PENGUIN READERS

Teacher’s notes LEVEL 4 Teacher Support Programme

Evening Class
Maeve Binchy group, their lives are transformed as the story develops.
All characters have problems and issues to resolve, and
manage to do so by the end of the story, which culminates
in a trip to Italy.
Chapter 1: Aidan, a teacher at Moutainview School,
is undergoing a difficult time. His wife, Nell, and his
daughters, Grania and Brigid, are becoming distant. The
position of Principal at school, which he expects to be
offered, is given to Tony O’Brien, a popular teacher who
spends his free time at parties and with younger woman.
Without anyone knowing who the other party is, Grania
and Tony have been going out. Tony informs Adain that
he’s been given the job and organizes Italian evening
classes under Aidan’s supervision. Garnia gets angry at
About the author Tony.
Maeve Binchy was born on 28 March 1940 in Dalkey,
a small village outside Dublin, Ireland. She spent her Chapter 2: Nora O’Donoghue, a beautiful Irish young
childhood in Dalkey and often draws on this experience woman, meets Mario, an Italian, in London. They fall
when creating the rural villages which are usually at the in love, but Mario goes back to Italy to marry Gabriella,
centre of her novels. She took a BA degree in History at as his family has arranged. Nora moves to his town,
University College, Dublin. She became a teacher and Annunziata – where she becomes known as Signora
taught in various girls’ schools. Her teaching post at a – just to be near him. After 26 years, Mario dies in a car
Jewish school, and subsequent holiday in Israel, inspired accident, and his widow asks Nora to leave. She returns to
her to work on a kibbutz. While abroad, Binchy wrote Dublin and rents a room at the Sullivans’s house. She is
weekly letters to her father, describing life in a country a good influence for the family, and particularly for their
that was constantly on the brink of war. Her father son, Jimmy, who goes to Mountainview School. Tony
sent one of her letters to The Irish Times, where it was O’Brian introduces her to Aidan, who also loves Italy.
published and earned her eighteen pounds. She soon Chapter 3: Bill Burke works with Grania at a bank. His
became a popular columnist on The Irish Times and was girlfriend, Lizzie, is a beautiful young girl interested in
woman’s editor during the early days of Irish feminism. money and fun. Bill finds it difficult to make ends meet;
She later moved to London, where she met and married he wants to help his family and tries to keep up to Lizzie’s
Gordon Snell, a writer and broadcaster. Maeve Binchy expectations. An announcement of possible openings in
wrote three volumes of short stories, two plays and a the continent for young people at the bank who speak
television play, which won three awards at the Prague other languages leads him and Lizzie to the Italian classes.
Film Festival. Her first novel Light a Penny Candle was He borrows money from the bank, which he expects to
published in 1982. It was an immediate success and since pay back. When he learns that Lizzie’s mother left the
then she has become one of Ireland’s best-known writers. family when she was a girl, he understands Lizzie better.
Her best-selling novels include Echoes (1985), Firefly
Chapter 4: At the age of 15 Lou helps thieves that have
Summer (1987), Circle of Friends (1990), The Copper Beech
robbed his father’s shop to escape from the police, so that
(1992), The Glass Lake (1994), Tara Road (1998) and
they do not take revenge. Robin, one of the thieves, offers
Scarlet Feather (2001).
that Lou join them in some ‘jobs’. Lou occasionally works
for them and makes good and easy money. Some time
Summary later, while working on the robbery of a nightclub, he
Evening Class is a story about a group of ordinary people
meets Suzi Sullivan and they fall in love. The thieves need
who each have their own reasons for joining a new
a place for boxes to come in and go out unnoticed, so Lou
Italian evening class at a school in Dublin. The class is
joins the Italian classes, where boxes are stored in a corner.
run by two people who share a passion for Italy: Aidan
Lou gives Suzi a very expensive ring and takes an expensive
Dunne, a schoolteacher, and Nora O’Donoghue, whom
TV set to the Italian classes. Signora notices what is
everyone knows as Signora. Like the other members of the
happening and Lou promises her he will change.

