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Where the Wild Things Are

Where the Wild Things Are

Date: Nov 18 2009

Themes: Family

Grammar: Direct vs. Reported Speech

Intro

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We all have a wild thing inside of us. But from the time we’re children, we’re taught to behave. Most of the time, the wild thing stays locked up in its cage.

One of the most beloved children’s books of all time, Where the Wild Things Are tells the story of Max, a mischievous little boy who gets sent to bed with no dinner for being a little too wild. From his bedroom, he enters into a magical kingdom filled with monsters, who make Max their leader.

Both Marni and Mason love the book version of Where the Wild Things Are. But now it has been adapted into a movie, which Marni and Mason recently saw. Find out if the movie put them in touch with their inner wild thing.

Dialog

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2. Study - Read the dialog again to see how the vocab words are used.

Mason

Mason

Marni

Marni

Mason:  I saw Where the Wild Things Are this weekend.

Marni:  As did I.

Mason:  You’re making a face.

Marni:  Well, it’s one of my absolute favorite books. Maurice Sendak. I grew up on that book. I read it to my kids at school. And I was so excited for the film to come out, and I have to say, I was kind of disappointed.

Mason:  How could you possibly be disappointed? I mean, you couldn’t have been expecting a literal interpretation. I mean, it would have been five minutes long.

Marni:  Exactly. They had to create a lot of stories for the characters, for the wild things. But that’s where I was disappointed, I felt like they went with this really destructive, dark element.

Mason:  Very much a mature film. I mean, I wouldn’t recommend that children go see it. I’ve told my friends with kids, “Your child should not see this movie.”

Marni:  Although I have to say, I think there is something that kids can really relate to, because he is this kid who really acts out, he throws a fit, and he gets to go and have this magical adventure, and it just gets to be this experience he has that all kids would love to have and can relate to.

Mason:  I think to me, it ended up feeling like kids don’t need this movie to be told how to be kids. It’s more like to remind adults of what it’s like to be kids and be more sympathetic with their situation. I think that’s kinda what I took away.

 

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Discussion

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Marni and Mason both just watched Where the Wild Things Are. As fans of the book by Maurice Sendak, they had both been looking forward to seeing the movie. The book is mostly pictures, with very few words, so they were curious to see how the filmmakers would bring it to the big screen.

Marni was disappointed by the film, because she thought that it was dark and not suitable for children. She thinks the movie doesn’t have the same magic of the book. Mason agrees that the movie is too mature for children, but he loved it and says that it reminds adults of what it’s like to be a kid.

Are you a wild thing, or do you always behave properly? What do you think parents should do when their child acts out or throws a fit?

 

Comments

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ola33

ola33

Japan

I think the first thing the adults shouldn’t do when a a child acts out or throws a fit is to copy a child and get into a competition of dramatic scenes. I agree with Mason about understanding and putting yourself into kids shoes but in a rather retrospective way. So let the child let the steam out, give him some dinner for the Gypsy man with a whip not to comes in his dream:)(that’s an old saying of my grandpa. He always gave me some chocolate before night … For good dreams:). And then when your precious one calms down, talk to him.

09:28 PM Nov 08 2015 |

Marcelolic

Marcelolic

Brazil

Humm don't know,I guess I'm little both…It's true before time I was more properly,but nowadays I'm more impulsive to face some things or "wild" hehe

I guess,to misbehave children it's used the old phychology,"punishment" to them ;)

12:51 PM Nov 28 2009 |

iwori

iwori

Japan

I might be a wild thing when I was a child because I did a lot of mischieves.

But now I'm a kind of common sensial person, I think though I feel attract from a wild thing.

As they say, "Childlen is angel and devil." It mean children are so honest by their appetite and instinct.

I think childern should be wild thing as much as possible because they can learn plenty of things from failure or shame.

03:11 PM Nov 24 2009 |

zyx870805@163.com

Germany

It seems that i have a friend can be called wild thing.

 

10:25 AM Nov 24 2009 |

kukuka

kukuka

Ukraine

I am not a wild thing, but I may be on the wild side sometimes, just like evryone I think.  There are situations that piss us off, there are different circumstances and incidents. It's great to be capable of controlling your behaviour all the time despite your bad mood, but it's not that easy as it may seem.

