The Gift from Aunt Tung

(For secondary schools)

The Gift from Aunt Tung

Story：

Auntie Tungis optimistic and considerate, always caring for others. She has opened a Children's Art Centre, and the children there like to approach her.

Auntie Tungis very warm to the children, often surprising them by sending some small gifts, such as stickers, origami, snacks and the like. She pays attention to details, in particular to each child's preferences and habits. In addition to giving the children small gifts, she sometimes draws pictures, accompanied by some caring words. Due to her great artistic talent, her paintings are very interesting, coupled with lovely words, so whoever receives her gift is amused.

The festival has come again. The city is imbued with a cheerful atmosphere. People exchange gifts to express wishes. The children are even more excited, because they all know that every year during this festival, everyone will receive a special small gift from Auntie Tung. Everyone is looking forward to receiving the surprise Auntie Tungbring for themselves ...

The children regard Auntie Tungas their idol. This year they form the group “Friends of Auntie Tung”, organising a secret meeting to unwrap and show one another the presents from Auntie Tungafter receiving her gift, and present a "Talent Show" to her, showing appreciation for her dedication and friendship for children.

Auntie Tungis preparing for the gifts around the clock. Everyone seeing Auntie Tungbusy could not help thinking: Which one of them belongs to me?

The day to unwrap the presents finally comes. Everyone brings the gift and gathers in Ling-ling’s living room. They find that these gifts are the same in regard to the packaging and size, but based on past experience, everyone believes that they can know whom the gift belongs to just by putting them all together and unwrapping them one by one to see the attached note. The children chat and joke in small groups, waiting for that important moment to come.

The crucial moment finally arrives. All the gifts are piled. All the children sit in a circle cheerfully, be ready to unwrap the gifts to relieve the uncertainty they have had every day in recent months.

Ling is the one who could not wait most. Without saying anything, she hurriedly advances to the gifts and unwraps one of them, exclaiming, “Guess who this belongs to?" She searches the note to find the clue to the owner of the gift while unwrapping the gift. She reads loud the content when she finds the note, "Dear friends, with the new year fast approaching, I would like to help you get rid of a bad habit. I want to tell you: when you share meals with others, you often forget to use the public chopsticks. Imagine: when your personal chopsticks are removed from the mouth, and are then used to grab food from the dish—some even stir food around with their chopsticks—it is really unhygienic. Please improve.” Ling looks very embarrassed and stunned for a while, before she quietly crumples the note up into a ball. Suddenly, everyone cannot help bursting out laughing.

Everyone wants to know what the rest of the gift packs are. Cong strides forward and unwraps one gift package, taking the note out. Everyone remains still, only to hear Cong read aloud, “Dear friends, with the new year fast approaching, I would like to help you build a good habit. I want to tell you: there is a lot of sticky dandruff in your hair, sometimes with an unpleasant odor, which makes you really unsanitary! Your appeal is undermined because of this. Please improve.” After Cong finishes reading, someone in the crowd says, “Give me this note to remind myself to wash my hair.” Some others follow suit, “I also want to have one."

Cong continues to unwrap the gift packs and search the note. Before long, he pulls out another piece that read, “Dear friends, with the new year fast approaching, I would like to help you build a good habit. I want to tell you: you like to comb your hair in a crowd, and beat the dandruff that falls on your shoulder, causing the people on the scene to “share” your “gift”. It is really filthy! Please improve.”

Cong thinks, “Whom should I give this note to?”

At this moment, someone shouts, “What? Is this a gift?”

This question makes everyone discuss.

(End)

The following questions and activities are for reference only. Teachers should make appropriate and timely adjustments according to the student's ability and through observing students' reactions.

（１）Teachers ask students about the story

（２）Questions for thinking and discussion

（３）Extended activities

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