Unit 1 How do you study for a test?
Part 1: Teaching design (第一部分：教學設計)
Structures: verb＋by with gerund
Target language:
How do you study for test?
Well, I study by working with my classmates.
Have you ever studied with a group?
Yes, I have. I’ve learned a lot that way.
I don’t have a partner to practice English with.
Maybe you should join an English club.
Vocabulary: flashcard, take notes, frustrating, memorize, aloud, comma, make mistakes, pronunciation, be afraid to, What about…? Why don’t you…?
Learning strategies: Personalizing, Role playing
Section A
Goals
● To talk about how to study
● To read about how to study
Procedures
Warming up by greeting
Hello, everyone!
From now on you are a ninth grader. Congratulations to you and I wish you a great success in your studies!
Today we shall take up the first unit in this new term, Unit 1 How do you study for a test?
Look at the blackboard and read after me the target language for this unit. When you read pay attention to the structure of the sentence.
▲How do you study for test?
▼Well, I study by working with my classmates.
▲Have you ever studied with a group?
▼Yes, I have. I’ve learned a lot that way.
▲I don’t have a partner to practice English with.
▼ Maybe you should join an English club.
Learning to Learn is very important. And learning to pass a test is also very important to you.
Learning couldn’t be easier!
If you have not developed good ways or methods to study for a test, talk to your classmates about it, your parents, or the teacher like me if you are brave enough. You should be brave enough to talk to others about your problems with your studies.
Next I’d like to give you some useful practical advice about studying for a test and also ask you questions to make you think about things such as:
▲using your time effectively
▲motivation
▲how to learn your lessons in the ninth grade year
▲different modes of teaching you may meet
▲how to develop particular skills, such as note-taking in class
1A: Checking the ways you study
Next turn to page 2 and check √ the ways you study for an English test. Then add other ways you use sometimes.
■How do you study for a test?
I study for a test___
By reading to the tape; By underlining the expressions; By reading beyond the text; By doing used exam papers; By going over exercises books; By copying down the text; By learning the text by heart; By speaking with classmates
Now raise your hand and report your added ways to the class. I will make a list of all the added ways on the blackboard.
1b Listening and writing
Listen to understand how these people in the picture on page 2 study for a test. Write letters from the pictures. While listening, pay attention to the structures of the sentences.
Section A 1b Tapescript
Boy1: Hey, gang. There’s a big test on Tuesday. I really need some help. Can you tell me how you study for a big test?
Voices: Sure! Yes. Sure we will.
Boy1: You did really well on the last English test, didn’t you, Mei?
Girl1: Yeah, I did OK.
Boy1: Well, how did you study？
Girl1: By making flashcards.
Boy1: Maybe I’ll try that. How did you study, Pierre?
Boy2: By asking the teacher for help. She was really happy I asked.
Boy1: That’s interesting. How do you study, Antonio?
Boy3: I like to study by listening to cassettes. But sometimes my mother thinks I’m listening to music. And then she gets mad.
Boy1: Oh, well…
1c Doing a pairwork
Now in pairs ask your partner how he or she studies for a test.
A: How do you study for a test?
B: I study by working with a group.
C: I study by listening to English.
D. I study by playing games with my classmates.
E. I study by doing actions such as coloring, matching.
F. I study by singing English songs.
G. I study by writing letters and emails.
H. I study by acting out simple dialogues.
I. I study by listening to and understanding stories.
J. I study by writing simple sentences.
K. I study by imitating from the recording.
L. I study by speaking out words or phrases.
M. I study by doing simple role plays.
N. I study by reading and understanding simple stories.
O. I study by using daily expressions.
P. I study by performing short plays.
Q. I study by performing simple rhymes.
R. I study by writing sentences for pictures.
S. I study by writing out simple poems.
T. I study by reading aloud correctly.
U. I study by playing text plays.
V. I study by working with classmates.
W. I study by going over the text before class.
X. I study by copying words and expressions.
Y. I study by looking and saying.
Z. I study by asking others questions.
2a Listening and checking
Now let’s go to page 3. Listen to the tape and check the questions you ask.
While listening, pay attention to the structures of the sentences.
