Unit 2 Let’s talk teens
letter of advice
I. Learning objectives
By the end of the lesson, the students will be able to:
1. learn how to ask for and give advice;
2. learn how to write a letter of advice;
3. get to know how to better maintain parent-child relationship.
II. Key competence focus
1. Understand the format of a conversation.
2. Understand the purpose, the structure and the style of language of a letter of advice.
3. Write a letter of advice.
III. Predicted areas of difficulty
1. Have a conversation on asking for and giving advice.
3. Write a letter of advice.
IV. Teaching procedures
Step 1 Before writing
1. Lead-in: parent-child relationship
(1) T greets Ss and asks them to answer the following question:
T: Hello, welcome back to Teen Time. This is Cynthia. Let’s pick up where we left in the previous programme. How do you find your relationship with your parents You can use some abstract nouns.
T puts the given words into two boxes, positive and negative.
T: From your answers, obviously, most of you have difficulty getting along with parents. You may experience loneliness, pressure or something bad from time to time. Today, we’re going to continue to talk about parent-child relationship.
Word bank 1
Abstract nouns
(
argument, tension, control, difficulty, complaint, pressure, strictness, loneliness, silence, misunderstanding, over-protection, impatience, dissatisfaction …
Negative
) (
love, respect, care, patience, freedom, understanding, communication, protection, independence …
Positive
)
【设计意图:紧扣主题,用学生熟悉的话题作为预设教学目标的情境载体导入,创造生动活泼有趣的课堂氛围,激活学生已有的知识和经验。在学生给出词汇的同时进行分类汇总,引出话题parent-child relationship。】
2. Having a conversation
(1) T asks Ss to have a quick review of Simon’s/Laura’s personal story on page 22, and come up with possible advice.
(2) T asks Ss to work in pairs and make up a conversation between Cynthia and Simon/Laura, using the abstract nouns and expressions listed in the word banks and then present to the whole class.
【设计意图:引导围绕问题开展问答对话,在运用提问技能进行交际的过程中实现“在做中学”。】
Step 2 During writing
Planning your writing
Read Cynthia’s reply to Rebecca
T asks the students to read a sample advice letter (Cynthia’s letter to Rebecca) and analyze its text type, structure and language.
(2) Learning about the text type
T asks Ss to answer the following questions:
Q1: What’s the purpose of writing a letter of advice
Q2: How does the writer help solve the problem
(3) Learning about the structure
① T guides Ss to analyze the letter from Cynthia to Rebecca and answer the following questions:
Q1: How many parts can we divide the letter into
Q2: What’s the main idea of each part
Beginning Part 1 Para. 1 Show her understanding
Body Part 2 Paras. 2-4 Offer advice on how to improve the relationship
Ending Part 3 Para. 5 End the letter with positive message
② T guides the students to answer the following questions:
Q1: Why does Cynthia show her understanding to Rebecca at the very beginning
To shorten the distance between them and make her advice easily accepted.
Q2: How does Cynthia illustrate her points
By sharing personal experiences.
T asks the students to focus on the highlights of the letter—pieces of advice and personal experiences or stories and leads them to the tip—a letter of advice should be selective and persuasive.
(4) Learning about the language
T guides the students to analyze the language from the following aspects:
① Be polite and considerate.
I understand your feelings/how you feel.
I hope …I wish you all the best.
Everything will turn out all right, I promise.
② Be logical and well-organized.
Try following these pieces of advice and see if they help improve your relationship. First, … Second, …
引出话题,并表示愿意给出一些建议
1. I know you have trouble in ... after reading your letter. I am writing to give you some suggestions/advice.
2. You’ve asked me for advice with regard to... and I’ll try to make some useful suggestions here.
3. The following are my suggestions. / My suggestions are as follows.
Para 2:给出具体建议,及其理由
1.首先,有必要找个机会与你的母亲进行一次全面而坦率的谈话,这将有助于你们相互了解。
2. 然后,同样重要的是在你的学业和体育锻炼之间保持平衡,这样你的母亲就会对你有信心。
3.最后但同等重要的是,告诉你的母亲你已经长大了,并且渴望更多的自由来独自处理一些事情。
Tips:
First of all, why not… If you do this,…/ Firstly, you’d better…otherwise, you will
Second , you should/can…/ Then
Thirdly, it would be a good idea if…By doing this,…
【设计意图:引导学生感知建议信的结构,体会语言风格,为之后的写作打下基础。】
2. Writing a letter of advice to Rebecca
T guides Ss to rewrite a letter of advice in response to Rebecca’s problem following the instructions:
(1) Use the ideas from the conversation between you and your partner.
(2) Mind the structure and language.
Rewrite (exercise)
Dear Rebecca,
I understand your feelings. I know you have trouble in too much attention on grades by your mum after reading your letter. I am writing to give you some advice. Try these pieces and see if they help.
First, talk to your mother. Make sure she understands your feelings. Choose a good time and start the conversation politely. Second, put yourself in your mother’s shoes and try to understand what she does. After that, I became so much closer to my mum and dad.
Everything will turn out all right, I promise.
Yours sincerely,
Cynthia
Sample:
I understand your feelings. I know you have trouble in too much attention on grades by your mum after reading your letter. I am writing to give you some advice. Try these pieces and see if they help.
First of all, why not talk to your mother If you do this, she will understand your feelings in a better way. Choose a good time and start the conversation politely. Second, you should put yourself in your mother’s shoes, then try to understand what she does. Thirdly, it would be a good idea if you try to meet in the middle. By doing so, your mother will know about your interests. After that, I became so much closer to my mum and dad.
Step 3 After writing
1. T leads the students to check their writing after they finish and exchange drafts between partners, focusing on the following aspects:
Punctuation Spelling Grammar
Choice of words Style (formal/informal) Structure
(
Self-review
Is your writing in conformance to the requirement
What advanced words and sentence patterns have you employed
What is the sentence you are the most satisfied with
Do the examples support the advice you give
) (
Peer-review
What does your partner think of the advice and examples you give
How can you improve your writing
)
【设计意图:引导学生通过自评、生生互评,不断反思,取长补短,共同发展。】
2. T leads the students to polish up their writings.
3. T leads the students to work in groups, choose the best writing and present it to the whole class.
V. Homework
1. Review what’s been learnt in class.
2. Write a letter of advice to Laura in the name of Cynthia.
假定你是李华,你的英国朋友Tom即将作为交换生来你学校学习,担心不太适应中国的生活。请根据以下要点给Tom写封回信。
要点:1.表示欢迎
2. 给出三条建议
3. 表示祝愿
注意:1.词数100左右 2. 可以适当增加细节,以使行文连贯。