English What incredible stories

Pedagogical Module 5 have you heard?

Curricular Threads: Communication and Cultural Awareness,
Oral Communication, Reading, Writing, Language Through the Arts

Ninth Grade EGB

4 Legends, mythological creatures

Hi
st
or
3

y
Past progressive

La
ng
Oscar Wilde,
5

ua
Edgar Allan Poe

ge
2
ish

Simple past

an
d
gl

Li
te
En

ra
Unreal

tu
re
Commenting The meaning
adverbs 1 World 6 of dreams

Ps
yc
ol
og
hy
Values

10 Critical thinking 9 Identity 8 Respect 7 Interculturality

Stories from The Past

Legends, fantasy stories, spooky stories; they are
all part of culture. Every legend or unreal tale has an
element that isn’t true, but it relates a little to reality.
These stories are known because older people
transmit them to younger generations, and in other
cases, younger people tend to create myths or new
stories based on their reality. These modern myths,
or urban legends, become popular on the internet
and social networks. Nevertheless, it’s absolutely
important to know about the origin of each tale, and
keep in mind that they are only a story, something
that isn’t true at all. These amazing stories are part
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of our identity. It’s great to know about them and

share them with other people.
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• What are the most famous legends in your city?

• What are you afraid of?

• Are you superstitious?

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 Lesson A

Communication and Cultural Awareness

Is it possible that there are haunted castles in Europe?

Castles in Europe
Do you believe in ghosts?
Why? Have you heard about
haunted buildings? Some cities are famous for one reason, haunted castles. People in each
city are in charge of telling each story to foreigners and local citizens. Most
of these castles are in Europe, there aren’t too many in Latin America.
Chateau de Brissac in France is probably one of the most haunted and
ancient castles in the country. It was built in the 11th century. Honestly,
it looks like a church. The spooky story behind this building is that the
ghosts of its owners still live there. There are some pictures to prove this,
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but you never know. People can go there by train or car, it’s not expensive.
Proveglia is an island close to Venice, Italy. There is an old building,
which was a hospital for people with mental illnesses. This place is
“haunted” because, according to the legend, the doctor who was in charge
Match the pictures and the
of some patients, lost his mind and became crazy. People say his spirit still
sentences. Write the letter
lives there. Geographically, visitors have to take a boat to go there, so it’s
of the sentence below the
picture it describes.. not possible to go by train.

a. Some people believe in Wolfsegg Castle in Germany has an interesting legend. This castle was
ghosts. built in the 1500s, and the story is that the woman who lived there with
her husband and sons died. However, some people say that they have seen
b. Old castles are great her in the castle wearing a white dress.
tourist places.
Bran Castle in Romania is definitely famous because it’s known as the
c. Some old buildings used
place where Dracula lived. A prince and a queen also lived in the castle.
today were originally
churches. Nowadays, this place has a museum, and hundreds of strange stories. It’s
not cheap to go there, and you can only go there during specific months.
d. Museums are places full
of history. Retrieved from: https://blog.eurail.com/haunted-places-europe-freak-you-out/

1. Write if the sentences are True(T) or False(F).

a. Most of the haunted castles are in Europe.

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b. A mythical character lived in the German castle.

c. People can’t go by train to the building in Italy.

d. The spirit of a woman lives in the French castle.

e. The castle of Dracula is now a church.

Ask these questions to your partner

Vocabulary • What do you know about haunted castles?
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haunted. a place where • Do you think haunted castles really exist?

a ghost lives
• What other stories about haunted places do you know?
prince. son of a king

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 Oral Communication

Have you ever gone camping? What are some of the things people enjoy about camping?

Campfire Stories, Part 1

1. Listen to the conversation. Complete sentences by writing in the

missing words.
a. He called his best friend, , they went

b. Guess . They never returned.

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c. It like a story for kids.

2. Listen to the conversation again. Write numbers next to the events in Audio
the order that you heard them. Listen to the first part of this
conversation.
Two boys went to the forest to look for something.
The boys disappeared.
A group of friends went camping.
A muddy monster caught the two boys.
The friends were hungry.

3. Write the letters of the sentences under the pictures they describe.
Tip
a. I always go camping with my family.
Use these expressions when
b. We sat around the campfire. telling a story.:
c. I love to look at the stars at night. It seems: to make comparisons
d. My little brother is always muddy after school. Guess what?: make a pause in
storytelling to continue with
a shocking or surprising aspect
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4. Work with a partner. Write a dialogue about a time you were camping or
in nature somewhere.

b
Vocabulary
a
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muddy. covered with mud

b
campfire. fire in a camp
a
spooky. scary
b

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Reading
Language and Literature

Do you like reading stories about ghosts? What do you know about Oscar Wilde?

The Canterville Ghost

Oscar Wilde was a British-Irish writer. He was famous because of his

great talent to write fantasy stories, tales and novels. Moreover, he wrote
some poems inspired by Shakespeare’s work. He also worked as a journalist
for some newspapers in the 1890s. He was popular because he had a unique
way of dressing and thinking.
One of his most famous tales is “The Canterville Ghost”. This story is
a tale that talks about a ghost who lives in a castle in Caterville, England.
An American family – mother, father, a daughter and two twin boys– buys
the castle, and they ignore the warnings that the ghost of Lord Canterville
walks in the castle with chains on his feet. This lord killed his wife three
hundred years ago, and his spirit couldn’t leave the castle. The ghost tries
to scare the family, but the children of the house joke about him. Virginia,
Pixabay / Reinhold Silbermann

who is the youngest, helps Lord Canterville find peace for his soul. In the
end, the ghost could find peace after his death, and the family lives in the
castle for many years.
Retrieved from: https://www.theguardian.com/stage/2019/nov/21/canterville-ghost-review-oscar-wilde-
unicorn-theatre-london

1. Read the article again. Complete the sentence with one word from
the box.

lady - chains - clothes - boys - poet - spirit

a. Another great inspired Oscar Wilde’s tales.

