A picture I didn't take

The street near the school is full of kids having fun. Tonight the whole city is celebrating and everyone is in fancy dress, shouting, dancing full of mischief. Only the lines of riot police nonchalantly caressing their shields, warily eying those passing by seem not to notice today is a holiday. I wonder why so many armed men are needed to keep boisterous teenagers in check.

A picture I didn't take

Rushing to work, I idle behind another scooter. The guy has a cage in his hand, flimsy, little more than plywood and chicken wire and in it is a bird, a pigeon or perhaps a dove. As he slows down and stops I look more carefully. It's an owl.

Inspired by unphotographable.com

A picture I didn't take.

At the base of the red column something catches his eye. He nudges it and tentatively lifts up the corpse of a small bird. Red and grey, I think. Turning round he flashes me a smile and holds it up, horrifying the woman passing by with his new trophy. A change I guess from a daily routine of selling trinkets to those of us lucky to be able to pay three Euros for a coffee on the seafront. No fun, however, if you're seven years old.

Inspired by Unphotographable.com

The picture I didn't take.

I'm not sure how it got there. Neatly stopped inside the fence next to a line of artillery pieces and trucks in khaki, the grey sports car looks insubstantial. Silly, even. The driver shouts explanations and denial into his phone; "The road was slippery. No, I wasn't speeding." The others outside the fence look on impassively. They don't believe him, either. The flapping section of the fence and the crumbled steel barrier tell another story. The base guards haven't turned up yet. I guess repelling intruders, even unintended ones wasn't on today's to do list.

Inspired by Unphotographable.com

The picture I didn't take

I wait for the bus on Lagadas, junkies hanging around, eyes flicking back and forth, hounding a guy who has his arm outstretched. Blood and wounds, probably from a razor. He dips down and places a empty ball point in his socks. The others gather around, shouting something I don't understand. Somebody brings a out a small bottle. Iodine, think and dabs the wound. They continue to shout, drawing stares and tuts from people at the bus stop. They know exactly what they are. I have my camera with me but I don't take it out. The tall one nervously clicking his Stanley knife puts me off, "You know I'm sick." he shouts, as he lifts up his hands in a gesture that is both apology and excuse. Besides the bus has come.

Inspired by Unphotographable.com

Unphotographable

"This is a picture I did not take of a woman in fitness workout wear; running shoes, shorts and an active top; standing by herself in a deserted aisle of a flourescent-lit supermarket, her arms crossed in front of her chest, tears smearing her cheeks while she unwaveringly stared at the store's selection of baby diapers."

copyright 2004-2007 Michael David Murphy

I came across the Unphotographable site a few weeks ago and thought that it would be a great way to teach my students story telling skills. Michael David Murphy gives a short description of something that he has seen recently. A word picture of beautiful intensity. In addition he has recorded these in the form of a podcast (click here) which are wonderful.

Lesson Plan

This is aimed at upper intermediate and advanced ESL/EFL/ESOL students.

1 Give the students a copy of the story above and ask them to read it. deal with any difficulties in vocabulary etc.

2 In pairs students discuss what the background to the situation might be.

3 Elicit answers from the class.

4 Divide the class into two groups. Ask one of the groups tp leave the classroom for two minutes.

5 Tell the other group that they are going to hear a description similar to the one they have just read.

6 Play one part of Micheal David Murphy's podcast (twice if necessary) and ask the students to listen carefully and write down as much as they can.

7 This griup then leaves the classroom and compares their notes.

8 Ask the other group outside to come back in and get them to listen to another short section.

9 When both groups have had enough time to discuss their answers everyone comes back into the class and gets into pairs (one from each group) and discuss what the other person heard.

10 Play both sections again and ask the students to comment on how accurate their partner's description was. If necessary give them a printout of the descriptions.

Follow up exercises could include;

A Their own descriptions which could be writtean and recorded on their cell/mobile phones.
B Finding a picture on the internet which could go with the text.