Learning about Language教案3

Period 3 A sample lesson plan for Using Language (STANDARD ENGLISH AND DIALECTS)

Introduction Language is learned to be used in and for communication. So in this period we shall have the students read, listen, write and speak in English, making use of the focused words, expressions, structures and topic ideas covered in this unit.

Objectives

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To help students read about STANDARD ENGLISH AND DIALECTS ■

To help students listen to dialects in English ■

To help students act out conversation and write their own ■

To help students brainstorm for reasons why we learn English and make a poster about learning English

Procedures 1.

Warming up by making a list

There is not a single English in the world. There are varieties of Englishes. That is, there are many different dialects of English in the world. We are going to make a list of dialects of the English language.

International English or World English Commonwealth English, Native American English, North American English Mid-Atlantic English, South Asian English, East Asian English 2. Reading ⑴Reading for main ideas

Turn to page 13. We are going to read the text quickly to find the topic sentence for each paragraph. Para. 1: There is no such a thing as Standard English. Para. 2: English has many dialects whose words and expressions are different from “standard English”.

Para. 3: Geography plays a part in making dialects. ⑵Going to the details

Do you have any difficulties with the structure and the words in the passage? Now we shall talk about them in detail. Language focus

believe it or not: used when you are going to say something that is true but surprising: Believe it or not, John cheated in the exam. there is no such a …as: used to say that a particular person or thing does not exist: These days there is no such a thing as a job for life. standard English: the form of English that most people in Britain use, and that is not limited to one area or group of people

dialect: a variety of a language spoken only in one area, in which words, or grammar are slightly different from other forms of the same language play a part/role in: be one of the causes that make something happen: Besides dieting, exercising plays an important part in losing weight. 3. Listening Let’s go to page 14. We are going to listen to a boy named Buford speaking a southern dialect of AmE with an East, Texas accent.

You know pronunciation is determined by accent. I am speaking with accent, too. It is a Chinese accent.

On the other hand, Buford’s teacher, Jane, speaks standard BrE. That’s what is heard on the BBC. I am going to play the tape twice for you to listen to answer the four questions on page 14. Next listen once more to complete the form below giving the standard equivalents for the dialectic words from Buford’s story, using the context.

Dialectic words from Buford’s story

hey y’all

ain’t

yer ya Standard English equivalents hello

everyone

aren’t

your you

pup swimmin’

jumpin’

feelin’

‘bout

‘nough

shoulda seen got outta child swimming jumping feeling about enough should have seen got out of

4. Talking about British English (BrE) and American English

British English (BrE) American English (AmE) British English (BrE) is a term used to American English (AmE) is the dialect of the distinguish the form of the English language English language used mostly in the United used in the British Isles from forms used States of America. It is estimated that elsewhere. It includes all the varieties of approximately two thirds of native speakers of English used within the Isles, including those English live in the United States. American found in England, Scotland, Wales, and the English is also sometimes called United States island of Ireland. English or U.S. English. 5. Learning about the differences between British English (BrE) and American English (AmE)

Amy (American)

Lady (British) subway

underground left

left-hand side keep going straight

go straight on two blocks

two streets right

right-hand side

6. Listening to and acting out conversations On page 15 you see a conversation among Amy, Lady and friends. Read, listen to and act it out in groups of three. More sample versions for practice:

S1: Excuse me, sir. But I can’t find the drugstore?

S2: Pardon? S1: I said I couldn’t find the chemist’s shop.

S2: Well, go round the corner on your right-hand side, straight on and cross the flyover. You will find it ahead. S1: Thank you very much. S3: What did he say? S1: He told us to go round the corner on the right, go straight on and then cross the overpass. The drugstore will be ahead. Self-assessment criteria: Did you cooperate well with your partner(s) while practicing? Can you ask for directions and give directions clearly? Can you express your ideas fluently? If not, what’s your main problem?

Did you go naturally between American English and British English while talking to each other? 7. Writing ⑴Brainstorming for ideas Why should we learn English? Now in groups of four brainstorm for as many reasons as possible why you are learning English. Why should we learn English? ☆

To live in an English-speaking country

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To work in an English-speaking country ☆

To do studies or researches in English ☆

To learn world history in English

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To travel around the world ☆

To study abroad ☆

To have secret communication ☆

To pass an English exam ☆

To get in touch with my roots ☆

To revive my language

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To learn about world culture ☆

To learn about other religions ☆

To learn it to meet my linguistic interest ☆

Challenging yourself ☆

Sounds/looks good to me ☆

One language is never enough! ☆

To better understand our thought processes

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To understand your own language and culture better ☆

To keep your mind healthy (from Harvey Schmidt) ☆

To find your future husband/wife (from Rico Suave) ☆

To better understand the rest of humankind

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To talk to friends without others understanding ☆

To learn songs in other languages

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To help people in need

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To help you understand how other people think

⑵Making a poster

Why should we do exercises? Make guesses about your title, reasons and conclusion. Then, in pairs, work on your poster. I will ask several pairs to present their posters in class for assessment. A Sample poster

Why should we do exercises? I have to keep fit. I have to make myself strong. I have to fight illness and disease. I have to enjoy myself. I have to build up my skills. ⑶Assessing your writings Can you give persuasive reasons for the topic on your poster?

Can you verbalize your ideas fluently? Can you put your own experiences into a broader perspective? Can you organize your ideas in a logical way? Have you made a brainstorming map before you set out to design your poster? Do you think it helps your writing? What kind of mistakes have you made in your writing? What can you do to avoid such mistakes? 8. Closing down by reading article about learning English My experience of learning English Many people all over the world speak English as their second language. It is not too much to say that it has become an international language.

Studying English can make life fun. It enables you to watch American movies, read English books and listen to English songs. Moreover, as English is an international language, you will be able to communicate with foreigners when you are on a trip abroad. Traveling will be more interesting that way.

It is a good idea to make friends with foreigners. In my opinion, it is the best way to improve your English. In addition, it will be fun and it will expand your view of the world. If you make friends with a native speaker, you can practice your spoken English more often and then you can communicate with people around the world. You can also become familiar with the customs and habits of different cultures.

There are some people who are afraid to make friends with foreigners because they are not confident of their English. However, many foreigners do not care about grammar. They will get your key words in the sentence and figure out the whole meanings. Therefore, it is unnecessary to be afraid to make friends with them; just go head! Learning English helps us meet different people and learn more about their culture, thus facilitating mutual understanding and harmony. Briefly said, English is so useful to us that we should all learn it.