Unit One Learning a Language

A Language Teacher’s Personal Opinion

Text A

Unit One Text A:

1. Teaching Aims and Requirements

2. Teaching Focus

5. Abstract of the Text

4. Text organization

6. Text A: Detailed Reading

7. Summary of Text A

3.Cultual Background

1. Teaching Aims and Requirements

1. Teaching Aims and Requirements

A.Grasp the main idea and structure of the text.B. Master the key language points and grammatical structure in the text.C. Conduct a series of reading, listening, speaking and writing activities related to the theme if the unit.

2. Teaching Focus

a. Grammar Review:Modern verbs are a small group of verbs which are used with other verbs to change their meaning in some way.

1) Would 表示不真实或假设

“I would love to travel round the world if I had the time.”

2. Teaching Focus

2)Must 表肯定“Joe must be at least 45 years old”3)Might 表可能性

b.Word Collocation:Verbs+nounsChair a meetingAjective+nounsPrecise equivalent

3. Cultural Background

a. William Shakespeare

Plays of William Shakespeare

ComedyAll’s Well That Ends Well As You Like It The Comedy of Errors A Midsummer Night’s Dream HistoryHenry IV, Part 1 Henry IV, Part 2 Henry V Henry VI, Part 1 Henry VI, Part 2 TragedyKing Lear Macbeth Othello Romeo and Juliet

3. Cultural Background

b. Shakespeare Quiz: Test your knowledge of Shakespeare.1) When was Shakespeare born?

2) Who said “O, Romeo, Romeo, wherefore art thou Romeo”?

3) The line “To be or not to be” comes from which play?a) King Lear. b) Richard II. c) Julius Caesar. d) Hamlet.

4) Shakespeare was born in:a) Stratford. b) London. c) Venice. d) New York.

4. Text Organization:

Part One Paras 1-2

Part Two Paras 3-4

Part Three Paras 5-6

After reading each part, we’ll sum up the main idea.

Part One: Main Idea

Para 1-2:

The main idea of Part One:

It is natural for students to be attracted to methods that will teach them as quickly and efficiently and cheaply as possible. But it is difficult to learn English well in a short time

Part Two: Main Idea

Para 3-4:

A large number of theorists seem to think it is a pity we aren’t average animals, because it would make it easier to use their methods.

The main idea of Part Two:

Part Three: Main Idea

Para5- 6:

The main idea of Part Three:

The writer’s opinion, no one can ever learn to speak English or any other language unless he is interested in it.

5. Abstract of the Text

As English is becoming an international language and thus a useful tool for people in the world to communicate with one another, more and more people are learning English. And they naturally hope that they can become competent users of this language within the shortest possible time. But are there easier, quicker ways to master English? Read the following essay and see what a language teacher has to say.

6. Text A : Detaied ReadingA Language Teacher’s Personal Opinion

Will Pidcroft

Every day I see advertisements in the newspapers and on the buses claiming that it is easy to learn English. According to these advertisements, with very little effort on the student’s part, he will be able to speak the language fluently in three months or even ten days. There is often a reference to William Shakespeare or Charles Dickens to encourage him even more. When I see advertisements like this, I don’t know whether to laugh or cry. If it were as easy to learn English as they say, I would have to look for another job, because very few qualified teachers would be needed. But a large number of people must believe these ridiculous claims, or else the advertisements would not appear.

It is natural for students to be attracted to methods that will teach them as quickly and efficiently and cheaply as possible. But it is difficult for anyone to explain in simple language why one method is better than another, and it is no use pretending that anyone has discovered a perfect way of teaching English in every possible situation. Some experts even argue that there are as many good methods of teaching a language as there are good teachers, because every teacher is an individual with his own personality. No doubt this is true to a certain extent, but it is not very helpful to students.

For a long time people believed that the only way to learn a language was to spend a great deal of time in a country where it was spoken. Of course it is clear that students who go to

Text A: Detailed Reading:

Text A: Detailed Reading:

England, America, or Australia to learn English have a great advantage over others, but a large number of students cannot afford to do so. Some students go to the opposite extreme and think they can teach themselves at home with dictionaries. But it is wrong to assume that each word in English has a precise equivalent in another language and vice versa, and it is impossible for any translation method to provide students with the natural forms of a language in speech, let alone produce good pronunciation and intonation.