Ask these questions to your b. Wilde was also famous because he used unusual .
partner.
c. The Canterville Ghost is a story about a who lived in
• Are you interested in reading an old castle.
the book? Why?
d. The ghost had .
• Why do you think Virginia
helped the ghost? e. Two little weren’t afraid of the ghost.

f. A young helped the ghost.

2. Read the article again. Answer the questions.

a. Describe Oscar Wilde.

Vocabulary

journalist. a professional who
writes for newspapers b. How many people lived in the castle?
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twin. two babies born from

one pregnancy c. Why was the spirit in the castle?
chain. a series of metal links

4
 Writing
What spooky experiences have you had?

Spooky and Fun Stories

Grammar Tip
Hi readers! Commenting Adverbs
Welcome to my new blog entry. This time, I’ll share with you something You can use adverbs to give
that happened to me last week. your opinion about something.
Add “-ly” to many adjectives.
It was a quiet evening in my house and I was watching TV. Honestly, You can start sentences with
I wasn’t paying attention to the movie too much because I was sleepy. these adverbs.
I woke up because I heard a noise in the kitchen. I went to see what
the noise was, but I couldn’t find anything weird, just some fruit For example:
on the floor. Personally, I don’t believe in ghosts and stuff like, but Honestly, I wasn’t paying attention
for a minute I was scared. I looked in the cabinets, but there wasn’t to the movie.
anything. Surprinsingly, my cat appeared from nowhere, and he
must have been playing with the fruit because he loves to play with Personally, I don’t believe in ghosts
apples and oranges especially. Luckily, I solved the mystery of the and stuff like.
strange noise in the kitchen. It was my cat which moved some apples.
Hopefully, it wasn’t a ghost! Surprinsingly, my cat appeared
from nowhere.
How about you? Have you had any spooky experiences? Tell us.
Luckily, I solved the mistery of the
strange noise in the kitchen.

1. Answer these questions. Hopefully, it wasn’t a ghost!

a. What spooky experiences have you had or heard about?

b. Where were you? or Who told you that story?

c. Were you with someone?

d. What happened at the end?

2. Use your answers from the previous activity and write your a paragraph
about a spooky event.
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Language Through the Arts
Language and Literature

What do you know about horror-fiction literature?

The Raven

Edgar Allan Poe was an American poet and writer. He had a complicated
life, and he expressed his feeling through poetry. Most of his poems don’t
talk about happiness or love, they talk about sadness and disappointment.
One of his most remarkable poems is The Raven.
This fictional poem is a little bit scary. The author said he got inspiration
from a sad situation, when his girlfriend died, and he reflected his sadness
in the poem. A newspaper published the poem in 1845, and after that the
poem was part of a book. It talks about a raven who suddenly entered
k through a window while a depressed man was in his room. The man was
pi
ee sad because his young wife, Leonora, died of tuberculosis. This strange bird
Fr

talked, and the only word it said was “nevermore”. It was disturbing, and
the raven never left the room. It was there to remind the man of his sadness
because of his wife’s death
Read the comments about the
poem. Answer the questions. Here is an excerpt from the poem:
• Do comments A and B
say good things about the “With such name as “Nevermore.”
poem? How? “But the Raven, sitting lonely on the placid bust, spoke only
That one word, as if his soul in that one word he did outpour.”
• Does comment C say good
things about the poem?
How? Here are some comments about this poem:

• What words did the experts a. “Poe illustrated cleverly the way he felt because of his loss”.
use in their comments?
b. “Apparently it’s just a poem, but it’s more a spooky tale”.
c. “Unfortunately, it doesn’t last long. It’s an amazing and scary short story”.
Write a comment about the Retrieved from: https://time.com/3676510/edgar-allan-poe-raven/
poem. Use commenting
adverbs from page 5.
1. Read the article again. Choose the correct answer.
•

• a. What’s the main topic in Poe’s poems?

•
love / sadness / happiness
•
b. Where did the author publish this poem?
•
nowhere / newspaper / book
Share with your classmates.
c. What happened to the author’s girlfriend?

Vocabulary She went away / She didn’t love him / She died
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sadness. feeling sad d. What entered into the man’s room?

raven. black bird two birds / a black bird / a white bird
outpour. strong feeling

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 Oral Communication

Do you know spooky stories to tell at night?

Campfire Stories, Part 2

1. Listen to the conversation again. Write if the sentences are True(T) or

False(F). Audio
Listen to the second part of
the previous conversation.
a. Everybody wants to listen to Tony’s story.

b. Tony’s story is a horror story.

c. His story is not new for his friends.

Ask these questions to your
d. They read the story in class. partner.

e. Tony was afraid at the end. • Have you heard the story
Tony is telling?

2. Listen to the conversation again. Complete the sentences with the • Do you like to tell spooky
words you hear. There’s a picture next to each space to help you. stories to your friends?

• Do you prefer reading books

or watching movies?

a. I’m going to the

Tip

Conversation strategy

b. There’s a story about an evil Use now to start a new topic in

a conversation.
Use follow-up questions to keep
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the conversation going. These

questions can be related to the
c. He even had a as a pet. same topic.

d. Does this evil wizard use a magic ?

