064.(LV2-5)Lost Custody POV

Okay, this is the point of view mini-story for Lost Custody. Let’s get started. First one with the
phrase “Twenty years ago.”
Twenty years ago, there was a student named Yuriko. She was unfit to be a student. Every day she
came to school late. Then she belittled the other students. When another student made a mistake,
Yuriko yelled, “Are you stupid? Do you have a mental disability? What’s wrong with you, you idiot?”
One day, another student named Jenwah complained to AJ, the teacher. She said, “I’m frightened
by Yuriko. I’m going to quit this class.” The teacher said, “Stick it out, Jenwah. Don’t worry. I will
get rid of Yuriko. Then we will all be better off.”
The next day, AJ, the teacher, brought a gun to class. He pointed the gun at Yuriko and threatened
her. He said, “Yuriko, if you come to my class again, I will kill you; and then I will take custody of
your son and beat him every day. So leave now!” Yuriko was frightened by AJ’s threat. She started
to cry. Then she ran out of the class. The other students cheered, “Yea, Yuriko’s gone!”
Okay, the next version begins with “Since January.”
Since January, there has been a new student in AJ’s class. Her name is Yuriko. Yuriko is unfit to be
a student. Every day she has come to school late. Then she has belittled the other students. When
another student has made a mistake, Yuriko has always yelled, “Are you stupid? Do you have a
mental disability? What’s wrong with you, you idiot?” Well, one day, another student named Jenwah
complained to AJ, the teacher. She said, “I’m frightened by Yuriko. I’m going to quit this class.” The
teacher said, “Stick it out, Jenwah. Don’t worry. I’ll get rid of Yuriko. Then we’ll all be better off.”
The next day, AJ brought a gun to school. He pointed the gun at Yuriko and threatened her. He
said, “Yuriko, if you come to my class again, I will kill you; and then I’ll take custody of your son and
beat him every day. So leave now!” Yuriko was frightened by AJ’s threat. She started crying, and
then she ran out of the class. The other students cheered, “Yea!”
Okay, you’ll notice that one I – in the beginning there – I used the have – have – she has come to
school. She has belittled the other students, because those are things she did every day starting in
January up until now. But I said Yuriko is unfit to be a student. I said that because that’s a general
statement about her that’s always true. Past, present, and probably in the future, too. So I used the
present tense in that one; and then I switched to the past. I said, “One day, another student named
Jenwah,” and now we’re describing one thing that happened. It already happened. It’s totally fin-
ished. So that’s when I switched to simple past again.
Don’t worry. Don’t think about the verb tenses. Don’t think about the names: present perfect, past,
blah-blah-blah. Don’t worry about that. Just listen for when I change. Try to get a feeling – a feeling
for when I’m changing. Okay?
So listen carefully. That’s your only job. Do not try to memorize the rules. Do not try to remember
all those grammar rules. Just try to get a feeling for when I change the verb tenses and maybe why
do I do it. That’s all. That’s all you need to do.
All right, next one, let’s go to the future. Back to the future. “In ten years,” starting with “In ten
years.” Here we go.
In the future, ten years from now, in ten years, there will be a class; and in the class, there will be a
student named Yuriko. Yuriko will be unfit to be a student. Every day she’ll come to class late.
Then she’ll belittle the other students. When another student makes a mistake, Yuriko will yell, “Are
you stupid? Do you have a mental disability? What’s wrong with you, you idiot?” Now, one day,
another student named Jenwah will complain to the teacher, whose name is AJ. She’ll say, “I’m
frightened by Yuriko. I’m going to quit this class.” The teacher’ll say, “Stick it out, Jenwah. Don’t
worry. I’ll get rid of Yuriko. Then we’ll all be better of.”
The next day, AJ’ll bring a gun to class. He’ll point the gun at Yuriko and threaten her. “Yuriko, if
you come to my class again, I’ll kill you; and then I’ll take custody of your son and beat him every
day. So leave now!” Yuriko will be frightened by AJ’s threat. She’ll start crying, and then she’ll run
out of the class. The other students will cheer, “Yea! Yuriko’s gone. Yea!”
All right, that’s all for the point of view stories. Please now go back. Listen to the first one, then
pause and try to tell the first story yourself beginning with 20 years ago. Try to tell all the story and
use the correct verbs and the correct vocabulary. Then listen to the second one starting with “Since
January.” Listen to it a few times, and then pause and try to tell it yourself out loud, maybe alone in
your room or something.
And then, finally, listen to the third one beginning with “In ten years,” or “Ten years from now”; and try
to tell that one yourself, also. Okay, if you have trouble, if you can’t remember exactly the words to
say or you make a few mistakes, listen, just relax. Okay? Relax. It takes a little time. The most
important thing is to listen very carefully, and to listen again and again and again until you are sleep-
ing and dreaming about these stories. Then it will become automatic.
So please relax about making mistakes. This is not a test. Okay? In fact, you can only listen if you
want to. If you want to, just listen. You don’t need to try to tell the stories yourself. If it makes you
feel stressed, if it makes you feel nervous or uncomfortable to pause and speak, then don’t do it.
Only tell the stories if you are relaxed about it. If you can do it and you don’t worry. You don’t feel
nervous about making mistakes. If you feel nervous, just relax and listen only. That’s fine.
Okay, I’ll see you next time. Bye-bye.