Student’s sheet
Title: ________________________
1 IN 1982 Steven Callahan was crossing the Atlantic alone in his sailboat when it struck something and sank. He was out of the shipping lanes (航线) and floating in a life raft (救生筏), alone. His supplies were few. His chances were small. Yet when three fishermen found him 76 days later (the longest a person has survived a shipwreck (船只失事) on a life raft alone), he was alive – much skinnier than he was when he started, but alive. 2 His description of how he survived is fascinating. His creativity – how he managed to catch fish, how he fixed his solar still (太阳能蒸发器) – is absorbing. But the thing that caught my eye was how he managed to keep himself going when all hope seemed lost, when there seemed no point in continuing the struggle, when he was suffering greatly, when his life raft was punctured (刺破) and after more than a week struggling with his weak body to fix it, it was still leaking (漏出) air and wearing him out to keep pumping it up. 3 When people survive these kinds of circumstances, they do something with their minds that gives them the courage to keep going. Many people in similarly desperate circumstances give in or go mad. 4 “I tell myself I can handle it,” wrote Callahan in his story. “Compared to what others have been through, I’m fortunate. I tell myself these things over and over, building up courage...” 5 I wrote that down after I read it. It struck me as something important. And I’ve told myself the same thing when my own goals seemed far off or when my problems seemed too overwhelming. 6 The truth is, our circumstances are only bad compared to something better. But others have been through much worse. I’ve read enough history to know you and I are lucky to be where we are, when we are, no matter how bad it seems to us compared to our fantasies. It’s a wise thought and worth thinking about. So here, coming to us from the extreme edge of survival, are words that can give us strength. Whatever you’re going through, tell yourself you can handle it. Compared to what others have been through, you’re fortunate.
I. Choose the best answer:
1. What is the point of the article? _________
A. To introduce Callahan’s solo voyage across the Atlantic.
B. To encourage readers to take on risks like Callahan.
C. To teach readers some basic survival skills.
D. To tell readers how to deal with a hopeless situation.
2. According to the article, which of the following statements is TRUE? ________
A. Callahan was rescued 76 days after he began his voyage.
B. It was easy for Steven Callahan to fix the life raft.
C. Callahan never lost hope and managed the situation creatively.
D. Callahan was able to rescue some supplies when his sailboat sank.
3. Callahan didn’t give up because he believed that ______.
A. he was able to deal with the difficulties
B. he had best survival skills.
C. his equipment would save him
D. the life raft he had would help him survive
4. The article sends the message that ______.
A. a person should use an extreme circumstance as a challenge
B. studying history makes a person appreciate their own fortunate situation
C. it helps to think of those less fortunate than you in desperate situations
D. a person will be unable to keep going unless they realize how fortunate they are.
II. Language focus:
1. Word hunt: Search each paragraph for a word with a similar meaning to the following:
Paragraph 1:
to hit against _______________ (v.)
to go under _______________ (v.)
to continue in existence after … _______________ (v.)
Paragraph 2:
very interesting, appealing _______________ (adj.)
to make a great effort _______________ (v.)
to feel physical or emotional pain _______________ (v.)
Paragraph 3:
the conditions in which someone lives ___________ (n.)
extremely hopeless _______________ (adj.)
Paragraph 4:
to deal with _______________ (v.)
Paragraph 5:
to impress, move _______________ (v.)
so strong as to be irresistible _______________ (adj.)
2. Useful expressions & structure:
引起某人注意 ______________ 使某人筋疲力尽_______________ 屈服 ______________
增强勇气__________________ 遥远的、在远方_____________ 和…相比_____________
做什么是无意义的… _____________________________________
3. Underline some star sentences and recite them as a good way to improve your writing.
Teaching plan for “A desperate experience”
---阅读理解语篇在复习课的使用
Grade level: Senior 3 students of Sanmen High School
Subject: “A desperate experience”
Duration: 40 minutes
Goals: 解读文本、讲评练习、聚焦词汇、提升阅读
Procedure:
Pre-class:
Pre-class assignment for students:
Students are supposed to read the passage for comprehension and for language by doing some relevant exercises. (Refer to “Student’s sheet”)
Right before class:
Share the videoclip with the whole class—The performance of Liu wei, the winner of China’s Got Talent Final 2010
In class:
Lead-in
Have a light talk with Ss about Liu Wei, the armless guy with great talents in a
relaxed way to ease the atmosphere and to introduce the topic as well. Use the target words(those the teacher intend them to use in later writing stage) intentionally to lay a foundation for their writing stage.
desperate circumstances
handle
build up
compared to
suffer
struggle
give in
survive
There is no point in …
…
Life is full of challenges, failures and fate. Many people in desperate circumstances give in or go mad. Yet there are still many who make for themselves a different choice by embracing misfortunes bravely. Liu Wei’s story reminds us of Steven Callahan, a hero in the story we recently read.
Encourage Ss to use target words to talk about what they, Liu Wei and Steven Callahan have in common.
Reading interpretation
Check Ss have a good understanding of the reading passage with the following
two exercises.
