nervous and awkward as I faced new teachers, classmates, and the unfamiliar school setting.
2. Remember and write about the most memorable moment of your first day of school.
Answer:
You may refer to the following excerpt to write about your most memorable first day of school:
"Every year, as autumn ends, the leaves fall, and the sky is filled with pale clouds drifting by, my heart fills with nostalgic memories of that first school day.
How could I ever forget the pure feelings that bloomed in my heart like fresh flowers smiling in a clear sky?
That morning, filled with autumn mist and a chill in the air, my mother lovingly took my hand, leading me along the narrow, long village road. This road was familiar to me, but today it felt new, for today I was going to school.
Like me, other new students stood close to their loved ones, hesitant to move forward, looking around nervously. We were like baby birds standing on the edge of the nest, gazing at the wide sky, wanting to fly, yet unsure and anxious. We quietly wished to be like the older students who knew their way around, their teachers, and their classmates, so they wouldn’t feel so awkward in this new place."
The Lesson Plan for the School Gate Opening - Version 3
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