OREGON
26 slides for an ESL class. Short lines, one idea each, miles and km.
At a glance
Statehood
33rd · February 14, 1859
Capital
Salem
People
4,233,358 (est.)
Land
95,988 mi² (248,608 km²)
Motto
Alis volat propriis · “She flies with her own wings”
High point
Mount Hood · 11,249 ft (3,429 m)
Time zone
Pacific Time
State bird
Western meadowlark
Demonym
Oregonians
Glance = vistazo. Motto = lema.
Where is Oregon?
Oregon is in the US West. The borders below are the ones to memorize.
Border = frontera. River = río.
Where the name comes from
1 · The name
Name origin still argued (Spanish or French or river).
2 · How it stuck
English spelling froze later. Say the demonym out loud twice.
3 · Demonym
People here are Oregonians. The motto means “She flies with her own wings”.
Name = nombre. People = gente.
Statehood day
33rd
Oregon became the 33rd state on February 14, 1859.
1859
Statehood year. A smaller population, a different economy.
1900s
Rail, farms, and factories pulled people in.
Today
4,233,358 (est.)
Statehood = estado. To join = unirse.
Salem, the capital
Salem is the capital. Portland is the big-city name on most maps.
1 · The capital
Salem is the seat of government.
2 · Why here
Lawmakers picked a city they could reach.
3 · A civic fact
The capitol is the postcard of state power.
Capital = capital. City = ciudad.
Portland, a big city
Portland pulls jobs and airports.
1 · Size
Say Portland and Eugene in one breath.
2 · Work
Work follows the river, the rail, or the interstate.
3 · Character
Students should say this name out loud twice.
City = ciudad. Port = puerto.
Eugene
Eugene is the other city the weather report names.
1 · Role
Eugene is not the capital, but it matters.
2 · A hook
A campus, a mill, or a river made it.
3 · Remember
Ask the class which city they would visit first.
Second = segundo. Nickname = apodo.
A very small place
small tiny incorporated places
Incorporation can outlive the boom. A sign, a hall, a few houses.
Count them
Census numbers bounce. Seasonal work changes a town.
Why stay
A post office, a church, a family name.
The lesson
Not every American lives in a skyline.
Town = pueblo. Tiny = minúsculo.
Land
High point
Mount Hood · 11,249 ft (3,429 m)
The working land
Farms, forests, mines, or a coast, depending on the county.
Water
A river, a lake, or an ocean wrote the old trade.
Mountain = montaña. River = río.
Weather
Dry side / wet side
Mountains wring the clouds. One town is desert, the next is moss.
Fire and snow
August smoke, January powder. Both close roads.
Storm = tormenta. Snow = nieve.
Three days Oregon remembers
February 14, 1859
Statehood day.
1900s
Machines, roads, and new jobs remade daily life.
today
A wet west and a dry east.
History = historia. Flood = inundación.
Person 1 · Abigail Scott Duniway
1 · The name
Abigail Scott Duniway
2 · The deed
This is the person the class should be able to spell.
3 · Place
Tie the name back to Oregon.
Person = persona. Story = historia.
The flag
Look
Find the unique emblem, not only the blue field.
Say it
The nickname is The Beaver State.
Color
Ask one student to describe the flag without pointing.
Flag = bandera. Star = estrella.
Four-moment timeline
Name
Name origin still argued (Spanish or French or river).
1859
Statehood.
1900s
Industry and cities.
now
A wet west and a dry east
Timeline = línea de tiempo.
Industry
Jobs
Government, services, and the old specialty trade.
Make
Factories, mills, or code, depending on the metro.
Move
A port, a rail yard, or an interstate hub.
Factory = fábrica. Job = trabajo.
Farm
Field
The postcard crop is in the foods list.
Animal
Cattle, hogs, or dairy show up in most interiors.
Market
A co-op, a grain elevator, or a dock.
Farm = granja. Crop = cultivo.
Food: three dishes
Dish 1
hazelnuts
Dish 2
pinot
Dish 3
Voodoo doughnut (touristy)
Food = comida. Dish = plato.
Game day
Team
Ducks / Blazers
Friday
High school lights still matter.
Rival
Ask who the rival is. There is always one.
Game = partido. Team = equipo.
Three people
ABIGAIL SCOTT DUNIWAY
The episode’s first person for Oregon.
SALEM
Capital: Salem.
THE BEAVER STATE
The Beaver State
Famous = famoso. Born = nacido.
Real rules, and one fake one
1 · Real · Seat belts
Wear them.
2 · Real · School zones
Lights flash. Speed drops.
3 · Real · Local alcohol rules
Counties can be dry or damp.
4 · Myth · A viral weird law
If it sounds like a joke, check the code.
Law = ley. Myth = mito.
Slang you will hear
Name the capital
Salem
Name the team
Ducks / Blazers
Name the food
hazelnuts
Slang = jerga. To say = decir.
A Oregon detail
33rd
1 · Order
33rd state, February 14, 1859.
2 · People
4,233,358
3 · Hook
A wet west and a dry east
Town = pueblo.
Mount Hood
peak
1 · Height
Mount Hood · 11,249 ft (3,429 m)
2 · Metric
Feet and meters both appear. Use both.
3 · Climb?
Ask the class: walk, drive, or skip?
Story = historia.
Five questions
1. What is the capital of Oregon?
2. What is the nickname?
3. Which number state?
4. Motto in English?
5. Oregon’s capital is?
Question = pregunta. Answer = respuesta.
Thanks · Next stop: Pennsylvania
Oregon, episode 37: A wet west and a dry east.
Answer key
1) a 2) a 3) a 4) a 5) b
Thanks = gracias. Next = siguiente.