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 Lesson B

Communication and Cultural Awareness

Have you heard of “El árbol de Guayaba” folktale?

Ecuadorian Folktales
Read this article about a legend in the Galapagos Islands.

The Galápagos Islands are known for folktales. Their stories or legends
include pirates, treasures, curses and so on. From all the stories you may
have heard, there is one that should not be missed. On San Cristóbal Island,
there is a legend about “El árbol de Guayaba”. According to some local people,
it is believed that the “guayaba” is a fruit that was first introduced by Manuel
Julian Cobos in 1880. It is said that this man was so overprotective towards
this tree that he would not let anyone, except for his wife and himself,
touch it or taste its fruit. He was the owner of a huge plantation, called “El
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Progreso”, so he had more than 300 workers who were wanting to try that
delicious fruit because of the sweet smell it had. As a matter of fact, the
“guayaba”, whose scientific name is Psidium Guajava, is mainly characterized
by having fragrant glands on its leaves. Among the workers, there was a
World Fact
pregnant woman who had cravings for this “guayaba”, so her husband, who
Around the world, folktales was a worker too, stole one “guayaba” for her wife. Unfortunately, he was
are part of people’s identity caught and killed because of this. The pregnant woman was so angry that
and culture. In light of this she cursed this tree with a spell that involved turning the tree into a sort of
fact, thousands of folktales plague. From that moment on, “El árbol de guayaba” can be found all over
are passed down from the Galapagos Islands, and it is considered a problem because it does not let
generation to generation. So, other trees grow properly.
let’s read about an interesting
legend from the Galapagos
Islands! According to the reading, answer the questions below in complete
sentences using your own words.

1. Who was Manuel Julian Cobos?

Values: Identity

Don’t be afraid of telling folktales 2. Would you say that Manuel Julian Cobos was a bad person?
you have heard of. Be proud of Explain.
your culture and don’t let anyone
steal it from you!

Pair up and ask you partner the question below. Make sure to write
down their ideas in your notebook.

Vocabulary • Do you know an Ecuadorian legend?

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folktale. legend or myth • If so, where is it from? Who told you? What is your favorite part of
the legend?
curse. evil spell
• If you do not know a legend, do you think it is a good idea for people
pass down. be inherited to pass down folktales from generation to generation? Explain.

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 Oral Communication

What makes a story scary? What do you think about spooky stories?

Just Listen to it!

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1. Listen to the conversation and decide whether the following statements
are True(T) or False(F). Audio
Listen to this conversation.
a. Max is in serious danger.

b. Glenn is pulling his friend’s leg.

c. Max loves watching scary movies.

d. Max is having a field trip soon.

2. Listen again and answer the following questions in complete sentences.

a. What four-letter word does Glenn repeat four times during the
conversation? In which contexts do you think it can be used?

b. Have you ever done something similar? Explain.

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Vocabulary

spooky. scary

freak out. get very scared

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Language Through the Arts
History

Did you know that Latin America is popular because of the myths and legends every country has?

La Llorona
Read this interview. Two people are talking about a common myth known as,
“La llorona”.

Host Good morning Latin America. My name is Daniel and

today we have two people from two different countries,
Mexico and Ecuador. Both countries share a common
legend, “La llorona”, and we would like to compare the
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details of both stories, to see if there are more similarities

than differences. First, we have Antonio from Ecuador.
Antonio, tell us about “La llorona in Ecuador”.

Based on the reading, in Ecuadorian Well the myth tells us about a housewife, also known as
your notebook, complete the
“Mariangula”. In my opinion, it is related to “La llorona”
following graphic by writing
differences and similarities. from Mexico because the legend says that a female ghost
used to annoy this woman by shouting: “Mariangula, give
Example: it back to me, give back what you have taken from me”.

Host Wow, why did that ghost use to annoy Mariangula? What
did she take from her?
La Llorona Similarities La Llorona
In Ecuador between In Mexico
both Ecuadorian Well, people say she was asked to make dinner for her
husband; however, she had this bad habit of constantly
tasting the food while cooking. One night, she ended
up eating all the steaks she had cooked and there was
nothing left for her husband. Since she used to live near
a cementery, she had noticed that a burial had just taken
place. So, she went over there, opened the grave and took
the meat out of the corpse. It was a really dark thing to do,
but people say it worked because when her husband got
home, she had already cooked the meat. Her husband was
so satisfied with the food, that he fell asleep. At midnight,
she started to hear some whispers. She woke up and she
saw right in front of her the female-ghost of the female
corpse that was in that tomb saying “Mariangula, give it
back to me, give back what you have taken from me”. She
tried to wake her husband up, but he was in a deep sleep.
Pixabay / Peter H

Host Thank you for sharing this legend with us! Now, let’s
continue with Mario from México.

Mexican In Mexico, there is a legend that also includes a woman but

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in a different context. The female-ghost, called “La llorona”,

Vocabulary has been seen on the roads. It is said that she tends to
cry because she is looking for her children, who she had
corpse. dead body actually murdered.

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 Oral Communication

What is scary about darkness? Are you afraid of the dark?

Have you ever watched “Are you afraid of the dark”? If not, what kind of
TV program do you think it is?
Values: Respect

When someone’s opinion

differs from your own, respect
it! Just because someone thinks
differently doesn’t mean they
are wrong!

