Learning Aids and Bookmarks for My Chinese EFL Students

from: http://www.mlkonline.net/  Go here for the original and background information.

You can also see and listen to the speech at: http://video.google.com/videosearch?q=i+have+a+dream&hl=en&emb=0&aq=f#

Martin Luther King Speeches THIS IS THE ORIGINAL WRITTEN TEXT, SEE BELOW FOR THE SPOKEN TEXT

I Have a Dream - Address at March on Washington

August 28, 1963. Washington, D.C.

I am happy to join with you today in what will go down in history as the greatest demonstration for freedom in the history of our nation.

Five score years ago, a great American, in whose symbolic shadow we stand signed the Emancipation Proclamation. This momentous decree came as a great beacon light of hope to millions of Negro slaves who had been seared in the flames of withering injustice. It came as a joyous daybreak to end the long night of captivity.

But one hundred years later, we must face the tragic fact that the Negro is still not free. One hundred years later, the life of the Negro is still sadly crippled by the manacles of segregation and the chains of discrimination. One hundred years later, the Negro lives on a lonely island of poverty in the midst of a vast ocean of material prosperity. One hundred years later, the Negro is still languishing in the corners of American society and finds himself an exile in his own land. So we have come here today to dramatize an appalling condition.

In a sense we have come to our nation's capital to cash a check. When the architects of our republic wrote the magnificent words of the Constitution and the declaration of Independence, they were signing a promissory note to which every American was to fall heir. This note was a promise that all men would be guaranteed the inalienable rights of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.

It is obvious today that America has defaulted on this promissory note insofar as her citizens of color are concerned. Instead of honoring this sacred obligation, America has given the Negro people a bad check which has come back marked "insufficient funds." But we refuse to believe that the bank of justice is bankrupt. We refuse to believe that there are insufficient funds in the great vaults of opportunity of this nation. So we have come to cash this check -- a check that will give us upon demand the riches of freedom and the security of justice. We have also come to this hallowed spot to remind America of the fierce urgency of now. This is no time to engage in the luxury of cooling off or to take the tranquilizing drug of gradualism. Now is the time to rise from the dark and desolate valley of segregation to the sunlit path of racial justice. Now is the time to open the doors of opportunity to all of God's children. Now is the time to lift our nation from the quicksands of racial injustice to the solid rock of brotherhood.

It would be fatal for the nation to overlook the urgency of the moment and to underestimate the determination of the Negro. This sweltering summer of the Negro's legitimate discontent will not pass until there is an invigorating autumn of freedom and equality. Nineteen sixty-three is not an end, but a beginning. Those who hope that the Negro needed to blow off steam and will now be content will have a rude awakening if the nation returns to business as usual. There will be neither rest nor tranquility in America until the Negro is granted his citizenship rights. The whirlwinds of revolt will continue to shake the foundations of our nation until the bright day of justice emerges.

But there is something that I must say to my people who stand on the warm threshold which leads into the palace of justice. In the process of gaining our rightful place we must not be guilty of wrongful deeds. Let us not seek to satisfy our thirst for freedom by drinking from the cup of bitterness and hatred.

We must forever conduct our struggle on the high plane of dignity and discipline. We must not allow our creative protest to degenerate into physical violence. Again and again we must rise to the majestic heights of meeting physical force with soul force. The marvelous new militancy which has engulfed the Negro community must not lead us to distrust of all white people, for many of our white brothers, as evidenced by their presence here today, have come to realize that their destiny is tied up with our destiny and their freedom is inextricably bound to our freedom. We cannot walk alone.

And as we walk, we must make the pledge that we shall march ahead. We cannot turn back. There are those who are asking the devotees of civil rights, "When will you be satisfied?" We can never be satisfied as long as our bodies, heavy with the fatigue of travel, cannot gain lodging in the motels of the highways and the hotels of the cities. We cannot be satisfied as long as the Negro's basic mobility is from a smaller ghetto to a larger one. We can never be satisfied as long as a Negro in Mississippi cannot vote and a Negro in New York believes he has nothing for which to vote. No, no, we are not satisfied, and we will not be satisfied until justice rolls down like waters and righteousness like a mighty stream.

I am not unmindful that some of you have come here out of great trials and tribulations. Some of you have come fresh from narrow cells. Some of you have come from areas where your quest for freedom left you battered by the storms of persecution and staggered by the winds of police brutality. You have been the veterans of creative suffering. Continue to work with the faith that unearned suffering is redemptive.

