Hidden Treasures

We’re going on a treasure hunt to uncover hidden treasures. Yes, you are going to learn about your environment, but also about a wealth of treasures within you! It’s time you discover your hidden potential so that you can develop your talents.

Each activity you do, will reveal a treasure to enrich your listening, speaking, reading, writing, thinking and language use. Once you have mastered these treasures, many doors will open to you, and your understanding of life and yourself will be so much better.

On this map you are going to plot your journey of discovery. Each time you feel you have achieved the skill/s of an activity, you will make a large X on the relevant spot on the map. At the end of your journey you will be able to see the skills you have mastered! This will serve as a summary of what you have learnt.

It is very important that you are totally honest with yourself. Do not plot a skill that you do not understand. This is not a test. By being honest, you enable both yourself and your educator to see which skills you need to revise.

Learning Outcomes(LOs)

LO 1

Listening

The learner is able to listen for information and enjoyment, and respond appropriately and critically in a wider range of situations.

Assessment Standards(ASs)

We know this when the learner:

1.1 understands and appreciates stories, in

cluding those told by other learners;

1.4 listens actively in discussion.

LO 2

Speaking

The learner will be able to communicate effectively in spoken language in a wide range of situations.

We know this when the learner:

2.2 interacts in additional language;

2.4 debates social and ethical issues by arguing persuasively and responding critically;

2.6 gives a short formal talk or presentation.

ACTIVITY 1

READING PASSAGE

(Read it TWICE, fairly slowly)

A once troubled teenager has been turned into a disciplined trapeze artist after joining South Africa’s last remaining travelling circus.

The meeting that changed Martin Davis’s life took place four years ago, when he met Stan the clown.

Davis left school after Grade 9. As thin as a rake and sporting orange locks and a couple of earrings, he left home and found a job in a neighbouring town. It was here that he was given free tickets to the circus.

‘I was looking forward to the show as I had only been to the circus once before and that was when I was six.’

He was surprised to learn that the trapeze artist clown in the circus was the same man he had seen perform when he was six. As a child, he had been ‘blown away’ by the man’s agility and strength and, 16 years later, he was just as impressed. Since that day he had harboured the desire to do something special like the trapeze artist.

So after the show he went to see the trapeze artist and told him he was interested in joining the circus. He was promised a phone call should an opening ever arise. Three months later the call came.

As a boy Davis had hated school and was always ’in trouble’. He admitted he had been an angry and difficult young man who had never bothered to find, never mind develop, his talents.

With no gymnastic background and a fear of heights, which he only discovered at the circus, he had to work very hard to master his art. He now has his own act and teaches learners to become trapeze artists.

But his introduction into circus life was not all plain sailing. ’I thought it was going to be easy, but boy, was that a mistake!’

Before he was even allowed to try his hand at the art, he had to do 200 sit-ups and 100 pull-ups a day for four weeks. ’I used to feel sick while my stomach muscles were screaming in pain.’

Once he was able to pull himself up to the top of the rigging, he would shake violently. ’I was so scared and just could not do it but Stan never gave up on me and so I went from strength to strength.’

Six months and many scraped shins and bleeding ankles later, he became a leading performer in the circus, not only on the trapeze but also as a juggler and plate-spinner.

The circus has now become his life. He has met so many interesting people in so many places.

He is eternally grateful that he discovered his hidden talent. He says his ambition now is to perform at the annual Monte Carlo Festival.

(adapted from the weekend Argus)

X: Auditory Apex

ACTIVITY 2