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1. Now, listen to the conversation and answer these questions in your
own words. Audio
Listen to this conversation.
a. Did something happen to Max after seven days? Support your answer.

b. Where are they?

c. Describe what appeared at the end of the conversation?

2. What do you think about telling stories in the darkness? Do you think
it is a good or a bad idea? Answer the question and then share your
opinions with your partners.
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Reading
History

How are legends, myths and folktales part of people’s culture?

Oral Tradition
1. Read this article about story telling.

Story telling is one of the best ways to preserve culture because it gives
people the chance to pass down knowledge from generation to generation.
Folktales are also a way to preserve languages from an oral perspective,
because there are some languages that do not have a standardized written
system; and, therefore, no alphabet. Additionally, stories help children
develop imagination. As you can see, even if legends are only partially true,
there are many advantages when it comes to folktales and oral tradition. The
question is what happens when they are not passed down? Basically, part of
the culture itself will get lost. Because of this, you should try to document as
many legends as you can, so that they can be preserved for future generations.
So, the next time a relative or an elderly friend of yours wants to share a
legend with you, make sure to have something to document it!
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2. Based on the reading, decide whether the following statements are

True(T) or False(F).
Write down some possible
ideas to change the way a. Story telling does not help preserve culture.
people think about story
b. Folktales pass down knowledge.
telling from a positive
perspective. Share them c. Thanks to legends, languages can be preserved.
in class and discuss them
in detail. Work in small groups. d. Stories help develop children’s imagination.

e. Legends are always 100 % true.

f. Folktales can be partially true.

3. Answer the following questions in your own words.

a. Are legends culturally accepted in your city?

b. In your opinion, is it important for people to tell legends? Support

your answer.

c. In your view, who knows more legends: children, middle-aged or

elderly people? Support your answer.
Vocabulary
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standardize. give something

formal rules d. Why should story-telling should be documented? Support your
answer.
document. written record,
register

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 Writing

What are some of the best legends you have heard about?

Writing a Legend
Tip
You are going to write a legend you have heard of. Your legend is expected
to be written in a paragraph. Make sure to be precise and use the past If possible, watch the “past
continuous and past simple. continuous tense vs past
simple: The Mysterious Stalker
Take the following legend as an example. (Suspense Thriller Short - ESL
Video)” video on YouTube,
so that you have a general idea
The Unknown Baby of the grammar involved.
Local people from where I live claim to have listened to a baby crying
at night. The interesting thing is that the noise is always heard in the same
place, which is, in the woods. Another creepy fact is that people who
have heard the noise had been all alone. People say they hear that noise
because many years ago a woman and her baby went missing one night in
the woods. As a matter of fact, yesterday I was walking back home, when Grammar Tip
all of the sudden I heard a baby, so I turned around but no one was there!
It’s just unbelievable! Past Progressive
(Subject + was/were + verb in
gerund –ing + Complement)
1. Now, it is your turn! Use your own information, be sure to use the past Yesterday I was walking back
continuous and past simple. home.
Longer action
Past Simple
(Subject + verb in past tense +
Complement)
When all of the sudden I heard a
baby, so I turned around but no one
was there.
Shorter action

2. Now, draw your legend! The past progressive is used

to point out a longer action in
progress in the past, where as the
past simple is used to mention
shorter actions that interrupt the
longer action. Both tenses are
separated by a comma.
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Challenge. Present a five-

3. After you have finished writing your legend, exchange notebooks with minute presentation about
a partner. Review their writing and discuss possible ways to improve your legend.
the legend.
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Assessment
Speaking
1 Interview a classmate about horror stories and 3 Take some notes. Talk to your partner about your
legends. Ask them the following questions and favorite places to travel. Where and when do you
create two of your own. Take notes. go? Who do you go with? What do you do there?

a. What’s your favorite Ecuadorian legend?

b. Have you ever gone camping?

c. Do you like spooky stories?

d. Do you prefer reading horror books or

watching horror movies?

e. ? Listening
4 Listen to the conversation between Ben and Lu
about legends and stories.

f. ?

Share with the class if there is time.

2 Work in pairs. Use details to describe one of the

pictures below.
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5 Listen to the conversation again and write if the

Student A sentences are True(T) or False(F).
Pixabay / Dina Dee

a. Ben is reading a real life story.

b. B
en has found some true stories
on the Internet.
c. Lu usually reads legends in books.
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d. Ben and Lu love spooky stories.

Student B
e. Legends aren’t true at all.
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 Assessment What incredible stories have you heard?

Writing
2 Write Paul an email. In the email write a short
1 Read this email. description of an Ecuadorrian legend you know
about.

FROM
Paul [email protected]
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FROM

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TO
TO
(your name)
[email protected]
SUBJECT SUBJECT
Ecuadorian legend

Hi there,
How are you doing? I hope all is well. My teacher
asked me to write a legend about a foreign legend
and I was thinking about Ecuador. So, could you
help me with that info?
Thank you in advance.
See you soon,
Paul
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I’m completing this self-evaluation based on what I learned in the module.

Self-evaluation I check the box that most applies to me

I do it very well I do it I can improve I can’t do it

Topics
somewhat well without help

I can write and talk about events using the past simple
and past continuous.
I can talk about stories from my family and culture.
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I can talk and write about past events in a spooky and

dramatic way.
I can read and understand the importance of legends
and oral traditions.

15
 Project 1

Let's Make a Video!

Step 1

Get into groups of four students. Brainstorm some ideas on which legend
you and your partners want to act out and write some notes on the lines
below.

