Translators of Unfamiliar Languages

Choose one word from the list below that catches your attention. Then try to think what it means )of course you don't need to guess correctly - that's the point :)). Then translate the word into English, giving an extended definition and examples of use. Afterwards, you can check the meaning in an on;ine translator.

If you do this task with me in the classroom, I'll give you a copy of a short text in Dannish from a book of short short stories and invite you to make a translation based purely on your assumptions and feelings. Finally, you'll be given an English translation of the piece.

Husundersøgelse

Læsning

Blomsterbutik

Nat

Snørebånd

Appelsin

Magritte

Prøverum

Skyer

Lukketid

Bog

Fødselsdag

Ost

Indsamling

Skjorte

Trin

Hemmelight

Sagførere

Mælk

Skumring

Opmåling

Tallerken

In Search of an Animal or a Plant

One of the main reasons why we, human beings, are in such trouble nowadays is that we have walked too far from our natural surroundings.

And so, let's try to get back, or get closer.

Choose an animal or a plant, and see where it takes you.

You can follow one or more of these prompts:

1. Do small research online and describe the animal or the plant. 

How does it look? Where does it live? How does it spend its day? What does it do at night?

Write a short article about it.

2. What traits do you admire in your chosen creature? Are you similar to it, or different? If you could use its example, how would that change your life?

3. What is its symbolic meaning?

4. Write a story or a fairy-tale with this creature in it. Or, describe a dream.

5. If you have or had this animal or plant at home, write about your life together. Or, share a particular story.

6. If this creature could speak, what would it say to humankind?

Good luck!