Section A 2a, 2b Tapescript
Girl1: Welcome to the English club. Today we’re going to talk about the best ways to learn English. Who has an idea?
Boy1: Do you learn English by watching English-language videos?
Girl2: No. It’s too hard to understand the voices.
Boy1: What about keeping a diary in English? Do you learn English that way?
Girl2: I think so. It helps to write English every day.
Girl3: Have you ever studied with a group?
Girl2: Yes, I have! I’ve learned a lot that way.
Girl1: Do you ever practice conversations with a friend?
Girl2: Oh, yes. It improves my speaking skills.
Boy1: What about reading aloud to practice pronunciation?
Girl3: I do that sometimes. I think it helps.
Boy2: I do too. And I always look up new words in a dictionary.
Girl3: That’s a great idea!
2b Listening and matching
Listen again and match each question from 2a with an answer in the box on page 3.
2c Doing a pairwork
Next we are going to make a conversation in pairs using the information from activities 2a and 2b.
A: Have you ever studied with a group?
B: Yes, I have. I’ve learned a lot that way.
A: Have you ever learned English by watching videos?
B: Yes, I have. I’ve learned a lot that way.
A: Have you ever practiced conversations with friends?
B: Yes, I have. I’ve learned a lot that way.
A: Have you ever listened to tapes?
B: Yes, I have. I’ve learned a lot that way.
A: Have you ever read aloud to practice pronunciation?
B: Yes, I have. I’ve learned a lot that way.
3a Reading the article and completing the chart
1.Reading to the tape
We are going to read the article on page 4. First we shall read to the tape together. That is, we start reading aloud as the recorder goes, and we stop reading aloud as the recorder stops. While reading, let’s pay enough attention to the pauses, the pronunciation and the intonation of the native reader. Make our reading aloud as the same as the reader’s.
2.Reading and dividing the article into parts
Next we are going to read aloud the article slowly and clearly. We will try to divide it into thought groups.
3.Reading and underlining
We shall read the article once again, this time, to underline all the useful expressions in it. After school, you are going to write them down in your notebook.
This week/ we asked students/ at New Star High School/ about the best ways/ to learn more English. Many said/ they learnt/ by using English. Some students had more specific suggestions. Lillian Li, for example, said/ the best way/ to learn new words/ was by reading English magazines. She said that/ memorizing the words of pop songs/ also helped/ a little. When we asked about studying grammar/ she said, “I never study grammar. It's too boring.”
Wei Ming feels differently. He's been learning English/ for six years/ and really loves it. He thinks/ studying grammar /is a great way/ to learn a language. He also thinks that/ watching English movies/ isn't a bad way/ because he can watch the actors/ say the words. Sometimes, however, he finds watching movies/ frustrating/ because the people speak too quickly.
Lin Chang said that/ joining the English club/ at school/ was the best way/ to improve her English. Students get lots of practice/ and they also have fun. She added that/ having conversations/ with friends/ was not helpful/ at all. "We get excited/ about something/ and then/ end up speaking/ in Chinese,” she said.
4.Translating and completing the chart
Because you have read this article many times you are going to translate it into Chinese first and then complete the chart on page 4.
Who will be the first to have a try?
Ways of learning English
Not successful OK Successful
Lillian Li Studying grammar memorizing the words of pop songs reading English magazines
Wei Ming watching movies watching English movies studying grammar
Liu Chang having conversations/ with friends
joining the English club
3b Doing a pairwork
Silence, please! We are going to have a role play in pairs. One of the pair is to be one of the people in 3a. The other is to interview him or her about learning English.
Zhao: Excuse me, Li Hong. Could you help me with my English?
Li: Yes, please. What’s the matter?
Zhao: I have difficulty studying grammar.
Li: Grammar? I never studying grammar. I study English mostly by memorizing the words of pop songs.
Zhao: No grammar at all?
Li: Yes, I did study grammar. But I study it by reading English magazines. I put grammar learning into reading articles. That is the best way to understand English grammar.
4 Doing a pairwork
Turn to page 4 to check √what you do to learn English in the box.
Closing down by asking and answering-How did you learn English?
＊ I listened to English them every day.
＊ I read English books many times a day.
＊ I learned many English songs by heart.
＊ I sang the English songs to myself.