Go back to Mississippi, go back to Alabama, go back to Georgia, go back to Louisiana, go back to the slums and ghettos of our northern cities, knowing that somehow this situation can and will be changed. Let us not wallow in the valley of despair.

I say to you today, my friends, that in spite of the difficulties and frustrations of the moment, I still have a dream. It is a dream deeply rooted in the American dream.

I have a dream that one day this nation will rise up and live out the true meaning of its creed: "We hold these truths to be self-evident: that all men are created equal."

I have a dream that one day on the red hills of Georgia the sons of former slaves and the sons of former slave owners will be able to sit down together at a table of brotherhood.

I have a dream that one day even the state of Mississippi, a desert state, sweltering with the heat of injustice and oppression, will be transformed into an oasis of freedom and justice.

I have a dream that my four children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character.

I have a dream today.

I have a dream that one day the state of Alabama, whose governor's lips are presently dripping with the words of interposition and nullification, will be transformed into a situation where little black boys and black girls will be able to join hands with little white boys and white girls and walk together as sisters and brothers.

I have a dream today.

I have a dream that one day every valley shall be exalted, every hill and mountain shall be made low, the rough places will be made plain, and the crooked places will be made straight, and the glory of the Lord shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together.

This is our hope. This is the faith with which I return to the South. With this faith we will be able to hew out of the mountain of despair a stone of hope. With this faith we will be able to transform the jangling discords of our nation into a beautiful symphony of brotherhood. With this faith we will be able to work together, to pray together, to struggle together, to go to jail together, to stand up for freedom together, knowing that we will be free one day.

This will be the day when all of God's children will be able to sing with a new meaning, "My country, 'tis of thee, sweet land of liberty, of thee I sing. Land where my fathers died, land of the pilgrim's pride, from every mountainside, let freedom ring."

And if America is to be a great nation this must become true. So let freedom ring from the prodigious hilltops of New Hampshire. Let freedom ring from the mighty mountains of New York. Let freedom ring from the heightening Alleghenies of Pennsylvania!

Let freedom ring from the snowcapped Rockies of Colorado!

Let freedom ring from the curvaceous peaks of California!

But not only that; let freedom ring from Stone Mountain of Georgia!

Let freedom ring from Lookout Mountain of Tennessee!

Let freedom ring from every hill and every molehill of Mississippi. From every mountainside, let freedom ring.

When we let freedom ring, when we let it ring from every village and every hamlet, from every state and every city, we will be able to speed up that day when all of God's children, black men and white men, Jews and Gentiles, Protestants and Catholics, will be able to join hands and sing in the words of the old Negro spiritual, "Free at last! free at last! thank God Almighty, we are free at last!"

**************************************************************

Martin Luther King at the March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom (August 28, 1963)
TRANSCRIPT OF THE ACTUAL SPOKEN WORDS: from http://www.hpol.org/transcript.php?id=72

"I Have a Dream"

I am happy to join with you today in what will go down in history as the greatest demonstration for freedom in the history of our nation.

Five score years ago, a great American, in whose symbolic shadow we stand today, signed the Emancipation Proclamation. This momentous decree came as a great beacon light of hope to millions of Negro slaves who had been seared in the flames of withering injustice. It came as a joyous daybreak to end the long night of their captivity.

But one hundred years later, the Negro still is not free. One hundred years later, the life of the Negro is still sadly crippled by the manacles of segregation and the chains of discrimination. One hundred years later, the Negro lives on a lonely island of poverty in the midst of a vast ocean of material prosperity. One hundred years later, the Negro is still languishing in the corners of American society and finds himself an exile in his own land. And so we've come here today to dramatize a shameful condition.

In a sense we've come to our nation's capital to cash a check. When the architects of our republic wrote the magnificent words of the Constitution and the Declaration of Independence, they were signing a promissory note to which every American was to fall heir. This note was a promise that all men - yes, black men as well as white men - would be guaranteed the unalienable rights of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.

It is obvious today that America has defaulted on this promissory note insofar as her citizens of color are concerned. Instead of honoring this sacred obligation, America has given the Negro people a bad check, a check that has come back marked "insufficient funds."

