The Land I Lost: Adventures of a Boy in Vietnam from the book by Huynh Quang Nhuong Powerpoint presentation by Carol Harms, JSD 171, Orofino, ID http://www.opencourtresources.com

The conquest of Vietnam by France began in 1858 and was completed by 1884. It became part of French Indochina in 1887. Vietnam declared independence after World War II, but France continued to rule until its 1954 defeat by Communist forces under Ho Chi MINH. Under the Geneva Accords of 1954, Vietnam was divided into the Communist North and anti-Communist South. US economic and military aid to South Vietnam grew through the 1960s in an attempt to bolster the government, but US armed forces were withdrawn following a cease-fire agreement in 1973. Two years later, North Vietnamese forces overran the South reuniting the country under Communist rule.

This story is told by a man who is looking back on his childhood in Vietnam and remembering special people, moments or events in his life. Huynh Quang Nhuong was born in Vietnam. He grew up there and became a first lieutenant in the South Vietnamese army, and was wounded during the Vietnam War. He came to the United States for medical treatment. Once here, he became a United States citizen.

Vietnam is in SouthEast Asia. Look at the map to see what countries are its neighbors. As you read, you will learn about Vietnamese culture. Culture is the way of life of a group of people in a particular time or place.

hamlet a group of houses that make up a small village

cultivate to take care of something so that it will grow

Passion a strong feeling about something

mythology a group of stories made up long ago to explain natural events or religious beliefs and customs

karate An Asian art of self defense

deep shallow enter exit lead follow What do these word pairs have in common?

deep shallow enter exit lead follow These word pairs are antonyms or opposites. Can you think of an antonym for the following words? feared, weak, sneaky

feared season weak sneaky one spelling of the long e sound is ea

whined wherever when whale wh at the beginning of a word says /hw/

mountains surrounded houses downtown hours mountains surrounded houses These words contain the /ow/ sound spelled ou and ow.

Weak swimmers should stay in the shallow end of the pool. I feared this season’s whole crop would be ruined by the heat.

Weak swimmers should stay in the shallow end of the pool. I feared this season’s whole crop would be ruined by the heat. 1. Which words have the long e sound spelled ea? 2. Find antonyms for the following words: feared, ruined, heat, weak, and stay.

My little brother whined and followed me wherever I went. 1. Which words contain the digraph wh? What sound does this make? 2. Think of an antonym for followed.

The author’s purpose is the reason for writing a selection. Can you think of 4 purposes?

Author’s Purpose 1. To inform 2. To explain 3. To persuade 4. To entertain