Step 2

Come to an agreement with each other on the legend you want to dramatize.
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Ideas might include proposals such as:

• “La caja ronca” in English

• “Cantuña” in English

Step 3

Prepare a 5-minute presentation. There are a lot of details involved in this

step, so plan carefully. Don’t forget to use all the new vocabulary you have
learned so far.

Step 4

Once the presentations are over, write notes about how the presentations
were similar and different. Why were some presentations better than
others? Discuss your answers in small groups or as a class.
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Step 5

As a challenge, you could start a YouTube video campaign by including as

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many Ecuadorian legends as possible. The idea would be to attract tourists

by means of our legends.

Good luck with your project!!!

16
 Let's Review

Vocabulary Writing
1 Complete the sentences with one word from 3 Find the mistake in each sentence and rewrite the
the box sentence correctly on the lines below.

castle - folktales - spells - spooky - campfire

a. I love to tell stories next to a with

my friends.
b. M
y uncle knows a lot of . He always
tells us about them.
c. W
itches and fantasy characters use
against people.

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d. That is a really old.
e. Some children don’t like stories. a. I definite don’t agree with your opinion about this
movie.
Grammar

2 Read this blog entry about a spooky story.

Choose the correct option to complete the
sentences in the paragraph.

Last summer vacation, I was / were / am with b. Absolute, people don’t know about folktales.

my cousins at a nice beach. We have / had

/ were having a really good time together.

I remember one night, my oldest cousin

c. Honest, our legends are part of our identity.
buyed / was buying / bought some drinks for

everybody. While we drink / drank / were

drinking them, a young lady appeared / was

appearing / did appeared . She was inviting /

d. I strong believe that ghosts don’t exist.
were invited / invited us to go dancing, and we

deciding / are deciding / decided to go. Then, we

wanted / were wanting / was wanting to ask her

for her phone number, we couldn’t find the lady.

e. P
ersonal, I think young generations have to know
about local legends and characters.
The man who sold / was solding / was selling us
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the drinks said nobody was talking / talked / was

talked to us. That was spooky!

17
 Lesson C

Communication and Cultural Awareness

Where do legends come from?

The Origin of Legends

Legends. Where are they from? What was the first legend ever told?
It all started out in the 8th century BC with the mythological story of
Homer’s Odyssey, which introduces the so-called Cyclopes. Since then,
thousands of legends that include folklore, oral traditions and even
strange animals (or monsters) have been told. Therfore, it can be said
that what makes legends special has to do with the fact that they share
similar storylines. Moreover, according to Michael Witzel, a linguist
from Harvard University, many myths do have a common origin,
which is a rather complex point of view because not every single culture
around the world has had the chance to be in contact with each other
due to geographical reasons. Nevertheless, does this mean that human
beings share the same spiritual origins just because most of the legends
k
epi

share some common features? What do you think?

Fre

1. Read the article again. Answer the questions. Use your own words.
World Fact

Every city or small town a. What was the first legend ever told?
has its own legend, or more
recently, urban legend. The
question is: How did some
legends really begin? To find
b. What kind of mythical creature was introduced in Homer’s Odyssey?
out the answer, let’s read this
interesting paragraph!
c. What is Michael Witzel’s theory about?

d. Do you agree with Michael Witzel’s theory? yes/no. Support

your answer.

Pair up and ask you partner the question below. Make sure to write
down their ideas in your notebook.

• Do you know an urban/local legend?

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Vocabulary • If so, who told you? What is your favorite part of the legend?

urban legend. a strange, • If you do not know a legend, do you think it is a good idea for people
somewhat contemporary story to come up with a legend just to pass it down from generation to
that is not completely true generation? Explain.

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 Oral Communication

Have you ever heard of “La Torera”?

She Did What?!

Values: Critical thinking

It is important to support
your point of view as long as
you provide valuable reasons!
You don’t have to agree with
Wikimedia Commons

everything people say nor

disagree with everything they
say. Just think before speaking.

1. Research La Torera and decide whether the following statements are

True(T) or False(F).

a. La Torera was from Quito.

b. La Torera was a bullfighter.

c. Ana Bermeo wore fashionable 1950’s women’s clothes.

d. People in their 30’s recall her.

2. After your research, answer the following questions in complete

sentences.

a. What is your opinion about Ana Bermeo?

reepik
rnejo/F
lia Co
©Eula

b. Have you ever heard of someone similar? Describe the person.

Imagine that you are living in the time of La Torera. In groups of three Vocabulary
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students, one of you is La Torera and the other two are people who
meet her on the street. What would you ask her? What would she say? bullfighter. a person who
participates in a bullfight
Write a conversation with five lines per person to perform in front of
the class. recall. remember

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Reading

Have you ever heard of Ernesto Albán?

Don Evaristo Corral y Chancleta

When it comes to stories from Quito, Ernesto Albán, commonly known

as Don Evaristo Corral y Chancleta, is a legend! Ernesto was born in Ambato
in 1912, and he started his career as a singer as well as an actor. What is
Wikimedia Commons/ David Adam Kess
interesting about him is that he was greatly influenced by Charles Chaplin,
so he was into comedy. Furthermore, Don Evaristo was so famous that he
used to appear in Quito’s tv commercials. Moreover, he used to be the main
character in plays such as “Estampas de mi Ciudad”. The way he used to speak
is what Quiteños know as “la sal Quiteña”. Therefore, there is a statue that
portrays him as Don Evaristo which is located in La Plaza del Teatro. Next time
you visit Quito, make a stop at this place and take a picture of yourself with
Don Evaristo!