But we refuse to believe that the bank of justice is bankrupt. We refuse to believe that there are insufficient funds in the great vaults of opportunity of this nation. And so we've come to cash this check, a check that will give us upon demand the riches of freedom and security of justice. We have also come to this hallowed spot to remind America of the fierce urgency of now. This is no time to engage in the luxury of cooling off or to take the tranquilizing drug of gradualism. Now is the time to make real the promises of democracy. Now is the time to rise from the dark and desolate valley of segregation to the sunlit path of racial justice. Now is the time to lift our nation from the quicksands of racial injustice to the solid rock of brotherhood. Now is the time to make justice a reality for all of God's children.

It would be fatal for the nation to overlook the urgency of the moment. This sweltering summer of the Negro's legitimate discontent will not pass until there is an invigorating autumn of freedom and equality. Nineteen sixty-three is not an end but a beginning. Those who hoped that the Negro needed to blow off steam and will now be content will have a rude awakening if the nation returns to business as usual. There will be neither rest nor tranquility in America until the Negro is granted his citizenship rights. The whirlwinds of revolt will continue to shake the foundations of our nation until the bright day of justice emerges.

But there is something that I must say to my people who stand on the warm threshold which leads into the palace of justice. In the process of gaining our rightful place we must not be guilty of wrongful deeds. Let us not seek to satisfy our thirst for freedom by drinking from the cup of bitterness and hatred. We must forever conduct our struggle on the high plane of dignity and discipline. We must not allow our creative protest to degenerate into physical violence. Again and again we must rise to the majestic heights of meeting physical force with soul force. The marvelous new militancy which has engulfed the Negro community must not lead us to a distrust of all white people, for many of our white brothers, as evidenced by their presence here today, have come to realize that their destiny is tied up with our destiny. And they have come to realize that their freedom is inextricably bound to our freedom. We cannot walk alone.

And as we walk, we must make the pledge that we shall always march ahead. We cannot turn back. There are those who are asking the devotees of civil rights, "When will you be satisfied?" We can never be satisfied as long as the Negro is the victim of the unspeakable horrors of police brutality. We can never be satisfied as long as our bodies, heavy with the fatigue of travel, cannot gain lodging in the motels of the highways and the hotels of the cities. We cannot be satisfied as long as the Negro's basic mobility is from a smaller ghetto to a larger one. We can never be satisfied as long as our children are stripped of their selfhood and robbed of their dignity by signs stating "for whites only." We cannot be satisfied as long as a Negro in Mississippi cannot vote and a Negro in New York believes he has nothing for which to vote. No, no we are not satisfied and we will not be satisfied until justice rolls down like waters and righteousness like a mighty stream.

I am not unmindful that some of you have come here out of great trials and tribulations. Some of you have come fresh from narrow jail cells. Some of you have come from areas where your quest for freedom left you battered by storms of persecution and staggered by the winds of police brutality. You have been the veterans of creative suffering. Continue to work with the faith that unearned suffering is redemptive.

Go back to Mississippi, go back to Alabama, go back to South Carolina, go back to Georgia, go back to Louisiana, go back to the slums and ghettos of our northern cities, knowing that somehow this situation can and will be changed.

Let us not wallow in the valley of despair. I say to you today my friends - so even though we face the difficulties of today and tomorrow, I still have a dream. It is a dream deeply rooted in the American dream.

I have a dream that one day this nation will rise up and live out the true meaning of its creed: "We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal."

I have a dream that one day on the red hills of Georgia the sons of former slaves and the sons of former slave owners will be able to sit down together at the table of brotherhood.

I have a dream that one day even the state of Mississippi, a state sweltering with the heat of injustice, sweltering with the heat of oppression, will be transformed into an oasis of freedom and justice.

I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character.

I have a dream today.

I have a dream that one day down in Alabama, with its vicious racists, with its governor having his lips dripping with the words of interposition and nullification - one day right there in Alabama little black boys and black girls will be able to join hands with little white boys and white girls as sisters and brothers.

I have a dream today.

I have a dream that one day every valley shall be exalted, and every hill and mountain shall be made low, the rough places will be made plain, and the crooked places will be made straight, and the glory of the Lord shall be revealed and all flesh shall see it together.

This is our hope. This is the faith that I go back to the South with. With this faith we will be able to hew out of the mountain of despair a stone of hope. With this faith we will be able to transform the jangling discords of our nation into a beautiful symphony of brotherhood. With this faith we will be able to work together, to pray together, to struggle together, to go to jail together, to stand up for freedom together, knowing that we will be free one day.