A great deal of teaching is still based on behaviorist psychology. Behaviorists are fond of making students repeat phrases and making them do exercises where they continually have to change one word in a sentence. If we were parrots or chimpanzees, these methods might be successful. A large number of theorists seem to think it is a pity we aren’t, because it would make it easier to use their methods.

Text A: Detailed Reading:

In my personal opinion, no one can ever learn to speak English or any other language unless he is interested in it. Human beings, unlike parrots and chimpanzees, do not like making noises unless they understand what the noises mean and can relate them to their own lives. It is worth remembering that language is a means of communication.

What people want to say and write in another language is probably very similar to what they want to say and write in their own. What they listen to and read cannot be a formula. It must be real.

There is another relevant point worth mentioning here. We need other people to talk to and listen to when we communicate. If what we are learning is strange to us, it will be helpful if there are other students around us who can work with us and practise the unfamiliar forms with us in real situations, talking to each other about real life in real language.

Words and Expressions:

advertisement: n.a picture, short film, song, etc. which tries to persuade people to buy a product or service

a television/newspaper advertisement for a new car

They put an advertisement in The Morning News, offering a high salary for the right person.

Collocationanswer an advertisement 应广告之聘put an advertisement in/on 在……做广告run an advertisement 做广告buy things from/in advertisements 购买广告上宣传的商品

Words and Expressions:

claim:

1. vt. state that sth. is true, even though it has not been proved

The company claims that their product “makes you thin without dieting”.

2. n. a statement that sth. is true, even though it has not been proved

她对这块土地产权提出的要求最终得到法庭的认可。

Her claim to the ownership of the land was finally recognized by the court.

Words and Expressions:

on one’s part:

of or by someone

There has never been any jealousy on my part.

It was probably just a mistake on her part.

Words and Expressions:

There is often a reference to William Shakespeare or Charles Dickens to encourage him even more.

1. Who are “William Shakespeare” and “Charles Dickens”?

2. Why are they mentioned in the advertisements?

Shakespeare is the world’s most popular playwright while Dickens is the greatest English novelist of the 19th century.

The people who run the advertisements just want to use quotations to support their points.

Words and Expressions:

If it were as easy to learn English as they say, I would have to look for another job, because very few qualified teachers would be needed.

What is the author’s profession?

He must be an English teacher whose job is to train qualified English teachers.

Words and Expressions:

efficiently: adv. efficient: adj. working well, quickly, and without wasteeffective &efficient这两个形容词均有“有效的”之意。efficient 指积极有效，效率高，效果好，节省精力。指人时，强调其能 干、熟练的技巧。effective 强调产生实际的效果、效力或具有取得预期效果的能力，指人指 物都适用。

Directions: Fill in the blanks with the words above. Change the form where necessary.1. The local government has taken some measures to reduce unemployment.2. We need someone really who can organize the office and make it run smoothly.3. The city’s transport system is one of the most in Europe.4. An teacher will always produce better exam results.

Words and Expressions:

…, and it is no use pretending that anyone has discovered a perfect way of teaching English in every possible situation.

1. What are the meaning and the usage of the phrase “it is no use …”?

1) The phrase means “it has no effect …”.2) Whenever we use this phrase we should always use the V- ing form after it.

It’s no use complaining.It’s no use crying over spilt milk, — he’s spent all the money, and there’s nothing you can do about it.

More examples:

Words and Expressions:

individual:

1. n. a single person or thing, especially when compared to the group or set to which they belong

Every individual has rights which must never be taken away.

2. adj. 1) single; separate

Each individual person is responsible for his own arrangements.

Words and Expressions:

have an advantage (over): have sth. that helps one to be more successful than others

Her experience meant that she had a big advantage over her opponent.

People who have been to university have a big advantage when it comes to finding jobs.

Words and Expressions:

Some students go to the opposite extreme and think they can teach themselves at home with dictionaries.

What can we infer from the phrase “go to the opposite extreme”?

From this phrase, we can see that the author doesn’t think learning English by using dictionaries only is a good method, either.

Words and expressions

vice versa: used to state that it is also true with the main items in the preceding statement the other way round

He doesn’t trust her, and vice versa.