When a child acts out or throws a fit, the best thing his parents can do is  to breathe out and hug this kid. So both parents and kids could relax and think for a while about how to actand what to do next. No yelling and screaming and kicking and any kind of violence is appropriate. It makes the situation even worse indeed.

08:52 AM Nov 23 2009 |

Ca_Brazil

Ca_Brazil

Brazil

so i was a good kid, i think i wasnt kind of wild thing. i think they should dialog with their kids, giving them good examples and if they act out badly give them time out.

12:06 AM Nov 23 2009 |

hameedwali

hameedwali

Pakistan

I think there is a wild thing in every child and it is naturaly when he growen up his only memories as childhood are only those wild thing.I still remember all those wild i had did in my child hood,some time climbing on nighbours fruits trees,stealing money from mama purse or even eating free and not paying from scholl canten all these thing just remain a memorey.

04:51 PM Nov 22 2009 |

eljuano

eljuano

Colombia

me too i was a lil wild kid people used to call me destroyer! i used to break windows and put sugar into the fuel tanks of my teacher's cars Cool my parents sent me to a military school and then i become into a good boy

08:10 PM Nov 21 2009 |

tiagon85

Brazil

Actually, I guess, I always be a polite person, so I just have a few days being a wild thing. Usually this is not a part of my personality 

01:29 PM Nov 21 2009 |

L_a_d_a

L_a_d_a

Ukraine

i think we all have wild things but in most cases we are too polite to show it

i`m trying to behave properly, but sometimes…well anyway i`m trying

in such cases parents must to try to explain their kids how they must act 

 

12:59 PM Nov 20 2009 |

siako

United States

Hello dear,
my name is vivian siako,i saw your profile on this site  today and it really attracted me to contact you so that we can know ourslf better.please you can send me an email to my box() so that i can send you my picture to see me.i am expecting to read your email soonest.
your friend
vivian

10:36 PM Nov 19 2009 |

wandona

United States

No, wild thing definitely doesn't mean relaciones sexuales. Wild thing means like an animal that isn't domesticated or somebody who will do anything – like jump off a cliff or drive a car too fast. It can also mean somebody who will have sex very quickly without thinking about it. But it doesn't mean having sex.

07:38 PM Nov 19 2009 |

JuneCat

China

i can't understand this lesson.Cry

11:35 PM Nov 18 2009 |

Jan Luka

Jan Luka

Germany

As wild thing I wouldn't like to describe me, but I always had my own head. Parents should already try to teach her children positively.
They will owe it to them later.

 

09:04 PM Nov 18 2009 |

DigitalStorm

Mexico

Well, that always happen when a movie was made base on a novel.There's always a slight different of the story when it come to the movie to make it unexpected..Anyway,the trailer is good, i think i'm going to watch it.

07:54 PM Nov 18 2009 |

noguti

noguti

Brazil

Well, I can say that I've always behaved properly….. and "wildness" is for sure a part of us

05:48 PM Nov 18 2009 |

dungilove

dungilove

Viet Nam

I haven't watched this film and I am not a wild thing.

 

02:39 PM Nov 18 2009 |

Ahn Soo-hyun

South Korea

I don't like mature film because it is sometimes so cruel and annoying.  There are many good and touching story in the world. Please read that kind of story.

I can recommend a video. It's title is "Beautiful Mind". Maybe you'll like it. I think time is so valuable. We were born to celebrate.(right expression? ㅋㅋ)

01:03 PM Nov 18 2009 |

fedorame

fedorame

China

Everybody has a wild thing inside them, and it is kinda like alter ego.I think it is the norm from the social respect of view.coz we're all stressed out nowadays, and we need to blow off the stream sometimes.lol,I dont have kids, so maybe when I am a parent, I will know it.

09:11 AM Nov 18 2009 |

rosendo

rosendo

Mexico

i liked the trailer , may be i could watch the movie.

 saludos.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2NOkQ4dYVaM

 

06:36 AM Nov 18 2009 |

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