4. Work in pairs. Think about the poem and discuss the questions. 1) The poem describes places that the teacher “had only known from maps / And all his life had longed to be”. Why do you think he wanted to visit those places? 2) The poet says: “But a lesson he never knew he taught / Is with me to this day.” What was that lesson? 3) Where might the poet be from? What clues does the poem give us about his or her nationality and culture? 4) What are the benefits of travelling to other countries and experiencing other cultures? How might it help our understanding of a) our own culture, b) the world?

Перевод задания: Работайте в парах. Подумайте о стихотворении и обсудите вопросы.

1. Why did the teacher want to visit those places? He was curious about the world and wanted to experience the countries and landscapes he had seen on maps. He may also have dreamed of escaping his narrow, grey surroundings.

Перевод: Учителю было интересно узнать мир и увидеть страны и пейзажи, которые он видел на картах. Возможно, он также мечтал вырваться из своего тесного и серого окружения.

2. What lesson did he teach? He taught the speaker to love the places and the wider world, even though he never travelled there himself. His enthusiasm stayed with the speaker.

Перевод: Он научил рассказчика любить эти места и большой мир, хотя сам туда не путешествовал. Его увлечённость осталась с рассказчиком.

3. Where might the poet be from? The poem does not give enough evidence to identify the poet’s nationality. The English language and references to a teacher and school suggest an English-speaking setting, but they do not prove a particular country.

Перевод: В стихотворении недостаточно сведений, чтобы определить национальность поэта. Английский язык и упоминания учителя и школы указывают на англоязычную среду, но не доказывают, что речь идёт о какой-то определённой стране.

4. What are the benefits of travelling? Travelling lets us experience other ways of life, meet people and see places first-hand. It can help us understand which traditions are distinctive in our own culture and appreciate similarities and differences around the world.

Перевод: Путешествия позволяют познакомиться с другими укладами жизни, встретить людей и увидеть места своими глазами. Они помогают понять, какие традиции характерны для нашей культуры, и оценить сходства и различия между культурами мира.