1. Based on the reading, decide whether the following statements are

Write a paragraph about True(T) or False(F).
an icon you have in your city
or town. Share it with the a. Ernesto Albán played Don Evaristo.
whole class. Did you and your
partners write about the same b. Charles Chaplin was influenced by Ernesto Albán.
person? Explain.
c. Ernesto Albán was a singer.

d. Ernesto Albán was an actor.

e. Ernesto Albán was born in Quito.

f. Ernesto Albán influenced “la sal Quiteña”.

2. Answer the following questions in your own words.

a. Are there any legends similar to Don Evaristo in your city?

b. In your opinion, is it important for people to have icons like Don

Evaristo? Support your answer.
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c. In your view, who knows more about icons like Don Evaristo: children,
Vocabulary middle-aged or elderly people? Support your answer.
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statue. three-dimensional
sculpture, often of a person

portray. represent, depict

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 Writing
What is the strangest legend you have ever heard?

Writing a Legend in a Different Style

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You are going to write the same strange legend two different ways. The
first version will be how you normally write. To make the second version
more dramatic, use the tips below.

• Replace “a or an” with this, and replace “some” with these.

• Also change the past tense to the present simple.

1. Look at the examples below.

Normal Legend - The Unknown Baby

Some people from where I live claim to have listened to a baby crying at
night. The interesting thing is that a noise is always heard in the same place,
that is, in the woods. Another creepy fact is that people who have heard
the noise had been all alone. People say they hear that noise because many
years ago a woman and her baby went missing one night in the woods. Last
night, I was with my girlfriend walking back home and she said: “Did you
hear that?” and I answered: “Is it a baby?” and then she said: “The legend is
true. No one else except for us is here…”

Dramatic Legend - The Unknown Baby

These people from where I live claim to have listened to this baby crying
at night. The interesting thing is that this noise is always heard in the same
place, that is, in the woods. Another creepy fact is that people who hear the
noise are all alone. People say they hear that noise because many years ago After you have finished
a woman and her baby went missing one night in the woods. Last night, I writing your legend, exchange
notebooks with a partner.
am with my girlfriend walking back home and she says: “Do you hear that”?
Review their writing and
and I answer: “Is it a baby?” and then she says: “The legend is true”. No one discuss possible ways to
else except for us is here… improve the legend.

2. Now, it is your turn! Write two short paragraphs so that you notice the
difference in the style.

Normal One

Prepare a short presentation

about your legend. See which
paragraph sounds more
dramatic.

Dramatic One
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21
Language Through the Arts

What are some legends that include giants?

Mythological Creatures
Read this interview with 2 researchers. One of them believes giants existed,
the other one thinks they were not real.

Host Good morning Ecuador. My name is Daniel. Today

we have two remarkable researchers who are going to
defend their thesis statements regarding the existence
or nonexistence of giants. First, we have Efraín from
Ecuador. He believes that giants existed, so please tell
us about that.

Efraín Well the the truth is they existed because of the fact that
there are ancient writings that confirmed the existence of
giants. Moreover, there are some archeologists who have
Pixabay / Prawny

found giant 6,500 year-old skeletons in Bulgaria. Other

ones have been found in Rome. They are between 6 and 8
feet tall.

Host Thank you for your answer.

Who do you agree with?
Why? Discuss your answer Efraín No problem.
with a partner.
Host Next, we have Israel, who does not believe in giants. So,
please tell us why you think giants don’t exist.

Israel Well to begin with, it is a myth, so, as you know, a myth is

not always 100 % true. Second, some discoveries have been
proven to be fake.

Host Interesting! Thank you for your answer.

Israel It was a pleasure.

Read the article again. Write if the sentences are True(T) or False(F).

a. According to Efraín, giants were fake.

b. According to Efraín, there are giant skeletons in Germany.

c. According to Israel, giants were fake.

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d. According to Israel, some discoveries were fake.

Vocabulary e. There have been some archeological findings.

nonexistence. absence

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 Oral Communication

Have you been to “La Rotonda”? What kind of place do you think it is?

La Rotonda

Values: Identity

Be proud of your country!

Your nationality is part of
your identity as a citizen. All
the legends, traditions, way of
speaking, language, and food
are all part of who you are.

Wikimeidia Commons / Padaguan

1. Now, listen to the conversation and answer these questions in your
own words. Audio
Listen to the dialogue.
a. Do you think places such as “La Rotonda” should be preserved
forever? Support your answer.

b. Where is “La Rotonda” located?

c. Explain why La Rotonda is a symbol for Guayaquil.

What do you think about people sharing information about “La Rotonda”
with tourists? Answer the question and then share your opinions with
your partners.
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Pixabay / luistenemaya

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 Lesson D

Communication and Cultural Awareness

Psychology

Do you believe in the interpretation of dreams? Why? or Why not?