This will be the day, this will be the day when all of God's children will be able to sing with new meaning "My country 'tis of thee, sweet land of liberty, of thee I sing. Land where my fathers died, land of the Pilgrim's pride, from every mountainside, let freedom ring!"

And if America is to be a great nation, this must become true. And so let freedom ring from the prodigious hilltops of New Hampshire. Let freedom ring from the mighty mountains of New York. Let freedom ring from the heightening Alleghenies of Pennsylvania.


Let freedom ring from the snow-capped Rockies of Colorado. Let freedom ring from the curvaceous slopes of California.


But not only that; let freedom ring from Stone Mountain of Georgia.


Let freedom ring from Lookout Mountain of Tennessee.


Let freedom ring from every hill and molehill of Mississippi – from every mountainside.


Let freedom ring. And when this happens, and when we allow freedom ring - when we let it ring from every village and every hamlet, from every state and every city, we will be able to speed up that day when all of God's children - black men and white men, Jews and Gentiles, Protestants and Catholics - will be able to join hands and sing in the words of the old Negro spiritual: "Free at last! Free at last! Thank God Almighty, we are free at last!"

Public Speaking Debate Topics：Main List

for 2 minute impromptu speeches/discussions

42 topics ~ 368 questions

These questions have been selected for the usefulness of their vocabulary and grammar. All questions use common, everyday English words. There are not any special or unusual words here. The grammar is typical American or British vernacular and representative of the way Americans, Canadians, and British actually speak. Many questions are repeated in different forms and expressed in different ways, but all of these different forms are in common usage. Students should review these questions to ensure they know all of the vocabulary. These are the questions that will be used in tests and exams. If you know the vocabulary and understand the question, then you will be able to respond well in an exam.

01: Age: Youth & Old Age

01/01   Does age make us more aware of other people and more willing to care about others?

01/02   What do you think is the best age to be?

01/03   Some people think you should give something to society before you have the right to join it. Should young people have to do some form of military or community service before they can become full citizens?

01/04   Should people of between 50 and 55 years old be forced to retire from their jobs in order to make way for younger workers?

01/05   If people are still able to (and want to) work, should they be forced to retire when they reach a certain age?

01/06   Are there many things that the old can teach the young or do you think they are “out of touch” by the time they reach a certain age?

01/07   In Russia, China and many other countries, there is a tradition of choosing leaders who are quite old. Do you think that older people make better leaders?

01/08   In some countries, such as China, having children is considered a way of "investing in the future", and young people are expected to give money to their parents when they get a job, and then to care for them when they retire. What are the good points and what are the bad points about this system?

01/09   Many countries are facing the problem of an "aging population", i.e. there will soon be more old people than young people. What problems will this cause?

02: Beauty & Physical Attractiveness

02/01   Who do you think is the most beautiful person in China today? What makes this person beautiful?

02/02   Who was the most beautiful person in Chinese history? Why was this person considered beautiful?

02/03   Does beauty affect one's success in life?

02/04   Which is it better; to be physically attractive, or intelligent?

02/05   Which is it better; to be physically attractive, or wealthy?

02/06   Do people spend too much time and money on their appearance?

02/07   Do you think people should have cosmetic surgery to make themselves more beautiful?

02/08   What do you think of the proverb, "beauty is in the eye of the beholder?"

02/09   How do you define “beauty”?

02/10   Which would you want your child to be; beautiful, or talented? Why?

03: Children

03/01   If you could have as many children as you want, how many children would you like to have?

03/02   What is the most important thing that we need to teach children?

03/03   Do you think that children are naturally good or do they need to be taught how to be good?

04: Cities

04/01   Which is your favorite city in China? Why?

04/02   What do you think can be done to improve living conditions in cities?

04/03   What are some differences between living in the city and living in the country?

04/04   Which city anywhere in the world would you most want to visit？

05: Clothing Styles

05/01   Do you think that the clothes we wear reflect what is inside of us?

05/02   Why is it acceptable for women to wear men's clothing, but not for men to dress in women's clothing?

05/03   What traditional costumes (clothing) do people from your province wear?

06: Crime

06/01   Are you afraid of walking outside after dark?

06/02   Do you think people who use illegal drugs should be put in jail, or do you think these people are sick and need help?

06/03   Do you think policeman should be allowed to carry guns?

06/04   Do you think that punishment for violent crimes should be the same for both young people and adults? Why/why not?

06/05   Do you think that the death penalty prevents crime in your country?

06/06   Do you think prostitution is a crime?

