Students were to read the following essay, then summarize it in about 20 words. They also created Japanese translations of expressions they found difficult. These appear in popup boxes in the revised essay below. Student summaries are below.
I'll never forget the day I first saw "a dream walking." Her name was Susie Summers (name changed to protect the fantastic). Her smile, which sparkled beneath two twinkling eyes, was electric and made people who received it (especially guy people) feel very special.
While her physical beauty was astounding, it was her invisible beauty I shall always remember. She really cared about other people and was an extremely talented listener. Her sense of humor could brighten your entire day and her wise words were always exactly what you needed to hear. She was not only admired but also genuinely respected by members of both sexes. With everything in the world to be conceited about, she was extremely humble.
Needless to say, she was every guy's dream. Especially mine. I got to walk her to class once a day, and once I even got to eat lunch with her all by myself. I felt on top of the world.
I would think, "If only I could have a girlfriend like Susie Summers, I'd never even look at another female." But I figured that someone this outstanding was probably dating someone far better than myself. Even though I was president of the student body, I just knew I didn't stand a ghost of a chance.
So at graduation, I said farewell to my first big crush.
A year later, I met her best friend in a shopping center and we had lunch together. With a lump in my throat, I asked how Susie was.
"Well, she got over you," was the reply.
"What are you talking about?" I asked.
"You were really cruel to her the way you led her on, always walking her to class and making her think you were interested. Do you remember the time you had lunch with her? Well, she stayed by the phone the entire weekend. She was sure you were going to call and ask her out."
I was so afraid of rejection, I never risked letting her know how I felt. Suppose I had asked her out and she'd said no? What's the worst thing that could have happened? I wouldn't have had a date with her. Well, guess what? I DIDN'T HAVE A DATE WITH HER ANYHOW! What makes it worse is that I probably could have.
by Jack Schlatter
from Chicken Soup for the Teenage Soul
Copyright1997 Jack Canfield, Mark Victor Hansen and Kimberly Kirberger
This version of the essay "The Miss of a Great "Miss"" contains student generated self-help boxes with Japanese explanations for parts of the essay students found difficult:
by Jack Schlatter
from Chicken Soup for the Teenage Soul
Copyright1997 Jack Canfield, Mark Victor Hansen and Kimberly Kirberger
Chika
Erika
Susie is a besutiful laday. One man name is Jack Schlatter was like her. He got to walk her to class once a day, and once he even got eat lunch with her. But he didn't date with her. Because he was so afraid of rejection.
A year later at graduation. Her met her in a shopping centre and they had lunch together. Susie was remamber the time he had lunch with her. She stayed by the phone the entrie weekend. She was sure Jack Schlatter were going to call and ask her out.
Ica
There's a beautiful and attractive lady, named Susie. People love her. Jack Schlatter, one of her fan. He's often had lunch with her, and walking her to class. He's wondering if Susie would be his girlfriend. But He didn't take the risk to ask her, even after they graduate.
One day, he met her friend and surprise to hear that exactly Susie had got over him. He really feel he had miss the big chance that problably could have.
Jiro
Kozue
Susie Summers was very beautiful. Jack Schlatter loved her. Susie Summers loved him too. But he was so afraid of rejection, he never risked litting her know how he felt.
Kyoko
Susie Summers was very beautiful female. Jack Schlatter liked her. Altough he worked her to class once a day, and once ate lunch with her, he couldn't have a date with her. Because he was afraid of rejection. So at graduation, he said farewell to his first big crush. A year later,he heard she had liked him from her friends. he regreted he could'nt have a date with her.
Mami
There was Susie Summers who is very beautyful girl and loved all people. When Jack was talking with her, he felt on top of the world. But he said "Good-bye". A year later, he heard that she stayed by the phone. After that, he regreted that he didn't say "I love you" to her.
Mari
Miu
He never forget the day he first saw "a dream walking" They liked each other, but he doesn`t heart. He know that she liked him a year later.
Natsu
Susie Summers was very beauyiful. Jack Schlatter fell in love with her. But he couldn't ask to have a date with her. Because, he was afraid to refuse her. A year later, he was noticed she liked also him.
Oga
Park
Tomoki
I would like to have a girl freiend like Susie Summers. But I was afraid of rejection. So I said I DIDN`T HAVE DATE WITH HER ANYHOW!
Yanagi
Susie was sure he was going to ask her out. But, he afraid of rejection and he didn`t ask. What makes it worse is that he probably could have a date with her.
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