男孩也许会拒绝与女孩一起玩，女孩也一样。

The boys may refuse to play with the girls, and vice versa.

Words and Expressions:

let alone: not to mention; much less

We have no hospital, let alone an isolation ward.

He hasn’t enough money for food, let alone amusements.

Words and Expressions:

continually: adv. without stopping; repeatedly

We are continually reassessing the situation.

NB: 注意该词的词性变化，它的形容词形式与名词形式分别为： continual 和 continuation 。CF: continual, continuous, successive & constant

continual

successivecontinuous

constant

这些形容词均有“连续的”、“不断的”之意。 强调重复或持续发生，但连续之间允许有间断。 语意最强，强调在时间和空间上没有间断。 强调事物一个接一个地发生，无间断。 多指习惯性的重复和不变的持续。

Words and Expressions:

If we were parrots or chimpanzees, these methods might be successful.

What can we infer from the sentence?

The author uses subjunctive mood here to show he disagrees with behaviorists.

Words and Expressions:

If we were parrots or chimpanzees, these methods might be successful.

What can we infer from the sentence?

The author uses subjunctive mood here to show he disagrees with behaviorists.

Words and Expressions:

What they listen to and read cannot be a formula.

Translate the sentence into Chinese.

人们所听所读的不应该是程式化的东西。

7. Summary of Text A

Ⅰ.Important Vocabularies For Drill

1. Many scientists the new damage to the forests to be the result of higher levels of pollution. 2. I didn’t see your car, so I you’d gone out.3. We have no reason to that the girl is dead.

_________

______________

1.assume, presume , suppose

Key:1.Presume 2.assume, 3.suppose

7. Summary of Text A

Ⅰ.Important Vocabularies For Drill2.Continuous ,constant,successive,continual

Key:1.constant 2continual, 3.continuous 4.successive

1. The refrigerator keeps food at a _______ temperature. 2. The people in the city suffered a lot from the two weeks of ______ rain. 3. Is this a_______flight, or do we stop off anywhere?4. My computer makes a_______low buzzing noise. 5. The school has won five_______games.

7. Summary of Text A

Ⅰ.Important Vocabularies For Drill

3. Synonyms Directions: Match the words in the left column with the words in the right column which have the same meanings.

1.Personal

2.ridiculous

3.efficient

4.Personalities

5.equivalent

6.relevant

7. Summary of Text A

Ⅰ.Important Vocabularies For Drill

3. Synonyms Directions: Match the words in the left column with the words in the right column which have the same meanings.

Keys:1.private 2.absurd 3. competent

4 character. 5equal. 6.related

7. Summary of Text A

Ⅱ.Exercises for Important Grammatical Points1. — But for the bird flu in Vietnam in the summer of 2004 ， I ___

___ you to go to Vietnam for sightseeing.

— Really ？ What a pity ！

A. have taken B. had taken

C. should have taken D. would have taken

2. His English teacher recommends that he __a regular degree program.

A. begins B. begin C. will begin D. is beginning

3. — Some American and British soldiers abused the war prisoners in Iraq. — I think it’s necessary that they ___seriously according to the international law.

A. punish B. be punished

C. must be punished D. will be punished

7. Summary of Text A

Ⅱ.Exercises for Important Grammatical Points4. What do you think of his proposal that improvements ___ in th

e old type of heater ？

A. be made B. will be made

B. C. would be made D. will have to be made

5. If we had been more careful ， we ___much better results now.

A. got B. had got

B. C. would be getting D. would have got

7. Summary of Text A

Ⅱ.Keys for Exercises1. D. 首先这一题 should have done 表示本应该做却没有作，又懊

悔的意思，而选项 D 表示过去没有做某事

2. B. 只要是 recomme 引导的并与从句后面都用虚拟语气 ， should do （这里的 should 还可以省略）

3. B.It’s + necessary 后面引导的从句需要用虚拟，这里可以写成 should be punished （ should 可以省略）

4. A. 这一题中前面有 proposal ，后面如果跟从句的话也是虚拟， should 可以省略，直接 be + 动词

5. C. 一般情况下虚拟语气还有混合条件虚拟语气，虽然是对过去的假设，但是主句用得却是现在事态，因为后面有一个 now