How I Learned English

"How I Learned English" is a narrative poem because ...

• it expresses the speaker's thoughts about baseball and meeting new people.

• it tells a story, including a setting, characters, and a plot.

• it has a speaker.

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CCSS.RL.7.5

CCSS.RL.8.4

CCSS.RL.8.5

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CCSS.RL.7.4

Since "How I Learned English" is a narrative poem, it tells a story. Therefore, it must have a setting. What is the setting of this poem?

• a paved parking lot in the middle of the city lit up by street lights after dark

• an empty lot in Williamsport, PA from daytime until evening

• a baseball field behind an abandoned school in the early morning hours

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CCSS.RL.8.10

CCSS.RL.7.5

CCSS.RL.8.4

CCSS.RL.6.4

CCSS.RL.7.10

"How I Learned English" is a narrative poem, which means there are characters. Who are the characters in this poem?

• a new student, his parents, and the teachers

• a new kid, boys playing baseball

• a new kid, his enemies, his cousins

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CCSS.RL.8.10

CCSS.RL.8.4

CCSS.RL.8.5

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CCSS.RL.7.10

Since "How I Learned English" is a narrative poem, the speaker tells a story. Which narrative point of view does the speaker use? *Hint: Look at the title.

• 1st person

• 3rd person omniscient

• 2nd person

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CCSS.RL.8.10

CCSS.RL.7.5

CCSS.RL.8.4

CCSS.RL.8.5

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Since "How I Learned English" is a narrative poem, the main character has a central conflict (which is part of the plot). What is main character's conflict?

• The speaker is lost.

• The speaker does not know how to play baseball or speak English well, but he wants to fit in with the group.

• The speaker really wants to become a singer rather than play baseball, but his parents are making him learn the game.

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CCSS.RL.8.10

CCSS.RL.8.4

CCSS.RL.6.4

CCSS.RL.7.10

CCSS.RL.7.4

In "How I Learned English," the speaker's line "Banished to the outfield" (16) demonstrates that...

• he is an outsider to the group.

• he is angry.

• he is exhausted and ill.

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CCSS.RL.8.10

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CCSS.RL.7.4

Fill in the blanks:

In the poem, the speaker is hit by a _______ in the _______, but he mistakenly calls this body part his _________.

• another kid, brow, shin

• bat, head, brow

• baseball, forehead, shin

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CCSS.RL.8.10

CCSS.RL.7.5

CCSS.RL.8.5

CCSS.RL.6.4

CCSS.RL.7.4

Since "How I Learned English" is a narrative poem, the plot reaches a climax when the conflict is at its highest point of intensity and the action could go either way (better or worse). What happens in the climax of this poem?

• The speaker first arrives off the plane, demonstrating that he is new to America and specifically to Williamsport.

• The speaker moves to the outfield.

• The speaker is hit in the head, mistakenly calls his forehead his "shin", and everyone laughs.

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CCSS.RL.8.10

CCSS.RL.7.5

CCSS.RL.8.5

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At which point in the narrative poem does the speaker feel like he is accepted?

• The speaker shares a laugh with the other boys, and Joe Barone helps him off the ground.

• The speaker hits a home run and his teammates are impressed.

• The speaker pitches a great game, so Joe Barone's team wins!

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CCSS.RL.8.10

CCSS.RL.8.4

CCSS.RL.8.5

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CCSS.RL.7.4

How does the speaker most likely feel at the END of the poem?

• He feels like he still does not belong.

• He feels dizzy and confused.

• He feels as though he has been accepted by the group.

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CCSS.RL.8.10

CCSS.RL.7.5

CCSS.RL.8.5

CCSS.RL.6.4

CCSS.RL.7.4