＊ I learned every new English word in the text.
＊ I learn English by going to English classes.
＊ I do English homework at school.
＊ I read English textbooks in the evening.
＊ I speak English very slowly.
＊ I play computer games in English.
＊ I read a lot of English sentences in the morning.
＊ I do well in class English tests.
＊ I get a lot of good advice on learning English from my teacher.
＊ I discuss English problems with my classmates.
＊ I follow the advice from my father.
＊ I learn English sounds from the tape.
＊ I use English-English dictionaries.
＊ I listen to recordings and English-language TV.
＊ I talk to native speakers every chance I got.
＊ I read books in English, mostly novels.
＊ I learn a lot of new words from English books.
＊ I write more and more e-mail in English.
＊ I use English more than my first language.
＊ Most of my reading (websites and books) is in English.
Section B
Goals
● To listen about learning English
● To talk about learning English
● To read about learning English
Procedures
Warming up by reading to the recording
Hello, everyone. To begin with, let’s listen and read to the recording of the text HOW DO YOU LEARN BEST? That is, read aloud to the tape, as fast as the tape goes, as clearly as the native reader reads. OK? Here we go!
My cat speaks English.
Sometimes my cat comes to me and tells me that she is hungry. Or that her leg hurts. How does my cat tell me these things? I don't speak pussy-cat language.
1a Reading and checking
Learning English can be both easy and difficult. What things are easy for you? And what things are difficult for you? Now turn to page 5, read the list on the top and check √the statements that are true for you.
1b Making a list
You have read and checked the statements true for you. Now think and make a list of other things difficult for you, too.
I don’t know how to…!
1. I don’t know how to use commas.
2. I don’t know how to work with others.
3. I don’t know how to make flashcards.
4. I don’t know how to read the textbook.
5. I don’t know how to make vocabulary lists.
6. I don’t know how to listen to tape.
7. I don’t know how to ask the teacher for help.
8. I don’t know how to study for a test.
9. I don’t know how to work with a group.
10. I don’t know how to watch English videos.
11. I don’t know how to practice conversations with friends.
12. I don’t know how to read aloud to practice pronunciation.
13. I don’t know how to learn by using English.
14. I don’t know how to get more specific suggestions.
15. I don’t know how to read English magazines.
16. I don’t know how to learn new words.
17. I don’t know how to memorize the words.
18. I don’t know how to studying grammar
19. I don’t know how to watching English movies
20. I don’t know how to joining the English club
21. I don’t know how to improve her English
22. I don’t know how to get lots of practice
13. I don’t know how to ask teachers about the best ways to learn more English.
2a Listening and checking
Paul is a nice boy. He works hard at his English, but still has many learning challenges. Now listen to find out what challenges he has and check them in the box on page 5.
Challenges to Paul at learning English
1._____ can’t get the pronunciation right.
2._____ forget a lot of new words.
3._____ can’t understand when people talk to me.
4._____ can’t understand the words in magazines.
5._____ don’t get much writing practices.
2b Listening and matching
Now listen again to Paul talking about his challenges at learning English and match them with the solutions listed in the box on page 5. While listening, pay attention to the structures of the sentences.
Tapescript
Teacher: You look worried, Paul.
Boy: I am, Ms Mitchell. I’m having trouble learning English.
Teacher: You said you liked English. What’s the problem?
Boy: I can’t get the pronunciation right.
Teacher: Well, listening can help. Why don’t you borrow the teacher’s tapes? You can listen to them at home and repeat the sentences that are difficult for you.
Boy: That’s a good idea. But what about all the new words? I forget a lot of new words.
Teacher: You can always write the new words in your notebook and study them at home. You can even study in the train on the way to school.
Boy: That might really help! Thanks.
Teacher: Can you understand when people talk to you?
Boy: Well, no. Not always. Sometimes I just don’t understand what people are saying.
Teacher: Why don’t you join an English language club to practice speaking English? The English club meets after school on Tuesdays and Thursdays.
Boy: Maybe I’ll go. The only other problem I have is that I don’t get much writing practice.
Teacher: Maybe you should find a pen pal.
Boy: That sounds like a fun way to practice writing. Thanks, Ms Mitchell.
