Learning about Language优质课教学设计

Welcome to the unit Aims and requirements ♦

read an internet article about national flags and an article about colors in different cultures ♦ listen to a playwright and an actor talk about the different characters in a Beijing opera ♦ talk about national flags and discuss colors used in a Beijing opera

♦ record some information ♦ prepare and present an oral report about color Procedures ●

Welcome to the unit Step 1 Brainstorming The world is full of colors. Without color, the world would be a far less interesting place. And the life without color also would be dull and meaningless. And as we all know, colors have different meanings in different cultures around the world. Different countries, as well as different characters are associated with different colors.

What’s your favorite color? Why?

What does red, yellow, blue or another color mean?

For reference: Of all the colors, I prefer red color. Because, as far as I am concerned, red can represent many things and has many symbolic meanings in China. Usually, Chinese like to associate happy and successful things with red. For instance, in Chinese there are phrases such as “红利”、“红火”、“红包”(to express happy or fortunate tings )“披红”、“开门红”、“满堂红” (to express successful things or good wishes for the future). Also, as we all know, our national flag, to which we salute every day, is five-star red flag. The red color of the flag represents the revolution, the blood and lives of revolutionary martyrs. There are many other examples of the red color’s popularity in China. So, in my opinion, red is the most widely-used color in china and it’s my favorite color.

Red

Orange

Yellow

Green

Cyan

Blue

Purple

Black

Gray

For reference: In our daily life, colors used in different occasions can take on some special meanings and sometimes the colors can represent people’s different feelings. Red

Red signifies the choleric temperament. Red is generally taken to be the color of life, of the glowing sun and of fire. Love and joy, rage and anger are the polar values of the color red. Red is said to make the blood boil, to increase the pulse rate, to raise the blood pressure and the rate of breathing. Red is also the color of desire. Red generally supports the circulatory functions and is applied with success to combat anemia, asthma, diseases of the larynx, certain skin diseases and chronic coughs.

Orange

Orange is the color of cheerfulness and gaiety. Being a color mixed from red and yellow, it stands for kind-heartedness and warm-heartedness of an individual. Orange symbolizes the rising sun; it makes us alert and cheerful. It causes stimulation, warmth and happiness. Orange fills us with joy and cheerfulness. It affects both our bodies and our minds. Astonishing results may be obtained in using the color orange to treat mental illness, depressions, discontent and pessimism.

Yellow

Yellow is the symbol of the sun at the zenith. Yellow is the brightest of all colors. In the psychology of colors, yellow stands for detached serenity. Yellow reflects light in all directions, thereby creating an impression of liberation; it cancels out any feeling of heaviness or oppression. Professor Luscher writes that the color yellow drives us forward towards new, modern frontiers, and that it is therefore future oriented.

Green It has a harmonizing effect. Green does not make us quiet, but calms us in a neutral, positive sense. Green is the color of possession and of the will to possess. Luscher says: "Green is the color of possession and should increase the feelings of security and in particular of self-confidence." Green is also considered to be the color of concentration. It stands for exact

examination, precise analysis, systematic logic and for recording and remembering.

Blue

Blue is the color of peace and infinity. Blue profoundly calms and relaxes us. Our bodies and minds are conveyed to a state of peace, repose and softness.

Violet

Violet is the color of the emotions and is considered to be a meditative color. Violet can lead to profound liberation of the mind. Intuition and imagination are enhanced. Violet is the color regulator at the interface between the mind and the body.

