A Chinese Life

Li Kun Wu

李昆武

Presentation By:

Cheng-Chih (Rhoda) Weston

06/28/2022

Memoir of Li Kun Wu

李昆武

Childhood

Teenager

Adulthood

Working

2010

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Objectives

• Summary of the novel

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• Compare content of novel to historic background

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• Comprehension activities

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• Assessment

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Contents

• Versions of the novel

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• Modern historic timeline

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• Story & historic event timeline

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• Historical & major Chinese leaders timeline

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• Comprehension activities

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• Assessment

A Chinese life: From Little Li to Old Li

Timeline

https://empoweryourknowledgeandhappytrivia.wordpress.com/2014/10/13/timeline-of-chinese-history-and-dynasties/amp/

Old Feudalist p.53

Eliminate the four pests p. 59

Little Red Book p. 94

Name changes p. 97

Lei Feng p. 74

Cultural Revolution p. 107-166

Red Army p. 204

1976, 9/13 p. 243

Be a party member p. 325,339,342

Return to the troop p. 364

Father pass away p. 427

Married p. 446,449

Guan Xi /business connection

p. 510 & 521

Current life with family p. 679

1955

1966

1972

1978

1980

2000

2010

Story line

1914-91 Jiang Qing 江青 & 1907-71 Lin Biao 林彪

1949-76 Mao Zedong 毛泽东

1976-81 Hua Guofeng 华国锋

1982-87 Deng Xiaoping 邓小平

1955

1966

1972

1978

1980

2000

2010

1957-62 Great Leap Forward

Backyard furnaces

Political movements

1958-84 People’s commune & eliminate 4 pests

1964 Mao Yu Lu/ Little Red Book quotations from Chairman Mao Zedong

1959-61 Famine

1966-67 Eliminate old customs

1966- Great series/National series 全国大串联

1976-80 Gang of 4

1966-78 Cultural Revolution

Chinese Leaders

When and where was Xiao Li born?

Ice Breaker

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yunnan

1955

Yunnan

Comprehension Activities

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1. Discussion - I see... I think… & I wonder…

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• Scavenger hunt

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• Culture questions

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• Projects

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• Suggested Language Level Activities

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1. What was the expectation of Lao Li? p.12-13

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• Why did Xiao Li make the decision to transfer to a production unit? p. 342

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• What are your thoughts after reading pages 327, 338, 339,

and 396-397?

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• Do you agree with Xiao Li’s view of the 4th of June, 1986?

p. 489

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• Compare your thoughts between p.131 & 489.

Discussion

What was the expectation of Lao Li? p. 12-13

Discussion (1)

Why did Xiao Li make the decision to transfer to a production unit? p. 342

Discussion (2)

What are your thoughts after reading p. 327, 338 & 339?

Discussion (3)

What are your thoughts after reading p. 396-397 and comparing them

to the prior pages, p. 327, 338 & 339 ?

Discussion (3 continued)

Do you agree with Xiao Li’s view of the 4th of June 1986? p. 489

Discussion (4)

Compare those pages and share your thoughts p.131 & 489.

Discussion (5)

Scavenger Hunt - What is . . . ?

1. 反杜林论 Anti-Duhring – p. 297
2. Dirty black bastard – p. 324
3. 5 Talks 4 Beauties 五讲四美 – p. 425
4. 五七干校 7th of May Cadre School – p. 183
5. Guiding 规定 – p. 319
6. Gan mao qing – p. 349
7. Da zi bao – p. 147
8. Huan ying guang lin – p. 509
9. Hu le – p. 503

Culture Questions

Instructor tells the story, and the students find the relevant page numbers.

P42

https://www.wenshigu.com/gxbk/shgs/296153.html

http://k.sina.com.cn/article_5285462922_13b09c38a001001pdr.html

Instruction: Find the page numbers containing this character.

P449, 446, 630

Q:

What is the Chinese culture represented by this character?

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What is the significance of this?

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How do you pronounce it?

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Culture Questions (continued)

Culture Questions

(continued)

Q:

What is the Chinese culture shown on the page?

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What is the significance of this page?

P275

P48 & 49

Q:

What is the Chinese culture this refers to?

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What is the significance of it?

Culture Questions

(continued)

Q: Are there similar restrictions or regulations for women in other cultures?

P38, 39

Culture Questions (continued)

https://www.thesun.co.uk/fabulous/3574437/horrific-photographs-show-the-centuries-old-chinese-practise-of-foot-binding-that-breaks-bones-and-agonisingly-mutilates-the-toes-lotus-shape/

Describe the event and tell the Chinese numbers you have learned.

Culture Questions (continued)

https://owlcation.com/humanities/The-Four-Pests-of-China

https://news.ifeng.com/a/20150330/43447667_0.shtml

http://k.sina.com.cn/article_5328858693_13d9fee4502000ilvp.html

Projects

1. What is the “Eliminate 4 tradition”?

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• What was the Cultural Revolution?

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• Research 3 significant events

during the Cultural Revolution.

Suggested Language Level Activities

Middle School

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1. Research and determine the meaning of some of the Chinese characters from the comic drawings. Pay special attention to expressions, interjections, onomatopoeia.

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• Imitate the writing.

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• Role play or make up the conversation from the pages.

Suggested Language Level Activities

High School

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1. Describe Xiaoli’s basic life.
2. Present the graphic novel vocab and terms.
3. Describe the story timeline.
4. Compare China’s and the US’ timeline from 1955-2011.
5. Describe 3 things which are significant to you

about this graphic novel.

• Use 4 minutes to prepare and 2 minutes to describe the book - A Chinese Life by Li Kunwu.

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Assessments

Games

• Bingo Ch 1 & 2
• Kahoot
• Wordwall Ch 3 & 4
• Design a Board Game
• Other Resources:
• Oxford University