Dreams and Culture

World Fact

Oneiromancy is the Through the years, many people have asked the same
interpretation of dreams. question. “What do dreams mean?” according to each culture.
It uses dreams to guess the In general, dreams are details which connect with spirits.
future, so experts analyze the In Colombia, the ethnic group, Kogi, thinks that the
elements of the dream to give interpretation of dreams is part of their daily activities, but when
it a meaning. This practice they have a question, they asked a priest. For example, if they
started many centuries ago, dream of snow, they will live longer. While another ethnic
and most of the experts used group interprets dreams to know future illnesses. Buddhism also
to interpret kings’ dreams, interprets dreams, and they think dreams are an expression of the

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so it was linked with the soul. Buddhist priests classify dreams in two categories: ordinary
future of a specific city. dreams (the person doesn’t have control), and lucid dreaming (the
person is aware of what he’s dreaming). Interpreting dreams is like a
religious ceremony. They also interpret dreams to predict illnesses.
According to Freud, interpreting dreams is one of the main
objectives of psychoanalysis in order to know more about a person. This
interpretation can help to know about a patient’s physical or mental
Values: Interculturality problem. Freud says that dreams are like a window to see a person’s soul.
Retrieved from: https://rinconpsicologia.com/el-sueno-traves-de-las-culturas/
There are many cultures all over
the world. Learning about each
aspect of culture helps to build 1. Read the article again. Write in which culture the description comes
from: Kogi, Buddhism or Freud.
knowledge. It’s valuable to read
and know more about other
a. Dream’s interpretations can help to know
cultures and their traditions. about people’s personalities.

b. People can control what happens in their

dreams.

c. Dreams can indicate mental problems.

d. They asked a local expert to know the meaning.

Ask these questions to your
partner. e. Interpreting dreams is a normal activity.
• Do you believe in the
meaning of dreams? Why?
2.
Complete the chart. Write similarities and differences about
• Do you usually look up for interpretation of dreams.
the meaning of a strange
dream? Why?
Kogi Buddhism Freud

Difference
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Vocabulary
Similarity
interpret. to analyze in order
to give a meaning

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 Oral Communication

Have you ever dreamt that you were falling?

Dream Talks, Part 1

1. Listen to the conversation again. Complete the missing expressions.

Audio
• Hey Lucy. , I keep having the same dream, Listen to the conversation
and I always fall. about dreams.

• Mmm… . Do you feel like you are falling

from your bed?

2. Write if the sentences are True(T) or False(F).

a. Marco seems sad and sleepy.

b. Marco has a strange dream every night.

c. Marco looked for scientific information.

d. Marco’s dream has an explanation.

3. Write the letter of the question next to the appropriate response.

Pixabay / Pexels
a. You just can drink
What’s wrong with you?
some water.

b. Did you look for

I don’t feel good.
information about that?

c. What can I do when

Because it’s amazing.
that happens again?

d. Why do you love

Well, I just read a blog.
science so much?

Vocabulary
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hit. strike against something

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prove. show something to be

true

25
Reading
Psychology

What are your most common dreams? Do you know their meaning?

Meaning of Dreams
1. Read this blog. Some people describe their dreams, and an expert gives
the meanings.

This blog is for curious people who want to know about the meaning of
their most recurrent dreams. A specialist in oneiromancy is giving the
meanings.
Katherine

“Hi. My name is Katherine, and I always have this recurrent dream. Last
night, I was dreaming that I was in an empty room, but nobody was using
Pixabay / Schwoaze

it. I was alone in there, and every few minutes the room changed its colors.
Then, I had a lot of paints and brushes in my hands”.

Dear Katherine, your dream means that you are discovering a

new ability you have. When you have that dream, paint what
you want on the walls.
Make a list of some of your Rony
most recurrent dreams.
Guess their possible meaning. “Hello. I’m Rony. Last week I had a strange dream. I was driving a car, but
the car wasn’t in good condition. I wasn’t afraid, but I was trying not to lose
control on the road. By the way, it was a road I didn’t know”

Dear Rony, it means that you’re an intelligent person who

is working to achieve a goal, but you don’t want to fail. Don’t
worry you’ll be fine.

Susan

“I’m Susan, and I recently had an unusual dream, in fact, a nightmare. A

strange “thing” was chasing me on a dark street. I was running very fast,
and when I turned around, it was like a monster. I was really scared and I
woke up immediately”

Dear Susan, it could be that you’re in trouble and you don’t

know what to do. You can talk to someone and try to solve
Vocabulary your problems.
recurrent. repetitive,
happening over and over 2. Now, read the blog again. In your notebook answer the questions below
in your own words.
empty. nothing inside
a. What’s the name for interpreting dreams?
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nightmare. a bad and scary

dream b. What did Katherine dream about last night?

chase. run behind someone c. What’s Rony’s dream’s interpretation?

trying to catch them
d. Was Susan’s dream unusual? Why?
26
 Writing

Do you tell someone your dreams?

Dream Blog

Hi, I usually dream of nice things, but lately, I’ve had nightmares.
I don’t know what to do. I wake up afraid. One of my friends told me
on this page, people can give the meaning of my dreams. This is what I
dreamt:
“I was in a dark forest with my little sister, she was crying and I tried
to calm her down, but I couldn’t because she suddenly disappeared. I was
scared. I was running and I found a huge dog. It was furious, but I found
a piece of cake in my pocket, I gave it to the dog, and it changed into a
puppy. I woke up very upset and scared”. Grammar Tip

What is the meaning of this dream? Simple Past

Use: Something happened
at a specific time in the past.
Describe a dream you had recently using past tenses that are in the
grammar tip. Auxiliar: did (questions and
short answer)
didn’t (negative sentences)
*All subject pronouns
E.g.: I didn’t remember my dream
last night.
Past Progressive
Use: Something over a period
of time that happened in the past.
Auxiliar: was/ wasn’t + v+ing
were/weren’t+ v+ing
was: I, he, she, it
were: we, you, they
E.g.: I was cooking on a campfire.
Pixabay / composita
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Once you have written about your dream, exchange with a partner.
Your partner has to guess the meaning of your dream.