The six basic colors are divided into three hot and three cool, hot being the colors which arouse and give stimulation and cool being the colors which cool down and sedate. The colors Red, Orange & Yellow are warming. The colors Green, Blue & Violet are cooling. Color Therapy uses these complimentary properties of the colors to balance the body and help it to heal. By testing complimentary pairs in your body system, the more sensitive area is found and then given the cool color to sedate, the others are given the warm color to stimulate. In our daily life, people often can imagine something from a certain kind of color. So, have a try and tell your classmates, what can you imagine from the following colors(use some adjectives to describe it)? color

What you imagine(use some adjectives) For reference

(excited, enthusiastic, noble)

For reference

(happy, energetic, active) For reference

(bright, hopeful, joyful) For reference

(mysterious, gentle, elegant ) For reference

( peaceful, comfortable, fresh) For reference

(wise, outgoing, fresh) For reference

(depressed, pessimistic, unconfident) For reference

(serious, calm, firm) color Red

Orange Yellow Purple Green Blue Gray Black

Step 2 Sharing information Group work. Look at the four pictures at page 1. Let’s study them one by one and try to discuss some questions in groups of four. Picture 1 What is this building? (It is the United Nation’s Headquarters in New York, the USA). In front of the building there are various national flags of different countries. Can you describe the national flag of any particular country? Why does each country have its own national flag with its own pattern and colors? Can you think of some reasons? (Each country has a unique culture, tradition and history. The pattern and colors of the national flags are chosen to symbolize these elements.)

Picture 2 What do you know about the tulip?(The tulip was originally a

wild flower, growing in Central Asia. It was introduced in Western Europe and the Netherlands in the 17th

century.Now it is the national flower of Netherlands.) Why do you think people like tulips?(Many people like tulips because of their bright colors, dramatic flames and frilly petals. Tulips have become a huge business in the Netherlands. Tourists from all over the world come to enjoy these flowers every year.) Picture3 What colors are used for different roles in Chinese opera? (In Chinese opera, differently colored faces represent different personalities. For example, red means bravery and loyalty. White represents cunning. Black suggests fierceness or violence. What do the terms ‘sheng’

‘dan’

‘jing’ and ‘chou’ in Beijing opera refer to?(these are four different types of roles in Beijing opera. ‘sheng’and ‘dan’

are the positive male and female roles. ‘jing’

refers to the supporting role. ‘chou’ is the clown of someone who has negative features.

Picture 4

What are the colors red and white always used for in Western cultures? What are the colors red and white always used for in East? Do you think it is necessary to know about such cultural differences? Why or why not? White is the traditional color for wedding in the West, while in the East, it is red. Step3: Discussion: 1.

Can you think of any examples of the use of a particular color on a special occasion? 2.

Think of a foreign country. What color do you associate with that country? Why? 3.

What color would you choose to represent your character? Why?

Sample answers: 1.For example, during the Chinese New Year, people always wear red clothes, as red is believed to scare away evil spirits and bring good luck in the coming year. Chinese people also wear red for traditional Chinese weddings. In this case, red means something happy. However, for funerals, people choose to wear black or white clothes rather than red clothes, because people believe red shows disrespect towards the dead. 2. In my opinion, Spain is associated with red. The Spanish people are so enthusiastic and energetic that they remind me of a burning red fire. Also, a matador, or bullfighter, uses a piece of blood red cloth to excite or danger the bull. The Spanish women seem to be very fiery and full of life when they dancing the famous dance, the flamenco. Their red skirts seem to move like dancing flames, so bright and joyful. 3. White is the most proper color to represent me. Unlike when mixing colored paint, when colored lights are mixed together, the result is white light. White light is the product of every color in the light spectrum, and this reflects how I see myself. I am a person with many qualities

and positive characteristics. Just like white light, I am the product of multiple influences, such as my family, teachers and friends. Furthermore, I can identify with many people from different interests. You could say that it is easy for me to understand someone who thinks of himself as ‘blue’ for example.

Resources: Beijing opera Beijing opera, which has existed for over 200 years, is a national treasure for Chinese people. It is usually involves interesting make-up and magnificent costumes. Despite being called Beijing opera, its birthplace is not in Beijing but in Anhui and Hubei. Today, this traditional art form is becoming less popular because the young generation seems to have difficulty understanding the unique performances.

http://www.chinavista.com/experience/opera/opera.html Step4: Homework: 1. Collect more information about the meaning of color. 2. Prepare the Reading part.