unit10 americanliterature
i.单元教学目标
技能目标skillgoals
▲talkaboutamericanliterature
▲practisepredictinganddescribingwhatastorymightbeabout
▲reviewalltheverbtenses
▲writeabookreview
ii.目标语言
功 能 句 式 predictanddescribewhatanovelwithacertainthememightbeabout.
whatwouldbeaninterestingstory?
whatwouldbeanexcitingplot?
whatcharacterswouldlikelyappearinit?
whatwouldthecharactersbelike?
whereandwhenwouldthestorytakeplace?
wouldyouliketoreadashortstoryoranovel?
doyouwanttoreadforpleasureorforschool?
词汇 1.四会词汇
garbage,maid,prince,outcome,penny,grocery,bakery,weep,furnish,shabby,mailbox,bell,rag,rare,garment,worn,carpet,barbershop,haircut,anecdote,booklet,mutton,stove,baggage,pale,prayer,approve,anyhow,shave,comb,tortoise,flash,simplify
2.认读词汇
dudleyrandall,della,dillingham,backyard,cascade,sofronie,curl,coneyisland, williamsydneyporter,broadway,tortoiseshell,jewel,reaction
3.词组
attendto,takepridein,doup,letdown,fixsthon/uponsb,atlength
4.重点词汇
weep,furnish,shabby,anecdote,baggage,pale,approve,anyhow,shave,flash,simplify
语法 reviewalltheverbtenses.
重 点句子 1.expenseshadbeengreaterthanshehadcalculated. p84
2.shehesitatedforaminuteandstoodstillwhileatearortwofellonthewornredcarpet. p85
3.therewasnootherlikeitinanyofthestores,andshehadturnedalloftheminsideout. p85
4.itwasworthyofthewatch. p85
5.it’llgrowagain—youwon’tmind,willyou? p88
6.i’mmewithoutmyhair,aren’ti? p88
iii.教材分析与教材重组
1.教材分析
本单元以americanliterature为话题,通过诗歌欣赏,判断文学作品主题和阅读文学名著等学习方式,使学生对美国文学的特点以及发展历史和现状有一定的认识和了解,并能用已有的关于美国的历史、政治、文化等方面的知识判断和描述一部文学作品的主题、内容梗概和写作方法;能够运用所学的语言知识和技能听懂以对话形式对文学俱乐部举行的某些活动的评论,如成功和失败之处、优点和缺点所在等;并能用英语谈论美国文学作品,包括判断主题、分析写作特点、讨论作品主人公的个性、总结中心思想等,并对作品加以评论。
1.1 warmingup用一首小诗激发学生对美国文学进一步了解的兴趣,并使学生对美国黑人的诗歌有一个初步认识。它既呈现了本单元的中心话题—americanliterature,又以回答问题的形式帮助学生以这首小诗为线索去探究美国文学的特点,为以后关于“americanliterature”的进一步听、说、读、写的学习打下基础。共
1.2 listening包括两个部分。第一部分中要求学生在“听”之前谈论一下自己在英语角或英语俱乐部所参加过的活动以及他们的感受和经历;或者听说过的、更有趣的英语活动和学习途径,为下一步的“听”作充分的准备。第二部分是一篇对话,ben,annandlily正在为俱乐部组织一次英语活动。该部分设置的问题是:分析本次活动成功的原因和一次英语角活动不成功的原因,有一定难度。通过这项任务的完成,培养学生抓住听力材料中的要点信息、同时加以分析和总结的能力。
1.3 speaking是一项对话练习,内容是根据所给出的四幅图片,运用已有的关于美国的历史知识去判断每幅图片有可能表达的一部文学作品的主题是什么。这项设计的特点是:①让学生使用有关谈论文学作品的特点、人物以及故事发生的时间、地点等方面的语言交流自己对某些文学作品看法和观点;②丰富学生谈论文学作品的语言,包括词汇和句型等;③激发学生对美国文学的兴趣,并加深对美国文学的了解,为今后喜爱阅读更多的美国文学作品的原著打下初步的基础。
1.4 pre-reading是reading的热身活动。设计了两个任务供学生实践和完成。第一项任务是:通过略读的方法快速获取信息并推断故事情节的进一步发展。第二项任务是:用浏览的方式在课文中快速找出特定的信息用以回答问题。
1.5 reading是一部短篇小说,节选自美国著名短篇小说家欧•亨利的著名短篇小说《麦琪的礼物》。文章讲述了一对穷困的年轻夫妇为互赠圣诞礼物而忍痛卖掉引以自豪的长发和怀表,却换来了不再起作用的发梳和表链的故事,反映了美国下层人民生活的艰难和辛酸,赞美了主人公善良的心地和相濡以沫的爱情。文章情节生动,构思巧妙,文笔简短而精练,结局出人意料。
1.6 post-reading部分设计了三类任务,其中第一类是针对文章的理解,评价学生对文章理解的程度(exx.1—4);第二类是要求学生以根据课文做出的正误判断题为线索写一篇描述德拉的短文(ex.5);第三类任务要求学生根据已知的故事情节推断小说后半部分的故事情节将会怎样发展(ex.6)。后两项任务具有很大的灵活性和挑战性。
1.7 languagestudy分为词汇和语法两项。词汇部分帮助学生学习用适合的形式和意义使用词汇和短语,旨在培养学生运用英语词汇和短语的能力。语法项目是复习动词的各种时态。
1.8 integratingskills包括读和写两部分。该部分是reading的续篇。在这部分中,小说的故事情节有了戏剧性的发展和出乎意料、却又在情理之中的结局。该部分的教学重点是分析文章的写作特点和表现手法并启发学生细心体会作者是如何以文学作品为载体去表达一个深刻的思想内涵的。写作部分的任务有两项:一是根据所给出的四幅图片描写本篇小说的故事情节;二是写一篇这部小说的摘要并对此加以评论以提高学生的写作能力。
2.教材重组
2.1 从话题内容上分析,warmingup和speaking以及workbook中的talking比较一致;将这三部分整合在一起,设计成一节任务型“口语课”从教材份量来说也比较适当。
2.2 无论从话题内容上分析,还是从训练目的上分析,listening与workbook中的listening都相一致;因此,可将两个listening整合在一起,设计成一节“听力课”。共
2.3 ??pre-reading,readingoípost-readingèy?????ˉ??o??úò??eéè??3éò??ú?°???á??£¨ò?£??±?£
2.4 ?ù?Y±?μ¥?aμ?ì?μ?£¨integratingskills?Dμ?readingê?readingμ?D??a£?£???integratingskills?Dμ?readingoíwriting??o?3é?°???á??£¨?t£??±???óμúèy??ê±?£
2.5 ??languagestudyó?workbook?Dμ?practising2?·???o??úò??e£?×é3éò??ú?°ó?·¨???±?£
2.6 ??workbook?Dintegratingskillsμ?reading£¨·o?á£??°ò??°writing??o?3éò??ú?°·o?áó?D′×÷???±?£
3.??Díéè??ó???ê±·???£¨?-?ì2?·???£??ù?Y?§?é£?±?μ¥?a?éò?ó?6??ê±?ìíê?££?