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 PENGUIN READERS
Teacher’s notes LEVEL 4 Teacher Support Programme

Evening Class
Chapters 5–6: Connie O’Connor marries Harry Kane, Evening classes are very popular in Britain and are
a successful businessman. Following her mother’s advice, organized as part of an Adult Education Programme in
she has half her husband’s fortune under her name, in most towns and cities. Part-time classes are offered in a
case the business goes wrong. When Harry’s company huge range of subjects from languages and computing to
goes bankrupt, she rescues the investors, and gets utterly flower arranging. Classes take place in schools, colleges
disappointed at her husband, who doesn’t mind about his and community centres, and last for two hours for a
clients and goes out with his secretary. Connie decides to period of ten weeks to two years. There is a charge for
take a trip to Italy and joins the Italian classes. There she classes, but people on low incomes can often join for free.
meets Laddy, a humble man who lives with his nephew Classes are popular with people who want to meet others
Gus. Gus runs a small hotel with his wife Maggie, and and find a new hobby, and for those who want to improve
they have financial problems because they are Harry’s their knowledge and qualifications.
investors. Connie pays them their money and informs Ireland is the most north-westerly country in Europe,
the police of Harry’s illegal businesses. Laddy has joined with the Atlantic Ocean to the west and the Irish Sea to
the Italian classes because an Italian guest at the hotel has the east. It is divided into thirty-two counties, including
thanked his honesty by inviting him to go to Italy. Northern Ireland. There are mountains in coastal areas
Chapter 7: Fiona, Grania and Brigid’s friend, is a very and flat countryside in the middle of the country. Dublin,
shy girl, who works at the coffee shop of a hospital. There the capital of Ireland, is a popular tourist city with a castle,
she meets Barry Healey, whose mother is in hospital. Mrs two cathedrals and a national museum and gallery.
Haley is depressed because her husband pays no attention
to her. Fiona gains confidence in herself as she manages Discussion activities
to cheer Mrs Haley up, and hears from her that Mr Haley
Chapter 1, pages 1–10
is seeing Nell, Aidan’s wife. At a party organized by the
Before reading
students of the Italian class, she manages to make Nell 1 Guess and discuss: Ask students: Aidan is not very
believe that Mr Haley sees a lot of women, and asks Lou satisfied with his life either at the school were he works
to tell Mr Haley to leave Mrs Dunne alone. or at home. Which day of the week do you think he finds
the most difficult? Why? Which day of the week do you
Chapter 8: All students go to Italy together and have find the most difficult when you are not feeling very well?
a great time. They visit the Garaldis, the Italian family
that had thanked Laddy’s honesty. Signora meets one of
After reading
2 Write and role play: Students imagine they are
Mario’s sons at a restaurant, who tells her that his mother writing a theatre script based on this novel. They
has died and they had been waiting for her to come back. write a scene in which Aidan looks at an old family
All the group celebrates the love its members have found picture album and tells a friend about the happy
with songs in English and Italian on a train trip. old times when he and his family used to go to the
country or the beach on Sundays (page 1). Then they
Background and themes role play their scenes.
3 Discuss: Ask students: Do you think Aidan is really
Maeve Binchy’s novels are about ordinary people and satisfied with the arrangement he has made with Tony?
their relationships – people the reader can always identify Or is this a way he has found to feel not so bad for not
with. Her gift as a novelist lies in her warm portrayal having been given the job of Principal?
4 Research: Students search the Internet for
of characters and her ability to show that in every life,
information about the Department of Education in
however ordinary, lie drama, tragedy and hidden secrets. Ireland and share information about what it is and
Human relationships: In Evening Class, the new Italian what it does.
class becomes a catalyst in the lives of its participants, Chapter 2, pages 10–19
students and teachers alike, as they come together, Before reading
becoming absorbed in one another’s lives and experiencing 5 Guess: Ask students: In this chapter you’ll read about a
changing and growing relationships as their class love triangle in Italy. Do you think it will involve two
culminates in an unforgettable trip to Italy. women and a man or two men and a woman? What
makes you think so?

