Reading class questions (Part 1)

This week, my low-intermediate level reading class and I delve into the sea and explore the differences between real pirates of the 18th-century and movie-generated ideas of pirates.  I bring you today's class highlights:

While previewing a short reading text from National Geographic Reading Explorer
Me: Okay, let's turn to page 123.  Page 123. 1-2-3.  Who can read the title for me?  Yes, Student 1.
S1: Birds: Roams and Reality.
Me:  Birds?  Is that birds?
S1: No, purr-ates. (corrects himself) Pirates: Romance and Reality.
Me: Thank you.  Everyone - what is reality?
S2: Something that is...really.
Me:  Close.
S3:  No, real.
Me:  Yes, real. Something that is real.  And what is romance?
S4: Teacher! People from Italy.
Me: (confused expression)
S2: Like gladiator.  Fighting.
Me: (still confused, and then...) Oh, you mean Romans.  Okay, let's write this down. Romans (n) - people from Rome [in the past].  Romance (n) - story about...
S5:  Love!
Me:  Yes, love. And happy endings.  Romance (n) - story about love and happy endings.  Now listen for the difference: Romans.  RoMANCE.

While students are reading the short text independently
S6: Miss, what is buzz.
Me:  What is what? Buzz? Can you tell me which paragraph?
S6:  Paragraph 3.  Last word. B-O-O-Z-E.
Me:  Oh yes, booze. It's another word for alcohol (By the way, the word was glossed in the story. Regardless, I make a hand motion to indicate drinking.)
S6: Why can I not find booze in my dictionary?
Me: (small laughter) Well, it is not English for school.  It is like beer, wine, whiskey, etc.
S2:  Like champagne, right? (gives a wink)
Me: No, not like champagne.  Booze is cheap alcohol. (I give a small laugh.)
(Students murmur in Arabic about other drinks that might be considered 'booze.')