2c Doing pairwork
IN pairs we are going to role play conversations using the information from activities 2a and 2b.
I don’t have a partner to practice English with. Maybe you should join an English language club.
I can’t get the pronunciation right. Listening can help.
I forget a lot of new words. Write the new words on cards and study them daily.
I can’t understand when people talk to me. You can join an English club to talk to people more in English.
I can’t understand the words in magazines. You can look them up in a dictionary.
I don’t get much writing practices. Start writing an English diary every day.
I read very slowly. You should read to the recording of the text.
I make mistakes in grammar. Why don’t study the basic sentence patterns
3a Reading and cutting
It’s time to read the text HOW I LEARN ENGLISH. Now read and check (/) the sentences.
We are going to read the text again to study the form and function of all the predicate verbs.
How I learned to learn English
Last year/ my English class/ was difficult/ for me. First of all, it wasn't easy/ for me/ to understand the teacher/ when she talked to the class. To begin with, she spoke/ too quickly, and I couldn't understand every word. Later on, I realized that/ it doesn't matter/ if you don’t understand /every word. Also/ I was afraid to speak/ in class, because/ I thought/ my classmates/ might laugh at me. I couldn't always make complete sentences, either. Then/ I started to watch English-language TV. It helped/ a lot. I think that/ doing lots of listening practice/ is of the secrets of becoming a good language learner. Another thing/ that I found/ very difficult/ was English grammar. So/ I decided to take lots of grammar notes/ in every class. Then/ I started to write my own original sentences/ using the grammar/(that) I was learning. It’s amazing/ how much/ this helped. Now/ I am enjoying learning English/ and I got an A/ this term. My teacher is very impressed.
Next we shall read the text for the third time to underline all the useful expressions. After class you are to copy them into your notebook.
All right, read the text the fourth time and circle all the signal words, or the linking words which connect all the short sentences.
Now you may read the statements in the box on page 6 following the text. Write “T” or “F” beside each statement.
3b Writing a letter
Your friend Lin Feng is having difficulties with her English. Write her a letter telling her how to become a better English learner.
Dear Lin Feng,
I know it isn’t easy to learn English, but I have some ideas that may help. You said you couldn’t understand people who talked fast. Well, you can try to listen for the most important words, not every word. It is difficult to understand by listening what you have not read or what you can’t understand well by reading. To listen well you have to read well. So keep on reading English. Listening and reading to the recording of the text is very important, too. Every text, after being read, should be listened to and read aloud to the tape. At first you may find it difficult to follow the reader reading aloud the text. Don’t worry. If you keep practicing you will be able to read aloud as fast as the native reader from the tape. And then you can understand people who talk fast in English.
Yours,
Tai Zuo
3c Writing an article
You have been learning English for at least three years. That is such a long time. Now think about the things that have helped you the most in learning English. Write an article telling others about them.
4 Doing an interview
Next we shall do an interview in groups of four. Ask the three group mates about learning English. Take notes of what they say. Tomorrow you shall stand to tell the class about their answers.
Q. What isn’t easy about learning English? A. Reading is not easy.
Q. What do you do about this? A. I try to cut the sentences into thought groups.
Q. What is your favorite way to learn more English? I read and read aloud a lot. These are the best way.
Closing down by sing
To end this period let’s sing an English song.
Rain, rain, go away,
Come again another day,
Little Johnny
Wants to play.
Rain, rain, go to Spain,
Never show your face again.
SELF CHECK
1.Filling in the blank
We shall make a check on our use of expressions first. Turn to page 7 and fill in each blank with the correct word given. Change the form of the word if necessary. Then make your own sentences with each word.
Complete the sentences Make your sentences
1. You should write down new English words in a vocabulary list. Don’t trust your memory. Write it down.
2. If you don’t know how to spell new words, look them up in a dictionary. I don’t know how to spell your name.
3. The best way to improve your English is to join an English club. I’d like to join the school football tea.
4. Another thing that he find very difficult was English grammar. I find it easy to learn English.
5. This kind of paper feels very soft. Do you feel cold?
2.Writing an article
Turn to page 7 and write an article about Xu Zheng using the notes on Xu and his essay.