Ss match each paragraph with a topic sentence.
Ss give the passage a proper title.
Problem-solving
Check with the whole class the keys to the 4 pre-assigned comprehension questions.
Let Ss give the reason for their choice.
Language focus
Check answers to the pre-assigned vocabulary homework concerning target words.
Word hunt
Translation—useful expressions and sentence structure
Using language
Ss complete the comprementary material, a letter to my students who felt
frustrated about their performance in the listening test as encouragement, using those target words. (Refer to “Work sheet”)
Writing-oriented task based on reading
Intend Ss to talk freely about their present circumstances with the big exam approaching and their stressful school life and suffering.
Remind Ss to learn from Liu and Steven Callahan’s stories and inspire them to say something to themselves (two or three sentences) as encouragement with the help of those target words.
Ask Ss to make an outline of the letter addressed to themselves as encouragement and to make a list of what they think would be of help in their writing from the reading passage (those target words, expressions, sentence structure and the star sentences they underlined on pre-reading stage).
Post-class:
Writing
Write a letter addressed to yourselves to
talk aobut your present circumstances;
talk about how the stories of the two strike you with their strong faith and
a positive attitude, however desperate life may seem;
say something to encourage yourselves to handle what you’re going through and to
keep yourselves going on;
Work sheet
Choose from the box a proper word or an expression to complete the letter. One of them can be used twice.
desperate, struggle, suffer, circumstances, strike, point, sink, handle, fascinate, survive build up, catch one’s eye, go mad, wear…out, far off, compared to, give in
A letter to my boys and girls
My dearest boys and girls:
When the list of those who scored full marks in the listening test ended without your names, your hearts _________. I could tell your deep frustration as I have tasted similar bitterness when my goal seemed ______ _____. The way I _______ it? Let me first tell you what I watched on TV on the night of Octobor 10th.
Talent show is not just a show. It’s a source of inspiration and strength. Besides talents, those contestants(选手) help people ________ ___ courage. Susan Boyle did it in England with her voice and now Liu Wei, the winner of China’s Got Talet Final 2010, is wowing audiences in China with his toes.
Liu Wei was only 10 years old when he got an electric shock. He __________ the operation but lost both arms. Many people in similarly _________ circumstances _____ ___ or ____ ____. But he made for himself a different choice.
He was forced to give up soccer but challenged himself to learn swimming. After two years, Liu had won two gold medals and one silver at the National Swimming Championship for the disabled in 2002.
He’s always been __________ by music since he was a child. By the age of 19, Liu had taught himself to play the piano with his toes, fulfilling a childhood dream.
But what______ _____ _____ was how he managed to keep himself going on when he bumped into difficulties, when he was looked down upon, when endless practice ______ him ______ and when he ________ physical and mental pains.
"For people like me, there were only two options. One was to abandon all dreams, which would lead to a quick, hopeless death. The other was to _________ without arms to live an outstanding life," says Liu, now 23.
What he said _________ something important into my heart. ________ ____ Liu who has been through much worse, we are fortunate and our problems are no problems at all. There is no ________ in feeling as if it was the end of the world just because of those failures.
Here are the words I hope to ________ you: Under no ____________ should you allow failures to kill your passion. Just keep on pursuing(追求) your dreams!
Yours,
Cyy
课件31张PPT。 Wenling High School
By Chen YingyingLiu Wei, the winner of China’s Got Talent Final 2010
an armless pianistSometimes lost in our own sorrow we just forget how fortunate we are.
There is no point in complaining.
Life is full of challenges, failures, mistakes and fate.
Life is beautiful!
Life is beautiful!
It's true!Steven CallahanA desperate experienceHe made a solo voyage across the Atlantic and managed to survive after the shipwreck. unaccompaniedSteven CallahanA desperate experienceThe first part(para1—4) focuses on his desperate circumstances and his successful survival with his creativity and faith. His
creativity and faith contributed to his survivalA desperate experienceHis desperate circumstancesHis supplies were few.
His life raft was leaking.
His body was worn out.
His chances were small.
His hope seemed lost.
His waiting seemed endless. completely
exhausted /
dead tired There seemed no point in continuing the struggle.
Many in similarly desperate circumtances ______.
But Steven Callahan ________________. A desperate experienceTopic sentence matchA. Steven Callahan’s survival in a desperate situation was impressive.
B. Faith is a major factor behind his survival.
C. A positive attitude counts in a desperate situation.
D. Steven Callahan’s story conveyed a message to us.
E. Steven Callahan’s experience struck something into my heart.
F. Steven Callahan was rescued 76 days after a shipwreck. Para 1: ______ para 2: ______ para 3: _________
Para 4: ______ para 5: ______ para 6: _________FACBEDA desperate experienceTitle: desperate A _________________ experience A desperate experience1. What is the point of the article?
A. To introduce Callahan’s solo voyage across the Atlantic.
B. To encourage readers to take on risks like Callahan.
C. To teach readers some basic survival skills.
D. To tell readers how to deal with a hopeless situation. DpurposeA desperate experience2. According to the article, which of the following statements is TRUE?