06/07   Do you think your country is a safe place to live in? Why or why not?

06/08   If a person steals a loaf of bread because he needs to feed his starving family, should he be punished?

06/09   Is putting criminals into prison an effective punishment? Why or why not?

06/10   Who decides what is and isn't a crime?

07: Culture

07/01   What do you think is most interesting about your Chinese culture?

07/02   What has surprised you most when you've met people from other countries?

07/03   How do young people in your culture behave differently from older people?

07/04   How are your foreign teachers different from your Chinese teachers?

07/05   If you could change one thing about the Chinese culture, what would it be?

07/06   Would you ever consider living permanently in another country? Why or why not?

07/07   If a group of people just came to your country from overseas, what advice would you give them?

07/08   Do you think "when in Rome, do as the Romans do" is always good advice?

08: Death & Dying

08/01   Are you afraid of death?

08/02   If you could find out about the future, would you want to know the day when you are going to die? Why or why not?

08/03   What do you think would happen in the world if people never died?

08/04   After you die would you like to have your body frozen, so that you could be thawed out and brought back to life sometime in the future?

08/05   Do you think people should be cremated or buried?

09: Disaster Preparation

09/01   What are some important things you should keep in your house in order to be prepared for a natural disaster?

09/02   What are some things you should do as soon as possible after a natural disaster?

09/03   What are some of the health problems that might arise after a natural disaster?

09/04   If you could volunteer to help after a natural disaster, what could you do?

09/05   Do you think the Internet can be helpful in dealing with a natural disaster?

09/06   How much money should your government give to help victims of natural disasters in other countries?

09/08   What kinds of natural disasters are common in China?

09/09   How are families affected by natural disasters?

09/10  What is the difference between natural disasters and man-made disasters?

10: Drugs

10/01   Do you think alcohol is a drug?

10/02   Why do you think that tobacco is a legal drug?

10/03   Should there be punishments for using drugs?

10/04   Should women be prevented legally from drinking any alcohol or smoking when pregnant?

10/05   At what age should it be legal to drink alcohol and smoke tobacco?

10/06   Why do you think people start using drugs?

11: Education

11/01   Do you think it is easier to learn as a child or as an adult?

11/02   Do you think public speaking can improve your English?

11/03   Why is English difficult to learn at the university level?

11/04   Is it difficult for people without a college education to get good jobs?

11/05   What was (or is) your favorite subject? Why do you like it?

11/06   Why are you studying a foreign language?

11/07   Why do you think people want to become teachers?

11/08   Why is it helpful to learn a second language?

11/09   Why is it sometimes very difficult to speak another language well?

11/10   Once you graduate from a university should you stop learning?

11/11   Does education guarantee a good job?

12: Literature & Books

12/01   What kind of English books do you enjoy reading?

12/02   Do you prefer reading fiction or non-fiction books?

12/03   What is your favorite English book? Tell us about it.

12/04   Did you read books when you were a child?

12/05   Who are the most famous writers in China?

12/06   Who is your favorite character from literature?

12/07   What sort of books do you enjoy reading?

12/08   Some people say that "books are best friends". Is that true for you?

12/09   Who is your favorite author?

12/10   Why is literature important in our lives?

12/11   What kinds of literature (books, poems, short stories) do you enjoy?

12/12   Do you like literature from other countries? If so, what kind?

13: Entertainment & Fun

13/01   What is one of your favorite TV shows?

13/02   Do you listen to Chinese classical music? Why or why not?

13/03   What are some games that you don't like to play? Why?

13/04   What are some of the good movies you have seen?

13/05   What are some things you can do for fun without spending any money?

13/06   What games are popular in your country? Why are they popular?

13/07   What is your favorite game? Why?

13/08   What's the most popular holiday in your country?

13/09   Who is the most popular entertainer in China?

14: Environment & Pollution

14/01   Do you think cars should be banned from city centers?

14/02   What are some ways that you can reduce pollution in this country?

14/03   What can you do to help prevent pollution?

14/04   What can you do to make this world a better place?

14/05   Which is more important, increasing people's standard of living, or protecting the environment?

14/06   Who do you think is more responsible for preventing pollution, individual people or the government?

14/07   What is the most important issue facing the environment today?

14/08   Should we make the development of renewable energy sources a priority?

14/09   What can large cities do to improve their air quality?

14/10   How can we protect the environment and at the same time improve people's standard of living?

14/11   What happens when we cut down all the forests?