Back again: the idiom for something that keeps coming back to bother you even though you’ve tried to get rid of it. Whether it’s that annoying gym bro or the cold winter weather that killed your houseplants, there are some things that you just can’t escape. But thanks to the “Back again” TikTok trend, you can now make fun of those pesky moments. All you have to do is add a text overlay that explains what you’re trying to avoid but which, inevitably, comes back to haunt you anyway.
Use the idiom to teach students that life is full of ups and downs, but it’s always possible to go up from where you are right now. You may have to work a bit harder or be more patient, but you can do it. Just be sure to keep a positive attitude, and you’ll find the ups outweigh the downs.
The United States is often called the melting pot, but it’s not always clear how that stew is made. Thanhha Lai’s National Book Award winner, Inside Out and Back Again, illustrates one family’s experience of immigration. Her story of a young girl’s move from Saigon to Alabama is not only deeply personal, but it also challenges assumptions about immigration and racial identity in the U.S.
The National Book Award winner chronicles the experiences of 10-year-old Ha, who immigrates to the United States with her mother and three brothers following the fall of Saigon in 1975. The story is told in a series of poems, and while this style can sometimes feel like a gimmick, Lai’s evocative language and intense emotions give it an organic synthesis of form and content.
In addition to teaching the theme of perseverance, this story is an excellent way to introduce students to the Vietnamese culture. Use the websites listed in the Further Explorations section to learn about the food, customs, and beliefs of the Vietnamese new year, Tet. Then ask students to compare the way that their lives have changed since last Tet and what they hope for the future. Back mal