A. Callahan was rescued 76 days after he began his voyage.
B. It was easy for Steven Callahan to fix the life raft.
C. Callahan never lost hope and managed the situation creatively.
D. Callahan was able to rescue some supplies when his sailboat sank.C the shipwreck.It was wearing him out … His supplies were few.A desperate experience3. Callahan didn’t give up because he believed that ______.
A. he was able to deal with the difficulties
B. he had best survival skills.
C. his equipment would save him
D. the life raft he had would help him survive
A Compared to what others have been through, I’m fortunate. I tell myself these things over and over, building up courage.A desperate experience4. The article sends the message that ______.
A. a person should use an extreme circumstance as a challenge
B. studying history makes a person appreciate their own fortunate situation
C. it helps to think of those less fortunate than you in desperate situations
D. a person will be unable to keep going unless they realize how fortunate they are.
CA desperate experiencePara 6:
… So here coming into us from the extreme edge of survival, are words that can give us strength. Whatever you’re going through, tell yourself you can handle it. Compared to what others have been through, you’re fortunate.A desperate experienceParagraph 1:
to hit against _______________ (v.)
to go under _______________ (v.)
to continue in existence after …
_______________ (v.)
sinkstrikeWord hunt survivestruck, struck/strickensank sunksurvival n. survivor n. His heart sank at the fact that his friend betrayed him.A desperate experienceParagraph 2:
very interesting, appealing _______________ (adj.)
to make a great effort _______________ (v. & n.)
to feel physical or emotional pain _______________ (v.) strugglefascinatingWord hunt suffer fascinate (v.)
fascinated (adj.)A desperate experienceParagraph 3:
the conditions in which someonw lives ___________ (n.)
extremely hopeless ___________ (adj.)
Paragraph 4:
to deal with ___________ (v.) desperatecircumstanceWord hunt handleI’m worn out and I’m in desperate need of a good sleep.A desperate experienceParagraph 5:
to impress, move _______________ (v.)
so strong as to be irresistible _______________ (adj.) overwhelmingstrikeWord hunt When I again failed the maths exam, my sorrow was so overwhelming that it was hard for me to fight my tears. A desperate experience引起某人注意 ______________
使某人筋疲力尽_____________
屈服 ______________
增加勇气__________________
遥远的、在远方_____________
和…相比_____________
做什么是无意义的… _____________________________ catch one’s eye
wear sb out
give in
build up courage
far off
compared to
Useful expressions & sentence structure There be no point/sense in doingA desperate experiencedesperate, struggle, suffer, circumstance,
strike, point, sink, handle, fascinate, survive
build up, catch one’s eye, go mad, give in
wear…out, far off, compared toWork sheet Choose from the box a proper word or expression to complete the letter. One of them can be used twice.A letter to my boys and girlsA desperate experienceWriting-oriented task based on reading strssful school life ?
peer pressure?
quarrel with… over your study?
friendship? Hard to fit in?
endless homework?
repeated failures?
fall short of expectations?
beloved families gone forever?
addicted to computer games?
…Your present circumstances? desperate
suffer
point
sink
handle
survive
go mad
give in
wear…out far off
overwhelming
… A desperate experienceWriting-oriented task based on reading What would you say
to yourself
to keep yourself going?struggle for
strike,
build up,
compared to
keep oneself going positive attitude
faith
give in
under no circumstances
… A letter to myselfMy dearest self:
Life is not always rosy.
…
yours,
A desperate experiencePost-reading activity Requirements:
your present circumstances;
how the stories inspire you;
Words to yourself as encouragement;
If your circumtances couldn’t be better, say to yourself to stay that way.
Put what you’ve learnt to good use;
Around 120 words;
Refer to the reading passage and my letter as a sample if you find it too hard.In this world
there is always danger
for those who are afraid of it.
--- George Bernard ShawRead & appreciateA desperate experienceAlmost any situation
-- good or bad --
is affected
by the attitude we bring to.
---Lucius Annaeus SenecaRead & appreciateA desperate experienceAll of our dreams can
come true,
if we have
the courage to pursue them.
--- Wald Disney Read & appreciateA desperate experienceThe winners in life
think constantly
in terms of
I CAN, I WILL, and I AM.
--- Dennis WaitleyRead & appreciateA desperate experienceThanks a million!
Wenling High School
Chen YingyingA desperate experienceNothing is too overwhelming to be handled as long as you hold a positive attitude.
Rudely treated and ignored, I struggled to hold back my tears.
I am a huge failure in most exams, thus wearing me out physically and mentally.
An overwhelming embarrassment struck me when I stood before a houseful of audience, totally forgetting my lines.
It’s so easy to give in after all my efforts to improve my English seem in vain. Translation A desperate experienceWithout anyone nearby in sight, I was desperately struggling in the river.
Repeated failures are overwhelming and success seems far off / a remote dream.
A dull pain struck me for there is no way to hold on to my dream.
I had a hard time struggling to fit in with my new classmates.
My heart sank at the grade and there is no point in crying. I can’t change yeserday,but I’m determined to make today a wonderful day.Translation
