Task 1:
Ketil:

• Ketil went to Rowland High School in California.
• After the teacher had him talk about himself in front of classes, they began to get curious, and began to ask him questions about Norway. As the result of that he made friends.
• One of his subjects were “Getting around”, where they were preparing the students for life.
• Ketil played in the school`s soccer team, they had to practice four hours every day. His host family took him to the dessert, and let him drive a buggy and a dirt bike. He also went shooting with his host father, he was a gun freak.

Tonje:

• That who made Tonje`s school so special was that it was an outdoor school with no corridors; the classroom lead straight out into the open.
• In the most classes there were 25-35 students.
• For lunch some were brought lunch from home, some were brought lunch from the school cafeteria. The school had two lunch breaks, one for the freshmen and sophomores, and the second for juniors and seniors.
• The students were informed about daily events at the school every morning at 8 o`clock, on TV-screens in every classroom.

Task 2:
True or false:

• There is an national school system in the USA – False
• Schools are run on a local level – True
• There is homogenous grouping in some of American schools, which means that young people with one sort of ability in each subject class – True
• After-school activities are an important part of life in American schools – True
• Southern California has a hot, dry, desert climate – True
• Students from poor families often go hungry during the school day – False
• Class sizes in the USA are about the same as Norwegian schools – True
• The school day begins with morning prayer – True
• Most states in the USA guarantee students 12 years of schooling – True
• Most schools do not care whether students feel much school spirit or not. Students come and go as they please – False

In the name of the father

"In the name of the father" is a film directed by Jim Sheridan in 1993. The film is based on the true life story of the Guildford Four, four people who were arrested for the IRA`s Guildford pub bombing which killed 4 British soldiers and a civilian, but they were innocent. The screenplay was adapted by Terry George and Jim Sheridan from the autobiography Proved Innocent by Gerry Conlon.

The main character is an Irish man called Gerry Conlon and all his family and hippie friends. Especially his old friend from high school, Paul Hill. After Gerry has gotten into a lot of trouble in Belfast he decides to travel to London where he stays with some old friends.

One day Paul and Gerry are at the wrong place at the wrong time, a bomb exploded, Gerry and Paul get arrested for the bombing of the pub, even though they didn`t do it. But the police use violence and tricks to make them confess. So they confess, and they were sent to jail, for 30 years or more. Gerry’s father gets 15 years and almost Gerry’s whole family has to go to jail for something they didn`t do. Gerry`s father is sick, and he die in jail. After his father`s death Gerry starts his fight for justice. He had been sitting in jail for 15 years. A lawyer called Gareth Pierce finds evidence which proves their innocence and their case been taken up in court again, and they all get their freedom back.

I really liked the movie, but it was a bit long. I think all the police who know that Gerry and all the others were innocent, should get fired and arrested for their secret proof, and how they treated this case. No one deserve to get in jail for something they didn`t do. I personally liked the film. I think it was really sad
when Gerry`s father died.

Poetry project

I think our work with poetry was exciting. The teacher gave us many poems to pick out one of, and we pick the poem who gave us the best impression.

The name of the poem is “Strange fruit”. We choose this poem because we think it is interesting. it`s about a very important theme that have taken place in the American history. They called it the American holocaust, where black people were executed because they were different.

We were making a multi modal poetry presentation were we told the whole class why we choose this poem, what it means, what we think of it and what we think the message from the author was. Me and Malene were making a video. We choose to present the poem in windows movie maker. The music we used is the original song by Billie Holiday. It started as a poem written by Abel Meeropol. But is later written as a song.

The poem is all about racism. It describes the contrast between peace and ungraciousness. it also describes the terrible way black people got treated back in the 1930`s

I liked to work with poetry. It tells us about important issues in an interesting way. Poetry is a special way to inform people about important, dangerous, good, bad and exciting issues J

Theater - Of mice and men

I think the theater was a bit different from the film. It was the same story, but it was some scene that was a bit different, they were talking more about things their would do and were going to do.

Example the scene were Lennie and curley`s wife were in the barn, they talk about what they going to do with their life in the future, and Lennie tells about their dream of owning their own place. But in the movie we just see that Lennie were touch her hair, and kill her with no purpose.

I enjoyed the theater. But I think its maybe were a little to much talking, it doesn't happened much in the first hour. The end of the theater were more exciting I think, because it was a bit more action were Curley and Lennie start a fight, they were haunting on Lennie and George were killing Lennie with his gun.

I think the theater were much better then the film. A theater is more exciting than a film, because its live and we are watching things that really happens right in front of us. that gives a feeling of been in the handling.

I really enjoyed the theater :)

Stereotypes

National stereotyping is a big problem in the world. In a group of people, stereotypes can affect the way society views them, and maybe it will change the expectations we have for them. Especially the media can be very powerful to create or reinforce stereotypes.
Some minority groups in a society can be blacks, native people, gays and lesbians, and also woman can be undervalued in some societies. For Example some blacks are criminals, but not all blacks need to be a criminal. We think that all blacks is have the same personality, and if one is criminal all need to be it. But that’s not true! We don`t give blacks and other kind of people that are a little different the same rights as us. This could leads to racism and maybe makes people do criminal things. But it also can be positive; we hear that British people have good humour, that francs are good at coking and that Norway is good at skiing. So Stereotypes can be a positive or negative thing!

Of mice and men - the book

In school for the last couple of weeks we have been reading the short novel «Of mice and men » by John Steinbeck. Its about two friends – quick-witted George and simple-minded Lennie. They are both moving from ranch to ranch and looking for work. They are very good friends. They are dreaming that they someday will own their own place. This dream is what keeps them going and keeps them togheter.when Lennie loses control of his bruth strenght, their hopes turn into hopelessness.
This novel gives us a sight in the life to the rancheworkers in the 1930s. It shows us two friends struggle between good and evil.

Now I have read about 50 pages, where George and Lennie are beginning to work on the ranch. I like the book so far, its truly based on the reality in the 1930s, and I like that. I think its a interesting book. It`s about a strong friendship and a big dream they both share.

halla :D