27
Language Through the Arts

Do you usually remember your dreams?

Masterpieces, Science and Dreams

Read the article about a famous results that came from dreams.

Some artists have gotten inspiration from their dreams to create their
masterpieces.
Terminator is a science-fiction movie. Its creator was James
Cameron. This movie is about a robot who traveled in time to kill a
woman. In 1981, James Cameron was in Rome, and he had a fever. He
had a strange dream where he saw a robot with red eyes who wanted
to kill people. As soon as he woke up, he drew the robot and started to
write the script of one of the best movies in the 80s.
The Periodic Table of Elements is a useful chart for scientists because
they can see the properties of each chemical element. The creator is the
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Russian scientist Dmitri Mendeleev. He developed this table based on

his experiments, but he didn’t know how to organize them until he had a
dream. In his dream, he saw the organization of each element.
Answer these questions. Paul McCartney is a rock musician. He was part of the band The
• Which masterpiece inspired Beatles. One night he had a dream of the melody of a romantic song.
in a dream called your When he woke up, he wrote that melody in a music sheet and played
attention? Why? it on the piano. He asked his family if they have heard that before. His
family was amazed by the nice new melody. That was the beginning of
the famous song, Yesterday.

1. Read the article again. Answer these questions in your notebook.

• Do you know about other
a. What do these three masterpieces have in common?
inventions inspired in a
dream? b. What invention helped science? How?

c. Which invention was an artistic expression?

2. Write the letter of the sentence with the highlighted word next to the
picture the highlighted word describes.

a. It’s a great sci-fi film.

b. The movie script is fantastic.

c. I should know the chemical elements.

d. Leo writes songs in music sheets.

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Vocabulary
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develop. create

amazed. surprised

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 Oral Communication

Do you have recurrent dreams? What do you know about their meanings?

Dream Talks, Part 2

1. Listen to the conversation again. Write if the sentences

are True(T) or False(F). Audio
Listen to the second part
of this conversation about
a. Marc feels worried in his dream.
dreams.
b. Marc wants to take the exam in his dream.

c. Marc and Lucy had the same dream.

d. Marc had a dream in the bathroom.

Tip
e. Lucy prefers websites to find information.
Conversation strategy
When you are telling a story in
the past, you can use the simple
present to make your story sound
more dramatic.
For example: “I was with my
friends at a concert, and our favorite
singer showed up. It is an amazing
feeling”
The first verbs are in simple past,
and the last sentence is in simple
present to make emphasis on the
Freepik

situation and to make the story

more dramatic.
2. Listen to the conversation again. Complete the sentences with one word
from the conversation.

I was in school, I to take an exam, but I didn’t

study. You know, it’s terrible. You
desperate and anxious.
I had the same dream some weeks ago. You
to run away from the class.

And I really to go before an accident

.
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29
Assessment

Speaking 2 Work in pairs. Describe these pictures about

Interview a classmate about urban legends and recurrent dreams using the simple past.
1
dreams. Ask them the following questions and
create two of your own. Take notes.

a. Do you believe in the meaning of dreams?

Pixabay / Pexels

Pixabay / Pexels
b. What urban legend do you know?

Take some notes. Talk to your partner about

recurrent dreams that you have had.

c. What are common recurrent dreams?

d. W
hat do you remember about mythologi-
cal creatures?

Listening
3 Listen to the conversation.

4 Answer the questions using your own words.

Create 2 questions of your own

a. What was Carlos’ dream?
1

b. Did Carlos know about the legend? Explain.

2 c. What’s the legend about?

4

d. Is Carlos in Cuenca now?

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Share with the class.

30
 Assessment What incredible stories have you heard?

Writing 2 Write Cindy an email to answer her question.

1 Read this email. Write a 50-60 word story about a famous icon in
Ecuador.

FROM
Cindy [email protected]
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FROM

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TO

(your name) TO

[email protected]
SUBJECT SUBJECT
Ecuadorian icon

Hi there,
How are you doing? I hope all is well. My teacher
asked me to write a story about a famous icon
from a foreign country and I was thinking about
Ecuador. So, could you help me with that info?
Thank you in advance.
See you soon,
Cindy.
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I’m completing this self-evaluation based on what I learned in the module.

Self-evaluation I check the box that most applies to me

I do it very well I do it I can improve I can’t do it

Topics
somewhat well without help

I can read about and understand folktales from different

cities and cultures.
I can read and talk about dreams.
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I can listen and understand information about dreams

and what they could mean.
I can write about legends and dreams using the simple
past and past progressive.

31
 Project 2
Let's Talk About an Icon!
Step 1

Get into groups of four students. Brainstorm some ideas about which icon
you and your partners want to talk about. Write some notes on the lines
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below.

Tip

If possible, post it on YouTube,

but make sure to talk to your
teacher beforehand.

Step 2

Come to an agreement with each other on the icon you want to focus on.

Take for instance:

Ideas might include proposals such as:

Don Evaristo La Torera

Step 3

Prepare a 5-minute presentation. There are a lot of details involved in this

step, so plan carefully. Don’t forget to use all the new vocabulary you have
learned so far.

Step 4

Once the presentations are over, write notes about how the presentations
were similar and different. Why were some presentations better than
others? Discuss your answers in small groups or as a class.

Step 5
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As a challenge, you could start a YouTube video campaign by including as

many Ecuadorian icons as possible. The idea would be to attract tourists by
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means of our popular icons.

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