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Question
Answer the following question in 120 – 150 words:
Our language is part of our culture and we are proud of it. Describe how regretful M. Hamel and the village elders are for having neglected their native language, French.
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Solution
A language of a country is the identity of that nation. M.Hamel, in his last lesson, tells his students about the beauty of their language, French, which is now being replaced by German because of the orders that have come from Berlin. He says that it is the most beautiful language in the world. He describes it as the clearest and the most logical of all the languages. The teacher elaborates the beauty of his county's language. He says that during colonial rule when the colonial power tries to enforce political and cultural dominance by imposing their own language if the natives are attached to their native language, their identity remains intact. They could say to have the key to their prison as long as they are holding fast with their language. These words of Mr. Hamel creates a sense of reverence in the hearts of the village elders, who have come to thank him for his forty years of faithful service, for their language and regretted not paying sincere attention towards it.
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| Usually, when school began, there was a great bustle, which could be heard out in the street, the opening and closing of desks, lessons repeated in unison, very loud, with our hands over our ears to understand better, and the teacher’s great ruler rapping on the table. But now it was all so still! I had counted on the commotion to get to my desk without being seen; but, of course, that day everything had to be as quiet as Sunday morning. Through the window I saw my classmates, already in their places, and M. Hamel walking up and down with his terrible iron ruler under his arm. I had to open the door and go in before everybody. You can imagine how I blushed and how frightened I was. |
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