Unit 2 Exploring English Starting Out and Reading
教学目标
1. to learn the history of English language;
2. to learn the style of argumentation;
3. to learn some useful and important words and expressions;
4. to have a better understanding of English language.
教学重点:
1.to understand the meaning of the confusing pairs of words.
2. to show that English is interesting and creative.
教学难点:
How to improve students’ reading ability.
教学过程
Step I Leading-in
Finish activities 1 and 2 on page 17.
Step II Reading
In the starting out part, we learned the history of the English language and that English is the most common language in the world. Now let’s continue exploring English.
1.Fast reading
Read the passage quickly and find the style of it.
It’s an argumentation.
How many parts are there in the passage
Part I para.1 English is a crazy language to learn
Part II (para.2-6) Examples to support the opinion
Part III para.7Reasons why English is a crazy and interesting language.
2.Detailed reading
Read paragraph 2-6 one by one and find examples to support the author’s idea.
no egg in eggplant
no ham in hamburger para.1
neither pine nor apple in pineapple
We can’t always understand a compound word by adding the meanings of the words it is made up of!
sculpt a sculpture
paint a painting para.2
BUT take a photo
seasick sick at sea
airsick sick in the air para.2
carsick sick in a car
BUT homesick≠ sick at home
The same rule doesn’t apply to everything!
Hard is the opposite of soft.
Hardly and softly are not an opposing pair.
Harmless is the opposite of harmful. Para.3
Shameful and shameless behaviors are the same.
English is confusing.
it’s raining or it’s snowing. Para.4
But it’s sunshining.(×)
WHO=World Heath Organisation
IT= Information Technology
US=United States
Even the smallest words can be confusing.
burn up =burn down para.6
fill in a form= fill out a form
Different words, but same meaning.
Read para.7and find the reasons why English is a crazy language to learn.
English is created by people and it reflects the creativity of human race.
Stars ore out, they are visible.
Lights are out, they are invisible. Para.7
I wind up my watch, it starts.
I wind up the passage, it ends.
Same words ,but different meanings.
3.Post reading
What is the author’s purpose in writing the passage
A. To tell us that English is difficult to learn.
B. To give advice on how to learn English.
C. To show that English is interesting and creative.
D. To explain how English was created.
Conclusion
All these examples show that English is interesting ,confusing ,unique, complex and creative. That’s why we ought to hold a positive, respectful and open-minded attitude towards languages.
4. Homework
1.Watch the video again and know more about the history of the English language.
2 .Learn the important words and expressions by heart.
3. Make a mind map to summarize the text.