Stories for English Learners

11. A Hidden Agenda

Aprende expresiones idiomáticas y phasal verbs con las historias de este detective.

This English mystery course features 11 lessons full of expressions (idioms, phrasal verbs, etc.) and characters that your intermediate to advanced students will grow to love. Each episode features a dialogue between the famous Detective Bossley and one of his prime suspects. 11. A Hidden Agenda

Juan Carlos Martinez
December 1, 2022
Idioms Course
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Detective’s Log

I think Principal Davidson was sugarcoating it a bit when she said she gets along with all of the teachers at Mountain Berry High. It seems to me she has a bone to pick with Mr. Eaton. I don’t want to waste time talking to teachers. They have enough trouble with the alarm going off every day. I need to spend more time questioning the students. I will have a quick chat with Mr. Eaton, but I’m sure his hands are clean.

Exercise A

Vocabulary for the story

Audio

Difficulty: Intermediate (B2)

Audio

Transcript

DETECTIVE BOSSLEY: Do you mind if I ask you a few questions, Mr. Eaton?

MR. EATON: Detective? I wasn’t expecting you until after school. Please, call me Leo. My students do

DETECTIVE BOSSLEY: You’re on a first-name basis with your students?

MR. EATON: With the ESL kids, yes. I treat them specially. It’s not easy meetingv people in a foreign country, especially when you speak a different language.

DETECTIVE BOSSLEY: You make a good point. I guess some of these kids have come from a long way away.

MR. EATON: Yes. I have a lot of students from Korea this year. I also have students from Mexico and Spain. I’ll do whatever it takes to get them talking in English.

DETECTIVE BOSSLEY: Whatever it takes, huh? I couldn’t help but notice the toolbox under your desk. And I hear you’re not a big fan of books, but is that a manual for a…?

MR. EATON: Security camera. Hmm…I’m afraid you caught me red-handed, Detective.

DETECTIVE BOSSLEY: So you’re the one! Principal Davidson said you loved your job. What’s your hidden agenda?

MR. EATON: Amber’s right. Like I said, I’ll do anything for these kids, especially if it means getting them to speak in English.

DETECTIVE BOSSLEY: These kids don’t seem to be struggling in that department. This is the loudest class I’ve been in. Correct me if I’m wrong, but they seem to be speaking in English.

MR. EATON: They’ve improved in leaps and bounds. Up until a few weeks ago, these kids only spoke English in class. I have to tear them away from their Spanish or Korean friends.

DETECTIVE BOSSLEY: And how often do you do that?

Lately? About once a day.

DETECTIVE BOSSLEY: You mean when the fire alarm goes off!

MR. EATON: Bingo! Anything to get them mixing and mingling. José here even got an English girlfriend.

DETECTIVE BOSSLEY: I appreciate your effort, but when Ms. Davidson gets wind of this, I’m afraid you’ll be getting your walking papers.

Exercise B

Comprehension

In what way was Detective Bossley’s inkling wrong?
Which of the following is true about Mr. Eaton’s students?
a) They only speak English at school.
b) They have started speaking English outside of class.
c) They never speak English in the classroom.
d) They hate when the fire alarm goes off.
What does Detective Bossley see that proves that Mr. Eaton is guilty of the crime?
a) He sees a noisy classroom that is out of control.
b) He sees a toolbox and a manual for a security camera.
c) He sees part of a broken fire alarm.
d) He sees a note in Mr. Eaton’s agenda book to “Pull the alarm.”
True or False? Mr. Eaton tried to convince the detective that his hands were clean.

Exercise C - Writing

Writing Task: “The Ethics of Unconventional Teaching Methods in the Classroom”

Instructions:

Carefully read the provided story about the conversation between Detective Bossley and Mr. Eaton, an ESL teacher at Mountain Berry High.

Write an essay discussing the ethics of using unconventional teaching methods in the classroom, using Mr. Eaton’s fire alarm strategy as an example.

Be sure to include at least 3 phrasal verbs from the story or any others you have learned in class. The phrasal verbs from the story include:

on a first-name basis
caught red-handed
get wind of

In your essay, address the following points:

What are the ethical considerations that teachers should keep in mind when using unconventional teaching methods, such as Mr. Eaton’s strategy?
How can the negative consequences of such methods, like causing disruptions or potentially harming students, outweigh the intended benefits?
What responsibilities do teachers have to ensure that their teaching practices align with school policies and respect the well-being of their students?
In cases where unconventional methods show positive results, as with Mr. Eaton’s class, how can teachers and school administrators strike a balance between innovation and adherence to ethical principles?

Write a minimum of 250 words and a maximum of 500 words.

Remember to check your grammar, spelling, and punctuation before submitting the task. Use appropriate academic language and structure your essay with an introduction, body paragraphs, and a conclusion. Good luck!