Xu Zheng: a boy fond of English
Most people in the world speak English as a second language. And so does Xu Zheng.
Yesterday I asked Xu Zheng about his ways to learn English. He said he learns by making up conversations and speaking to friends in English. When I asked about studying pronunciation, he said he spent much time on it, but he still found native speakers’ pronunciation difficult to learn.
I said to him, “You are a computer student. Why are you so interested in English?”
“English popular in science. And it is popular around the world for computers,” he told me. “I like writing notes, watching movies and listening to pop songs. But I like reading in English online most, ” added he.
Xu Zheng is right. English can really help us understand many new things from other countries. Let’s learn from Xu Zheng. Let’s be fond of English, too.I
Reading: How do we deal with our problems?
As English is learned mostly through reading in China, we shall now turn to page 8 to learn to read the article entitled: How do we deal with our problem?
Before reading, please go over the vocabulary list for reading on page 146. Get yourself familiarized with all the words and expressions to be found in the article.
While reading try to divide the sentences into thought groups and underline all the expressions useful to you. While you are reading it for the second time, try to circle all the linking words and try translating the text into Chinese.
How do we deal with our problem?
Rich or poor, young or old, we all have problems. And unless we deal with our problems, we easily become unhappy. Worrying about our problems can affect how we do at school. It can also influence the way we behave with our families. So how do we deal with our problems? There are many ways.
By learning to forget
Most of us have probably been angry with our friends, parents or teachers. Perhaps they said something you didn't like, or you felt unfair. Sometimes, people can stay angry for years about a small problem. Time goes by, and good friendships may be lost.
When we are angry, however, we are usually the ones affected. Perhaps we have seen young children playing together. Sometimes they have disagreements, and decide not to talk to each other. However, this usually does not last for long. This is an important lesson for us: we can solve a problem by learning to forget.
By regarding problems as challenges
Many students often complain about school. They might feel they have too much work to do sometimes, or think the rules are too strict. We must learn how to change these "problems" into "challenges". Education is an important part of our development. As young adults, it is our duty to try our best to deal with each challenge in our education with the help of our teachers.
By thinking of something worse
By comparing yourself to other people, you will find your problems are not so terrible. Think about Stephen Hawking, for example, a very clever scientist, who regards his many physical problems as unimportant. He can't walk or even speak, but he has become very famous and successful. We are probably quite healthy and smart. Let's not worry about problems. Let's face the challenges instead.
After reading, copy the underlined expressions into your Phrase Book as home.
Expressions from How do we deal with our problem?
rich or poor, young or old, have problems, deal with one’s problems, become unhappy, worry about one’s problems, do well at school, influence the way, behave well with…, deal with one’s problems, be angry with…, feel unfair, stay angry for years about…, time goes by, lose good friendships, see… playing together, have disagreements, talk to each other, last for long, an important lesson for…, solve a problem by learning to forget, regarding problems as challenges, complain about school, have too much work to do, the rules are too strict, change…into…, an important part of one’]s development, as young adults, be one’s duty, to try one’s best, to deal with…in one’s education, with the help of…, thinking of something worse, comparing…to…, find one’s problems, think about…, for example, a very clever scientist, regards…as unimportant, become very famous and successful, worry about…, face the challenges
Part 2: Teaching Resources (第二部分：教學資源)
Tips for Beginners
You are like a new baby
Babies learn their language slowly.
First they learn to listen.
Then they learn to talk.
Finally, they can read and write.
Listen to English every day
Listen to English radio.
Watch English TV.
Go to English movies.
Use online lessons.
Make an English/ESL friend
Make up conversations.
Practice dialogues.
Use beginner textbooks.
Read English stories
Start with children's storybooks.
Try ESL readers.
Read advertisements, signs and labels.
Try EnglishClub.com for Young Learners.
Write down new words
Start a vocabulary (new word) notebook.
Write words in alphabetical order (A...B...C...).
Make example sentences.
Always use an English-English dictionary first.
Keep an English diary
Start with one sentence.
How do you feel?
How is the weather?
What did you do today?
Write another sentence tomorrow.
Visit an English speaking country
Learn English more quickly.
Stay with an English family.
Hear native speakers talk.
Have a fun experience.