While ANZAC day was quite foreign to a number of ESOL students who had recently immigrated to New Zealand, the concept of loss or war was not. Senior students who were able to listen to stories and discuss the content were able to write their own interpretations of the conditions young soldiers may have faced when they landed in ANZAC cove. These students were using imagery to improve description in their writing.
Nethasa writes:
The boat starts to creak with the weight of the men.
"Oh no!" we're here. I don't like this. I hate war. It's scary. My gun is so heavy and my boots are also heavy and wet. Now what is going to happen? It's turning very cold.
Aisha writes:
I see nothing but the night sky as we roll into the shore. Splash! My mate has a sip of water from his water bottle. Bang! The water turns red. What the heck is going on? Bodies are floating under the surface. "Jump!" Splash! As we hit the water, there's an explosion, then nothing but silence.
Arozo writes:
I see people coming to this foreign country in wooden boats. They run with guns along a rough beach. I hear guns shooting at shadows.
Nisha writes:
People talking randomly to each other in this boat. Talking about what they are going to do. Not able to see anything but the stars in the sky, not even the sea. But they hear a sound, a loud splash as the front of the boat drops away.
These pictures were taken of the junior group as they created their pictures of poppies:
These pictures were taken of the junior group as they created their pictures of poppies:
