Unit 1 School life
单元规划
内容预览
School life is the theme of this unit. The purposes of this unit are to learn about school life in the UK, to identify the differences between school life in the UK and in China, to enlarge the vocabulary about school facilities, and to recognize attributive clauses, including designing a poster for a new school club. In Welcome to the unit, the students will be presented with four different aspects of school life in the UK and are asked to compare the differences between high schools in the UK and in China. The Reading text deals with an article from a school magazine, which gives us specific information about what school life in the UK is really like. Word Power focuses on words and phrases related to school facilities, with relevant exercises to strengthen the students’ ability to use these phrases. In Grammar and Usage, the students will learn what an attributive clause is and what relative pronouns and relative adverbs function as in this clause. They will learn in what circumstances that, which, who, whom or whose are used. Following is the Task section dealing with reporting school activities, in which students will practice the language skills of listening, speaking, reading, and writing. They will learn how to talk about school activities and write a notice about one of them. In the Project section, students will be asked to read two texts about school clubs and design an attractive poster for a new school club. In the self-assessment section, the students are supposed to rank their confidence level on different skills with the help of the chart on page 20 first, and then they can make plans to improve some parts, with which they have some difficulty. If possible, the students can turn to the teacher or their classmates for help.
This unit not only provides a chance for students to get an idea of school life in the UK and asks them to identify the differences between school life and in the UK and in China, but also intends to teach the students the two of the basic reading skills, skimming and scanning, which are important to improve the students’ reading ability. This unit will practice topic-related skills. Students are expected to participate fully, in order to develop both their language skills and overall abilities. Also this unit enables students to compare different information given to them and choose useful information needed, and lastly, to make correct decisions. They are expected to apply what they have learnt to practical use by designing a poster for a new school club. A series of activities are designed to develop the students’ listening, speaking, reading and writing abilities, together with the purpose of getting the students to learn to be cooperative and helpful when taking part in class-activities.
三维目标
1. To introduce and develop the theme of school life.
2. To identify the differences between school life in different countries.
3. To develop the reading skills of skimming and scanning.
4. To learn some words about school facilities.
5. To learn about attributive clauses and how to use relative pronouns.
6. To develop listening, speaking, reading and writing by completing a task and a project.
7. To form a positive attitude in a new and challenging situation.
8. To learn to be cooperative and helpful when working together.
课时安排
Period 1 Welcome to the unit
Period 2 Reading
Period 3 Word Power
Periods 4-5 Grammar and usage
Periods 6-7 Task
Periods 8-9 Project(Starting a new school club)
Period 1 Welcome to the unit
教学设计一
整体设计
教材分析
In this section, the students will be asked to talk about their junior school life, which they have experienced and the high school life they are facing, as well as the differences about school life in different countries, with the purposes of enriching students’ imagination and improving the students’ speaking ability.
School life is the topic of the unit, which is a proper subject for students who just enter high school from junior school. At the beginning of the term, the students in senior one may feel very curious about the fresh school environment. High school is a time that will be treasured and kept in our memories forever. Therefore, it is a good chance for the teacher to lead in this topic. First of all, teachers can let the students recall their junior life, and ask what high school life they think will be like. The teacher can encourage them to show their opinions about the differences between high school and junior school. Later, the teacher can take different measures to enable them to compare school life in the United Kingdom with school life in China. In this section, four pictures and texts representing school life in the UK are given. Each text gives a brief description of the subject. The teacher can divide the students into groups to discuss the four topics: school buildings; school facilities; class teaching and the number of students in each class; the relationship between teachers and students. There are also some questions presented to cause the students to consider further, such as,
What kind of school activities do you enjoy?
What is your dream school life like?
What is your favorite subject?
Among all the subjects we are learning now, which do you like least? Why?
What do you think we can do with the subjects we don’t like?
Students are to fully participate in the discussion and brainstorm by combining what they have already known about the high schools in the UK with the help of the information in the text. The related topics and activities are designed to grab and attract students’ attention by involving their full participation. Students are expected to be active in the discussion, practice their spoken English and express their opinions by comparing and discussing the differences between school life in the UK and in China. The purpose of this period is to give the students some impression of the school life in the UK and inform the Ss of the differences between schools in China and the UK as well as the differences between high school life and junior school life, and to enlarge the students’ knowledge and make them know the importance of school life in one’s life.
三维目标
1. To introduce and develop the theme of school life, especially to get the students to know of differences between high school life and junior school life as well as to identify the differences between school life in different countries.
2. To help the students enlarge their vocabulary, especially those related to the topic.
3. To develop listening and speaking by talking about life in the new school.
4. To enable the students to know how to compare.
5. To learn to be cooperative and helpful when working together.
重点难点
1. To find out the differences of their life between senior high and junior high.
2. To learn something about the high school life in the UK.
3. To encourage the students to talk about their former school life and about their dream school life.
4. To know how to get on well with high school life/study.
5. To ensure every student to have a chance to express himself/herself.
教学方法
1. Discussion in pairs or in groups.
2. Task-based in-class activities.
3. Explanations of some language points.
教具准备
A tape recorder and the multimedia.
课前准备
1. The topics we are going to deal with in our next periods are not only very interesting and attractive, but also a bit challenging as well. Ask the students to prepare for a free-talk for about two or three minutes. They can introduce themselves to their classmates or say something about their junior middle school life, or even make a plan for their high school life. This will help all the students to take part in in-class activities and help them adapt to high school life quickly.
2. Encourage the students to prepare for the following topics. It is best for all of us to make preparations first, either by searching for information on the Internet or looking through background information in some books and so on. They can also be divided into several groups to get some information about high school life in different countries as they like.
3. Prepare the following questions in advance.
Questions:
1)Do you know of any differences between the lives of Chinese and British high school students?
2)What differences exist between high school life and junior school life?
3)What is your dream school life like?
4)What should we prepare for the new high school life in order to succeed?
5)What can you find in these four pictures?
6)How do you find school life in Britain?
7)What do you want to know by learning this unit?
4. Ask the students to read the following passage to help them know something about high school.
High School
High school sounds like a scary time for everybody. But when you really get to high school, it doesn’t seem that bad.
What high school is like
High school is a lot like middle school. Of course you might get lost the first few days looking for your classes. But after a while, you learn that what seemed like a large school really isn’t.
One thing that is really cool about high school is that there are more classes to choose from, Some are even unavailable in middle school like photography or psychology. If you happen to like art, there are many art classes. So there are many things that are new in high school, but often, it’s these new things that make high school so much better.
What to look for in high school
In high school, some things are really similar to those of middle school, while new opportunities occur as well. There are more clubs, sports and other activities you can join in.
The activities you join in can help you make new friends who have the same interests as you. These activities also give you a chance to learn something you might not have had the opportunity to learn before.
What to expect in high school
The high school experience is different for everyone-depending on what classes you take or what clubs you decide to join in. But there is one thing that is certain. More than likely, you are going to have just as much fun in high school as you did in middle school. And if middle school wasn’t that great for you, high school is a chance to make up for it.
High school isn’t just fun, though. At the same time, you are growing up and have to be responsible. Teachers aren’t going to chase you down to do your homework or beg you to complete all your tests.
Everything changes when you get older. The changes between high school and middle school aren’t that bad. So you shouldn’t worry about it.
教学过程
→Step 1 Greetings and self-introduction
Activity 1 Greetings
Teachers can have a short talk to welcome them to the senior high English class. Teachers may start like the following: “It’s the beginning of a new term. You have just finished junior school study and are about to enter a new period in your studies. I am very happy to have all of you in my class and I hope we can be friends. ”
This is the first semester of the high school and most students are not familiar with each other, so it is necessary for them to introduce themselves to know about each other. Students may feel nervous to speak English in public, especially to the strangers. In order to encourage the students to make a self-introduction, teachers had better introduce themselves, and ask them to take it easy. Let the students know it doesn’t matter even if they may make mistakes, because it is hard for people to avoid making mistakes when speaking. After one student finishes his or her free-talk, other students or teachers can ask him or her some questions. If students are nervous to introduce themselves, teachers can ask them some questions to help them to express herself or himself. Teachers may use such questions as the following:
Q1: What’s your name please?
Q2: Which school did you graduate from? /Which school are you from?
Q3: Do you have any hobbies?
Q4: How do you often spend your spare time?
Q5: What subjects did you study when you were in your junior school?
Q6: Which subject do you like best? Why?
Q7: Who is your favorite teacher? Why do you like her or him?
Q8: What kind of school life did you dislike in your junior school? Why?
. . .
Activity 2 Talking
Then the teacher can ask the students to talk about high school life in their mind. High school time is very important and it is often considered as golden time in our life. However, some of them may feel nervous and uncomfortable when they first come here. Teachers may ask the following questions:
1. What difficulties have you had since you came to this high school?
2. What do you think you can do to overcome these difficulties?
3. If you have difficulty, who do you think you can turn to for help first? why?
Activity 3 Listening
Listen to dialogues and find out where the dialogues may take place and what has happened. Meanwhile, ask the students to pay attention to how to start a conversation and how to ask the way.
Sample answers: This dialogue may take place on the street. A person lost his way.
Activity 4 Speaking
Teachers may start this part like this: Just now, we listened and knew he lost his way. He asked the way for help. Such things also often happen to us. When you came to our campus on the first day, you might be lost. You didn’t know how to get to your destination. Then you had to ask the way. Please discuss the following questions:
1. What is the best way to get someone’s attention when you need help to find the way?
2. What should you do if you have difficulty in following the speaker?
3. Which expressions can be used to ask the way?
After their discussion, teachers should offer them chances to show their opinions. The answers are various, not fixed.
Sample answers:
1. The best way is to say ‘Excuse me’ first. This expression can be used regardless of sex and age. In this way you will never make a mistake about their titles.
2. You can repeat the key words you think you heard like ‘three blocks’. In this way, the speaker will realize that he has been speaking too fast and will probably slow down for you.
3.
Role A
Role B
Excuse me. Would you like to tell me how to get to. . . ?
Could you tell me the way to. . . ?
How long will it take to get to. . . ?
How far is it from. . . to. . . ?
What’s the best way to get to. . . ?
What is the school’s address?
Could you tell me where there is. . . ?
How many miles is it to the nearest. . . ?
Does this bus go to. . . ?
Please tell me which bus should I take for. . . ?
Hello, I can’t find my way back to. . . Can you give me a hand?
It is a long walk.
To take a left turn.
Go down. . .
A ten-minute walk.
A four-hour drive.
Keep straight on till you come to. . . and you will see it.
Turn left/right at the traffic lights there.
Walk back to the corner.
Take a No. 1 bus to the end of. . .
You can catch the subway just across the street.
You will have to change buses at least twice.
. . . is in the southwest/northwest. . . of the city.
Then ask the students to imitate the dialogue they heard and use the expressions mentioned above to make a dialogue with their partners to share their experiences, which they have had, especially the difficulties they had in finding out the way when they just came to this high school. In order to help them make a successful dialogue, teachers first introduce some school facilities, such as, library, car park, classroom, lecture hall, art room, science laboratory, stores, offices, garden, swimming pool, dormitories, medical center, gym, canteen, classroom.
In order to help the students practice their speaking ability about how to ask for help, teachers should prepare some situations to help the students to make a proper dialogue in advance.
Suppose students may have met the following puzzling problems.
1)On the first day, you suddenly felt sick and wanted to see a doctor. But you did not know how to get to the school medical center.
2)If you were to buy food in the school canteen, you didn’t know where the school canteen was and you got lost.
3)You found your golden watch lost, and you felt very worried, so you wanted to go to the school Lost and Found Office and look for a lost watch.
4)Fix a date with your teacher for a face-to-face talk about one of your problems.
Teachers should give the students some minutes to prepare for it. If they have some difficulty, teachers will help them smooth them away. After some minutes, encourage the students to act out their dialogues.
→Step 2 Presentation
Activity 1 Brainstorming
According to the given passage titled “High School” and their opinions on high school, ask them to present any expression on it. Teachers may ask the following question: “When we are talking about our school life, what will we probably think of? ”.
Try to encourage all of them to be active in this activity, and teachers had better write down some wonderful expressions on the blackboard. Or draw the picture as the following.
It is also a good time for teachers to help the students to form the right views on school life.
Activity 2 Discussion
After the students show their understanding about high school, teachers can ask them to tell the differences between school lives between junior schools and high schools.
After the students show their opinions on the differences between school lives in junior schools and high schools. Teachers may start like this: As we all know, there are differences in school lives between junior schools and high schools. So there must be differences in different cultures. Some of us must be eager to know what the school life in other countries is like. For example, we have studied English for three or more years, what is the UK school life like? How different is it from that in China? You know, there are many famous schools and universities in the UK. Today, we will pick up this subject.
1. What have you known about schools in the UK?
2. If you were offered a chance to study in the UK, would you like to attend school there? Why or why not?
Teachers should give the students enough time to consider and discuss these questions, and then encourage them to share their opinions with others.
Activity 3 Talking about the pictures
After the discussion, students have already known something about the differences in school life between junior schools and high schools. At that time, ask them to talk about the pictures on page 1. Teachers may ask in this way:
Look at the pictures, what can you learn from them?
Which picture leaves the deepest impression on you? Why do you appreciate it the most?
Later, ask the students to express her/his opinion. The following is for reference.
In picture 1, we can see very low-rise houses and huge campus. They are very different from those in China. In China, students usually have large buildings and campus to make sure students have enough space to study in and play in.
In picture 2, we can see lockers for every student. In China, students don’t have lockers.
In picture 3, we can see a larger classroom with fewer students in it. The students sit in two lines face to face. There is a narrow passage between the two lines. The students are putting up their hands eagerly. Maybe they are answering the teacher’s questions. This is quite different from that of China. Students always have a full classroom with students sitting in several lines facing a blackboard. And in most cases, students are not so eager to answer the teachers’ questions.
In picture 4, two students are discussing something with their teacher. They look quite at ease with their teacher as if they were staying with their friends. In China, it is quite different. Children or students often feel embarrassed when they are with their teachers.
Activity 4 Comparison—Group work
Students may have gained more knowledge about school life in the UK by talking about the pictures, so they can make a comparison about school life in the UK and China. Teachers may start this part like this:
We have studied the four pictures about schools in the UK. Now, discuss with your group members about the following question: What’s the difference in schools between China and the UK? Then draw some conclusions to complete the following form.
Aspects
Schools in the UK
Schools in China
campus and buildings
facilities
size of every class
relationship between teachers and students
some other aspects you know
After discussion, let the students exchange their opinions with other groups. Teachers can offer some answers to students for referring.
Aspects
Schools in the UK
Schools in China
campus and buildings
Students can see huge campus and low-rise buildings.
It is the biggest difference from schools in China.
Schools in China usually have a large enough campus to make sure students have enough space to study and play in.
But most school buildings are taller, at least three storeys.
facilities
There are rows of lockers by the classrooms for students to put their stationary, books, exercise books and other belongings.
Students bring what they need for lessons to school and then take it all back home after school. Most schools in China do not have the equipment in the classroom.
size of every class
There are fewer students in a class, no more than 30 per class.
There are usually more students in high school, perhaps 40 to 50 per class. Recently some school are beginning to limit the number of students in each class.
relationship between teachers and students
Students have a close relationship with their teachers. They feel at ease and comfortable with them.
It is similar in China. Nowadays, lots of teachers and students have established a good relationship with each other. They respect each other and work to gain a better understanding of each other.
some other aspects you know
Students in the UK can choose whatever subjects they like or drop ones they are not interested in; they are graded A, B, C, D for every subject they choose rather than 100 points.
In China, students have to learn the subjects required for all the high school students. They are not free to drop subjects even though they hate learning at all. They are scored according to the fixed points, such as 100, 120 and 150.
→Step 3 Discussion
First, organize the students into pairs or small groups. Get the students to discuss the following questions:
1. What is your dream school life like?
2. What kind of school activities do you enjoy?
3. What do you think of your life here in the new school?
During the time of discussion, teachers had better take part in the students’ discussion and offer them some language help if necessary. Then, get small groups to report their conclusions to the whole class.
→Step 4 Activity (show)
Ask the students to describe a good teacher in their mind, and make a vivid description about a good student in their view, together with the ideal relationship between teachers and students. Teachers can ask some questions, for example:
1. What kind of teachers do you like best in your mind? What characters does a good teacher should have in your opinion?
2. In your opinion, what kind of students can be regarded as good students?
3. What relationship between teachers and students should we have?
In order to encourage the students to consider these questions deeply, teachers are advised to give students enough time to discuss with their group members fully. During practicing it, teachers are also advised to organize a competition to arouse students’ interest. If possible, students can draw pictures to express their thoughts.
Sample answers:
To question 1:
S: I hope my teachers can have a strong sense of humor.
S: If teachers can treat every student equally, I think we will all love them.
S: We hope we can learn a lot of knowledge from teachers, so I think teachers who are learned must be very popular among us.
To question 2:
S: But I think a good student must be clever, open-minded and are ready to help others.
S: First of all, a good student must be competitive and civilized.
S: He or she should have good manners.
To question 3:
S: I think it is necessary to understand each other between teachers and students.
S: Cooperation can help to build a good relationship between teachers and students.
S: Teachers should be respected, while students are also respected. Respect is an important element for good relationship between teachers and students.
_____________
After discussing these questions, teachers are to continue to let the students consider the following question:
Many people think high school life is such an important period in our life. Do you know why?
Encourage the students to show their different opinions. Later, teachers can draw a conclusion, that is, high school life is a bridge to success. And then, students are grouped to discuss this question:
What can help us to succeed in our high school life?
Suggested answers:
S: Determination can help us succeed.
S: Confidence leads to success.
S: We should work hard, which leads to success.
S: I think team work can help us succeed.
S: Perseverance is important for success.
S: Competence plays an important part in success.
S: Wisdom and intelligence lead to success.
Teachers can also draw a picture to show the keys to success according to what students say.
→Step 5 Language points
It’s time to deal with language points in this part. Teachers can ask the students to deal with these language points by looking them up in the dictionary or explain to them in an interesting way.
1. look at the pictures below. (作后置定语)
看下面的图片。
Standing on top of the hill, we found the city below very beautiful.
站在山顶上, 我们发现下面的城市非常美丽。
Write down eight key words that you expect to find in the reading passage below.
写下在下文中你预计会出现的8个关键词。
Note: 常见作后置定语的副词有home, here, there, back, above, downstairs, upstairs等。
He was knocked down by a car on his way home.
他在回家的路上被车撞了。
The air here is very fresh.
这里的空气很新鲜。
The books here are all for you.
这里的书都是给你的。
The people there are very friendly.
那里的人非常友好。
The child was lost in the forest and couldn’t find the way back.
那个孩子在树林里迷路了, 找不到回家的路。
When do you think the inventions in the pictures above were made?
你认为上面图片里的物体是什么时候发明的?
The man downstairs got home very late that night.
楼下的那个人晚上回来的很晚。
2. High school is a time of discovery, learning and hard work.
中学是一个探索、学习和刻苦努力的时期。
in ancient times 在古代 in modern times 在现代
in Shakespeare’s time 在莎士比亚时代
at the same time 同时during the wartime 在战时阶段
at no time=by no means 决不
once upon a time 很久以前
How time flies! (谚)光阴似箭; 日月如梭。
in no time立刻; 马上(right away; at once; immediately)
at times 时而不时地 (from time to time; now and then; sometimes; occasionally)
Don’t speak at a time.
不要一起说。
At one time (=in the past), he came to my house every day.
以前，他每天都到我家来。
It’s the first time that I _____________(be) in Huai’an.
这是我第一次来淮安。
It’s time for you to go to school now. It’s time that you________ __________ _________now.
现在你该去上学了。
当我第一次坐飞机旅行时, 我感觉到有点头晕。
When I traveled by plane________________________________, I felt a little bit dizzy.
→________________________________ I traveled by plane, I felt a little bit dizzy.
Suggested answers:
It’s the first time that I have been in Huai’an.
It’s time that you went to school now.
When I traveled by plane for the first time, I felt a little bit dizzy.
The first time I traveled by plane, I felt a little bit dizzy.
3. Do you know of any other differences between the lives of Chinese and British high school students? 你知道中国的高中生和英国的高中生之间还有些其他方面的不同吗?
1)know of 知道, 熟悉; 了解, 相当于know about。
know 认识
I happened to know about him. 我碰巧了解他。
I know of a shop where you can get things like that.
我熟悉你能买到像那样东西的商店。
I don’t_____________ the writer, but I_____________ him.
A. knows of; know
B. know; know of
C. know; learn
D. learn; know of
Suggested answer: B
2)difference n.
(1)不同; 差别; 差异
The differences between manual labour and mental labour are diminishing in some developed countries.
在一些发达国家体力劳动和脑力劳动的差别正在缩小。
There are many differences between living in a big city and living in the country.
生活在大城市与生活在乡村有许多不同之处。
(2)差额; 差; 差距
I can’t see much difference in them.
我看不出他们有什么大的差别。
The difference between 8 and 2 is 6.
八和二差是六。
make a difference 有影响, 很重要
tell the difference between A and B 区别A与B的不同
拓展: differ from. . . 与……不同 differ in. . . 在……方面不同
Am. English differs mainly from (=is different from) Br. English in three aspects.
differ from/with sb. on/about/upon sth. 在……方面与……意见不同
Eskimo’s life differs in many ways from ours.
爱斯基摩人的生活在很多方面与我们不同。
In what ways are bananas different from oranges?
香蕉和橘子在哪些方面不同?
The normal life of plants differs widely.
植物的正常生活差异很大。
4. What is your dream school life like? (P1)你理想的学校生活是什么样的?
1)—What is Tom like?
—He is handsome and kind.
2)—What does Tom look like?
—He is handsome, just like Figo.
3)—How does Tom like the film? (=What does Tom think of/like about the film? )
—Interesting!
5. At ease with our teacher
1)ease n.
(1)舒适; 悠闲
a life of ease 舒适的生活
(2)容易, 不费力
to jump over with ease 很容易跳过去
He passed the examination with ease.
她轻松地通过了考试。
He writes with ease.
他笔墨流畅。
2)ease vt. &vi. (eased, easing)减轻(痛苦、负担) (与off, up连用)减轻; 缓和
The medicine eased the pain. 这种药镇疼。
The doctor gave him some painkillers to ease the pain.
医生给了他一些止疼片以减缓疼痛。
Take this drug; it will ease your pain.
把这药吃下去, 它会帮你镇痛。
The pain has eased off.
疼痛已减轻。
at ease表示“随便, 不拘束”。
Her boyfriend was not at ease seeing her parents.
ill at ease 不安, 感到拘束
The boy felt_____________when the headmaster spoke to him.
A. with easeB. at ease
C. ill at easeD. easily
Suggested answer: C
After learning about the language points, teachers can arrange some activities to test how much the students have understood. For example, the teacher can ask students to make up a story, which contains those language points mentioned above. If it is difficult for some students, they can make some sentences using those language points.
→Step 6 Summary
Today we have a good beginning: we have introduced ourselves to each other, and known about the differences between the life of Chinese and British high school students. We also give a brief description of our dream school life. In the end, we not only discuss the relationship between teachers and students but also explore the ways to success. I hope we will get on very well and all of you will enjoy yourselves during the high school, and you will be on the way to becoming a college student.
→Step 7 Homework
1. How much do you know about the school and school life in the UK? Try to surf the net, go to the library or interview foreign students to get more information.
2. Make a plan of your studies in the coming years and make a list of goals that you want to achieve in the coming three years.
3. Write a short letter to Mr. Principal and tell him what your dream school life is like? (at least 5 sentences)
Dear Mr. Principal,
As a new student, I really enjoy being here in this school.
_______________________________________________
_______________________________________________
_______________________________________________
_______________________________________________
_______________________________________________
_______________________________________________
Yours truly,
×××
板书设计
Unit 1 School life
Brainstorming:
Comparison: life in junior school and in high school
school life in the UK and in China
Discussion: school life in your dream; relationship between teachers and students
Exploration: ways to success
精彩片断
T: So far you have met a number of teachers. You may love and never forget some of them, while some teachers may fail to gain your respect and love. Would you please discuss the following questions?
1. Which teachers do you like best in your mind?
2. What characters does a good teacher should have in your opinion?
3. In your opinion, what kind of students can be regarded as good students?
4. What relationship between teachers and students should we have?
教学设计二
整体设计
教材分析
This period is the initial period of this unit called Welcome to the unit. There are several pictures about high school life on page 1. It is intended for the students who are new to high school. As a result, they will be interested in the topic.
Besides the pictures, there are also some topics about school life, which can arose the students’ interests in these topics.
Since the students are new comers, they are not so familiar with high school life, teachers in the school and maybe even English. Thus, this is a good chance to try to get along well with them and help them somewhat overcome the fears against high school life.
Apart from the pictures and topics on page 1, something else about high school life both in China and abroad should be introduced to the students so that they will adapt themselves to school life as soon as possible. This step can be achieved by means of discussing or surfing the net and reporting.
Meanwhile, different in-class activities should be well organized for all the students to take part in according to the content of the listening and speaking. And the students should be encouraged to take part in different activities of pair work or group work. They should learn to enjoy team-work.
三维目标
1. Talk about high school life and school activities both in China and in the UK.
2. Help the students to realize the differences between high school life and middle school life.
3. Help the students to adapt themselves to high school life as soon as possible.
重点难点
Help the students to be able to talk freely in English and not to be shy of presenting themselves in public.
教学方法
1. Discussion in pairs or in groups.
2. Task-based in-class activities.
Since this is the initial period of the unit and the students are encouraged to talk as much as possible, so the main content of this period is to talk and discuss in different groups and pairs. If possible, some more information can be added to the period with the help of multi-media.
教具准备
A multimedia classroom.
课前准备
1. Ask the students to prepare for a free-talk for about two or three minutes. They can introduce themselves to their classmates or say something about their junior middle school life, or even make a plan for their high school life. This will help all the students to take part in in-class activities and help them adapt to high school life quickly. If some students really have some difficulty in doing this, the teacher can help them to prepare for it before class.
2. Encourage the students to go to the library or surf the Internet to get some information about school life and school activities. They are supposed to do that in groups and prepare a report so as to be able to present it to the class.
教学过程
→Step 1 Greetings and self-introduction
This is the first semester of the high school and most students are not familiar with each other, so self-introduction is necessary for them to get to know about each other. Encourage the students to volunteer to go to the front of the classroom to make a self-introduction or describe part of their junior middle school life and make a plan for their high school life.
Students are now at school for the first week. They are not so familiar with high school life. This step is to let the students get used to English and encourage them to open their mouths to speak English.
→Step 2 Lead in
At the beginning of the class, ask the students the following questions:
How do you like our school?
What is our school like?
What happened on the first day when you came to our school?
What left you with the deepest impression the first day you came to our school?
Show some pictures of the school if possible, as pictures can help the students become interested in this school.
Brainstorming
The teacher can ask:
What do you think school life is made up of?
One sample answer:
In my opinion, school life is made up of “joy, laughter, hard work, excitement, challenge, sorrow, failure, encouragement, tears, dreams and successes”.
This period will help the students think of something good and bad at school and meanwhile, this step will help them recall some words about the school they have learned before.
→Step 3 Welcome to the unit
Divide the students into four groups and discuss the four pictures on page 1. Let the students describe what they can see in each picture in groups of four. After three minutes, ask one student of each group to report what they talk about.
Some possible answers:
Picture one
We can see a wide playground and some low-rise buildings in the picture. From it we can see that the campus is a huge one, and it is larger than the normal high schools in cities of China. But the buildings there are lower than those of China. Maybe most of them have only one or two floors. We think that it is because in China we have a large population, so the local government cannot afford to provide as large an area as that in the UK for each high school.
From our points of view, larger schools are better for the school activities of our students than the crowded ones.
Picture two
We can see a lot of lockers in the picture as we often notice in the movies about school life in the west. We like the idea that we can have a locker of our own. We can keep our secret or things in it, such as the posters of my favourite stars, our diary and our letters as well.
Picture three
In this picture, we find a huge and bright classroom in which there are only twenty students or so. Their desks are not in good order, which is not allowed in our school. They are even not facing the teacher when they sit there. It is very different from the classroom in our school.
I like this kind of classroom. I think I will feel free there and I will not be afraid of speaking English either.
Picture four
There are two students and a teacher in the picture. The teacher is carrying a snake in his hand while the students are making notes of maybe what the teacher is saying. Perhaps they are studying the snake. They seem to be enjoying their staying together. So we think the phrase “at ease with our teacher” means our teacher and we get along well with each other. We are not only teachers and students, but also we are friends. We like the idea that we can make friends with our teachers. Miss Zhou, do you want to be our friend?
Another way to compare the two situations in different cultures: ask the students to compare the things in the pictures, and try to tell the differences between these things in the UK and in China.
One sample answer:
In the UK
In China
Huge campus and low-rise buildings
Smaller campus and higher buildings
Lockers for students
No such equipment
Fewer students in each class
40-50 students in each class
At ease with our teacher
Respect our teacher and try to make friends with our teacher
→Step 4 Discussion
After talking about the pictures, the students are familiar with the topic and they can put their fears away and talk freely in class now. Some topics about school life can be given to them. They will try to say something and their interest in English will grow.
Topic one
Students in western countries and China have a lot of school activities. Without school activities, school life can be boring. Think of school activities in China and share the information you found on the Internet or in the magazine about school activities in the western countries. After three minutes, ask the students to report it to the class.
One sample answer:
Each school holds certain yearly activities for the entire school body, such as homecoming, prom night, holiday celebrations, etc.
Homecoming is celebrated each fall, usually on a weekend, and events leading up to it may last all week. While homecoming is celebrated differently at each school, it usually includes a parade and the crowning of the Homecoming King and Queen, and ends with a football game and school dance.
The prom is a formal dance for students in grades 11 and 12, and is generally anticipated as the most important social event of the school year. It can also be a time of anxiety, as boys have to work up the courage to ask a date to the prom, and girls hope the right boy invites them. These couples dress in formal clothes—girls in long gowns, boys in suits. Some students even arrange a limousine and driver for their group of friends to arrive in style! At the prom, students dance, have snacks and drinks, and chat. Prom usually ends with a Prom King and Queen being announced and crowned on stage before an envious audience.
Besides hosting events for holidays such as the Fourth of July and Halloween, individual high schools often have their own special events. One day might be “Inside Out/Backwards Day, ” when students and teachers should wear their clothes reversed all day, perhaps walk and speak backwards, and even go to classes in opposite order. And some schools hold contests where, if certain academic goals are met, the principal will kiss a pig, shave his mustache, or dress as a woman for the day.
Topic two
Think of the first day you came to the school. Think of people you met, your classmates or your teachers. Make up a dialogue about your first impression of our school with your partner. Then exchange your roles.
Topic three
Do you know any further differences between the schools in the United Kingdom and China?
Topic four
Now you’re in the high school, what do you think your classmates and teachers should be like? Please describe them and tell us why.
Some sample answers:
Descriptions about teachers:
1. I prefer our teachers to be humorous. I believe humor is the best medicine to solve almost all the problems. We will make friends with those humorous teachers easily. We students all like Zhou Xingchi who I believe is the best funny actor in China because the characters he played are always humorous. I hope my teachers are humorous.
2. I like learned teachers. As a teacher, he or she should have a lot of knowledge so that he/she will be able to give us information and ability to master knowledge ourselves.
3. I think teachers should be friendly. No matter how learned a teacher is, if he is serious or even cruel, I don’t think he will help us get the skill of learning.
4. From my point of view, a good teacher should first be fair. He should treat all the students equally. He should not judge a student just according to his/her grades or study.
5. My dream teacher is an understanding and patient one. Sometimes we students will make some mistakes. We hope our teachers will understand us and be patient with us. We hope they will not shout at us no matter what happens.
Descriptions about students:
1. I think first of all, we students should be kind-hearted, so that they will be able to help each other and get along well with each other.
2. As a student, we should be energetic. We are young and we should act like a young boy or young girl. We should not always stay inside and we should go out in the open air and have more exercise.
3. We are students and we should be strong-willed and competitive. We are now focusing on study, without strong will and the spirit of competition, we will not be able to be successful.
4. From my point of view, a student should be open-minded. We are always learning new knowledge. We should always be ready to get new knowledge.
Topic five
What is the relationship between the students and teachers like in your opinion in the high school? Use some verbs and describe the relationship and tell us the reason.
Sample answers:
1. Students and teachers should love each other. We are born equal and we students should respect teachers and teachers should respect students as well. I don’t think teachers should say mean words to us students.
2. Students and teachers should learn from each other. As the Chinese saying goes: “教学相长”, we students can get knowledge and experience from our teachers and teachers can also always be young and energetic when they are always staying with us.
3. We hope teachers will encourage us all the time, and in return we will encourage our teachers as well. We students may fail in the exams and teachers should try to encourage us instead of scolding us. Teachers may also fail or make some mistakes in the class and we students will not laugh at them. Instead we will try to help them too. In other words we students and teachers should understand each other.
Topic six
What do you think leads to success in a high school?
One sample answer:
In my opinion, hard work is the way to success, as the old saying goes, ‘Where there is a will, there is a way. ’‘Perseverance is the only way to success. ’
板书设计
Differences
. . .
Adjectives about teachers and students
. . .
Verbs about relationship
. . .
精彩片断
Topic four
Now you’re in the high school, what do you think your classmates and teachers should be like? Please describe them and tell us why.
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