c Pearson Education Limited 2008 Evening Class - Teacher’s notes 2 of 3

 PENGUIN READERS
Teacher’s notes LEVEL 4 Teacher Support Programme

Evening Class
After reading After reading
6 Debate: Divide the class into two groups. Have them 16 Group work and discuss: Ask students: Connie’s
debate the following: Group A: It is Mario’s obligation mother tells her to make sure her husband gives her
to do what his family expects him to do if this is the money and to invest it to be safe in case something goes
tradition in his country. Group B: It is not Mario’s wrong. Is this good advice to give a daughter on the night
obligation to follow the traditions of his country. before her wedding? Groups share their ideas
A man has to follow his heart. 17 Role play: In groups, students role play the
7 Write: Ask students to imagine that Aidan keeps conversation Connie had with her children after she
a diary where he briefly records his life. In pairs, informed the police of her husband’s illegal actions.
students write his entry on the day he met Signora. 18 Write: Ask students to imagine that a journalist
interviews some clients of Mr Kane’s company after
Chapter 3, pages 19–26 Connie called the police. They interview Maggie and
Before reading Gus, who tell the journalist their story. Students write
8 Guess: Ask students: What do you expect the students of the article that the journalist published.
Italian to learn on their first class? Make a list and then
check. Chapter 7, pages 52–60
Before reading
After reading 19 Guess: Ask students: In this chapter you will read
9 Role play: Ask students: Imagine you are Bill’s friend; about a married woman who secretly sees a married
he tells you that he is about to borrow more money than man. Who do you think she is?
he should and why. What advice would you give him?
Students role play their conversation. After reading
10 Artwork and write: Tell students: The bank makes 20 Group work and discuss: Ask students: Suzi told
posters to inform their employees about job opportunities Fiona that she could not please everyone in life, so she
in European capital cities. Students make the posters had decided to please herself. Do you think this is a good
with information and requirements. idea? Groups share their ideas.
11 Discuss: Ask students: Do you think it was a good idea 21 Debate: Divide the class into two groups and have
to prepare Italian food for the students of Italian? In your them debate the following: When you know that
opinion, how important is learning about the culture of someone in a couple is seeing a third person, you should
the people whose language you are studying? not say or do anything. Half the class takes a position
for and half a position against the statement.
Chapter 4, pages 26–35 22 Role play: Students role play a conversation between
Before reading Dan and Nell after the party.
12 Guess and discuss: Ask students: Suzi falls in love
with a young man, who joins the Italian classes. He Chapters 8–12, pages 61–69
seems to make money too easily. What do you think Before reading
Signora will do? Would you do something if you were in 23 Guess: Ask students: Signora will receive an unexpected
her place? invitation in Italy. What do you think it will be?
After reading After reading
13 Pair work and discuss: Ask students: Do you think 24 Role play: Students role play a conversation between
love and the wish to start a family may make people Aidan and Nell after he returns from Rome.
better? Does Lou want a change because of Suzi, or 25 Write: Students write what each of the students of the
would he change anyway? Italian class wrote to Signora on the back of her copy
14 Artwork: Students make the ‘Buon Natale’ cards that of the photograph they had taken.
Lizzie and Bill, Suzie and Luigi, Signora and Aidan 26 Group work: In groups, students choose one of the
made for each other. songs that the group sang on the train and explain
their choice to the class.
Chapters 5– 6, pages 36–52
Before reading Vocabulary activities
15 Guess: Ask students: In the coming chapters you will For the Word List and vocabulary activities, go to
meet somebody who decides to use her money to rescue www.penguinreaders.com.
investors who have lost their money in her husband’s
company. What do you think happened to her when she
was a child that led her to think that this was the right
thing to do?

c Pearson Education Limited 2008 Evening Class - Teacher’s notes 3 of 3