UNIT 1 Exercise- Getting to Know You

This is a beautiful song from the movie The King and I (1956), when Hollywood
had its Golden Age, with fascinating musicals (Yes, Bollywood movies emulate
the Hollywood ideas of this elegant era) and fancy epic scenarios. The King and
I is a musical by Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein II based on the book
Anna and the King of Siam by Margaret Landon. The plot comes from the
memoirs of Anna Leonowens, who became school teacher to the children of King
Mongkut of Siam in the early 1860s. Leonowens' story, The English Governess
at the Siamese Court, was autobiographical, although her biographer, Susan
Morgan, author of the 2008 biography Bombay Anna has discovered numerous
inaccuracies and personal fabrications, probably because a) she disliked the
monarchy, and b) because the king died and did not put her and her son into his
will. Actually, King Mongkut did put Anna and her son on his will, but his
successor and son King Chulalongkorn did not follow his father’s wishes and
simply sent Anna a thank you letter.

INSTRUCTIONS

Watch the video, download the exercise sheet and read the lyrics to the song
while you sing along. After you finish watching it, ask the questions on the
exercise sheet.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3aVbJhg23Ao

VOCABULARY

Note: If you check these words in a dictionary, you’ll probably find other
meanings to these words. However, the meanings below are related to the
song lyrics.

1. saying- a well-known and wise statement, which often has a

meaning that is different from the simple meanings of the words it
contains. Example: “A teacher affects eternity; he can never tell where his
influence stops.” Henry Brooks Adams (1838-1918).

2. pupil- a person, especially a child at primary school, who is being

taught; a student.

3. boast- it’s a verb. It means to have or possess something to be

proud of.

4. bright- full of hope for success or happiness; eager and cheerful.

5. breezy- light, pleasant attitude; walking somewhere quickly and

confidently, without anxiety or embarrassment.

Getting to Know You (Lyrics)

[ANNA] [ANNA]

[Spoken] It's a very ancient saying, My cup of tea.

But a true and honest thought,
That if you become a teacher,
By your pupils you'll be taught.
[Singing] As a teacher I've been
learning --
You'll forgive me if I boast --
And I've now become an expert,
On the subject I like most.
[Spoken] Getting to know you.
[Singing] Getting to know you,
Getting to know all about you.
Getting to like you,
Getting to hope you like me.
Getting to know you,
Putting it my way,
But nicely,
You are precisely,
My cup of tea.
[ANNA AND THE MOTHERS]
[ALL]
Getting to know you,
Getting to feel free and easy
When I am with you,
Getting to know what to say
Haven't you noticed
Suddenly I'm bright and breezy?
Because of all the beautiful and new
Things I'm learning about you
Day by day.
Getting to know you,
Getting to feel free and easy
When I am with you,
Getting to know what to say
Haven't you noticed
Suddenly I'm bright and breezy?
Because of all the beautiful and new
Things I'm learning about you
Day .. by ... day.

Getting to know you,

Getting to know all about you.
Getting to like you,
Getting to hope you like me.

Getting to know you,

Putting it my way,
But nicely,
You are precisely,

Questions

1. What does the teacher want?

_________________________________________________

2. What’s her purpose?

_________________________________________________________

3. What does “my cup of tea” mean?

______________________________________________

4. What does she do with her students?

____________________________________________
5. Your professor wants to you know you. Can you describe yourself in a brief
paragraph?
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
____

___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
_____.

6. What is the atmosphere in the palace? Is it like a classroom?

7. What kind of questions do you use when you want to know a person?