SING TO THE DAWN by Minfong Ho

PRE-READING

Pre- reading Group Activity ( Duration : 1 week )

Setting the Mood

1. Do a research project on author, Minfong Ho, bearing in mind the following :

a. her background
b. the books she has written
c. has she won any literary awards
d. themes she deals with in her books
e. her source of inspiration

2. Presentation on the research is to be in the form of an interview or Powerpoint

slides.

SYNOPSIS :
•
Set in the recent past, the story begins on the day that the winner of the
annual scholarship, which will send one student to Bangkok for higher
studies, is announced.
Kwai has been top of his class for three years, and everyone, especially his
father, Somchai, is eagerly anticipating his winning the scholarship.
However, everyone’s dreams are shattered when the winner of the
scholarship turns out to be Kwai’s sister, Dawan.
This is the first time a girl has won the award. Their father is furious and
refuses to let Dawan accept the scholarship; he has lived in the city and
despises what it does to people. Despite her father’s resistance, the village
abbot’s refusal to help and the strains the situation puts on her
relationship with her brother, Dawan is determined to fight for her chance
to further her studies in the city.
Seeing how much it means to her daughter, and remembering her own
dreams, Somsri realizes that Dawan deserves to make her own choices.
Together with her mother’s support and the encouragement of her
grandmother, Rachanee, her teacher, Chalardchai, and a friend, Bao, Dawan
remains steadfast. After many battles, changes of heart and misgivings
over what may happen to Dawan and the family, the father finally makes
his decision.

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 Tuning-in to SING TO THE DAWN

SMALL GROUP DISCUSSION

City? Countryside? That is the question!

Sing To The Dawn is a book about the struggles faced by a girl who
wanted to stay and study in the city after winning a prestigious
scholarship.

In your group, brainstorm and discuss the pros and cons of living in a city
and countryside based on your own experiences as well as what was
discussed by Dawan and Kwai in Chapter 1. Make a list of points both for
and against living in a city and countryside :

COUNTRYSIDE CITY

PROS CONS PROS CONS

CHAPTER ONE

1. Scan the extract for information about the landscape, agriculture, houses,
transport and culture. Make notes in the following table.

NOTES

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 The landscape

(including
trees)

Agriculture

Houses

Transport

Culture

2. What is the atmosphere of the opening page?

(e.g. joyful/sad/tense/angry/warm/romantic/depressed/miserable)

___________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________

3. Describe you first impressions of Dawan. Support your answer with evidence
from the extract.

___________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________

4. Why do you think Dawan would be scolded by her father if she wandered
outside at night? (p10)

____________________________________________________________
_

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 ____________________________________________________________
_

5. What are your first impressions of Dawan’s and Kwai’s relationship?

____________________________________________________________
_

____________________________________________________________
_

6. What do you learn about life in the village that Dawan and Kwai live in?

____________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________

7. “After all, this morning was as special to him as it was to her, perhaps even
more so.” (p10) Why was that morning special to both Dawan and Kwai?

____________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________

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 8. Look at the lyrics of Dawan’s song on page 14 of the extract. In your own
words (as clear and simple as possible), explain what ‘dawn’ symbolizes. In
your own opinion, what are Dawan’s hopes and dreams for herself, her family
and her village.

____________________________________________________________
_

____________________________________________________________
_

____________________________________________________________
_

____________________________________________________________
_

9. Was Dawan confident of getting the scholarship? Explain your answer with
evidence from Chapter 1.

____________________________________________________________
_

____________________________________________________________
_

10. “I’m a girl, Kwai.” (p17) Explain this statement in relation to one of the
themes of this book.

_____________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________

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 Vocabulary

11. Find words/phrases in the text that have the following meanings:

Meaning Word
A decrease gradually (p9)
B warm and comfortable (p9)
C able to move one’s body easily and gracefully (p10)
D to tell someone that they have done something wrong (p10)
E to move up and down on water (p12)
F to move suddenly and quickly in a particular direction (p12)
G to examine an area carefully as one looks for a particular

person or thing (p12)

H to be in a position on top of something or on the edge of

something (p12)
I a pleasant pattern of rising and falling sound in someone’s

voice or in music (p13)

J sound made by leaves when they move against one another

(p13)
K to emerge from within such that the quality or emotion can

be seen easily (p13)

L using a lot of energy and strength or determination (p17)
M to move along quickly, nearly touching the surface of

something (p18)
N to answer someone quickly in an angry or amusing way

(p19)
O to close your hands, fists etc. tightly (p19)

Grammar : Synthesis Transformation

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12. Join the sentences below using the given words.

A. Dawan looked at the sleeping shapes of her family. Dawan propped

herself

up on her elbow.

Propping
___________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________

B. Dawan saw Kwai tiptoeing out of the house. She crawled out of the

mosquito net that she shared with her sisters.

Just as
___________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________

C. “Did you see the sacks of rice stacked up beneath our house this

morning, Kwai?” Dawan asked.

Dawan asked _______________________________________________

___________________________________________________________

D. Dawan was in the same class as her brother. Dawan was a year older than

her brother, Kwai.

Although __________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________

E. Dawan shouted for Kwai to join her on the bridge. She reached the foot

of the bridge.

Upon _____________________________________________________

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