1st period speaking
2nd period listening
3rd period reading
4th period extensivereading
5th period languagestudy
6th period extensivereading&&writing
¢¤.·???ê±?ì°?
thefirstperiod speaking
teachinggoals?ì?§??±ê
1.targetlanguage??±êó???
a.??μ?′ê??oí?ìó?
theme,americanliterature,nativeamericans,slavery,thecivilwar,asaguidefor,outcome
b.???êó?ó?
whatwouldbeaninterestingstory?
whatwouldbeanexcitingplot?
whatcharacterswouldappearinit?
whatwouldthecharactersbelike?
wherewouldthestorytakeplace?
whenwouldthestorytakeplace?
wouldyouliketoreadashortstoryoranovel?
doyouwanttoreadforpleasureorforschool?
2.abilitygoals?üá|??±ê
enablethestudentstotalkaboutthethemesofamericanliterature,tellwhattypeofstoriestheyliketoreadanddiscusswhysomebookswrittenbyamericanwritersarepopularbutsomearenotsopopular.
3.learningabilitygoals?§?ü??±ê
helpthestudentslearnhowtopredictthethemesofnovelsaccordingtogiveninformation.
teachingimportantpoints?ì?§??μ?
letthesslearntodescribeandpredictdifferentthemesofamericanliteratureandwhattypeofstoriestheywouldliketoread.
teachingdifficultpoints?ì?§??μ?
howtoexpresstheirideasaboutdifferentthemesofamericanliteratureintheproperwaysuchasanexcitingplot,characters,whenandwherethestorytakingplaceandsoon.
teachingmethods?ì?§·?·¨
1.talkingmethod;
2.pairworkorgroupworktohaveadiscussion.
teachingaids?ì??×?±?
acomputerandaprojector.
teachingprocedures&ways?ì?§1y3ìó?·?ê?
stepirevision
t:goodmorning/afternoon,boysandgirls!
ss:goodmorning/afternoon,sir/madam!
t:doyoulikereading?
ss:yes.wealllikereading!
t:idon?ˉtthinkso.wheneveriseeyou,youaretalkingaboutsports,music,food,clothes,pictures,starsandsoon,butseldomareyoutalkingaboutreading.12
sa:youarepartlyright,sir/madam.weseldomtalkaboutreadingjustbecausewehavedifferentinterestsindifferentkindsofliteratureworksanddifferentthemes.
sb:alsobecausewehavetoreadsomuchforschooleverydayandhavesolittletimetoreadwhatwelikeforpleasure.
t:oh,i?ˉmsorryforwhatisaidjustmow.thatistosay,youdidyourhomeworkverywellyesterday?
ss:certainly!
t:andyouhavegotasmuchknowledgeaboutamericanliteratureasyoucan?
ss:yes!
t:great!let?ˉshaveacompetitionbetweenboysandgirls.thosewholiketojoininthecompetitionstandinlines,boysstandontheleft,girlsright.ourcompetitionwillgoonlikethis:eachofthegroupnumberswillwriteoutoneworkwithitswriter?ˉsnameontheblackboard,dothatinturnineachofyourgroupsasquicklyasyoucan.youcanwritedifferentworksbythesamewriter,butcan?ˉtwritethesamework.ok?anotherthing:ifyoubothgetthesamenumberoftheworks,thegroupwithmoredifferentwriterswillbethewinner.we?ˉllfinishitwithinthreeminutes.areyouready?one,two,three,go!
afewminuteslater,checktheworktogetherandcongratulateonthewinninggroup.thenhandouttheprizespreparedforthewinnerstoencouragethem.
possibleresult (b):blackwriter
boygroup
theadventureoftomsawyer
?a?amarktwain
thebeastinthejungle
?a?ahenryjames
mainstreet
?a?asinclairlewis
nativeson
?a?arichardwright(b)
thescarletletter
?a?anathanielhawthorne
theoldmanandthesea
?a?aernesthemingway
thecallofthewild
?a?ajacklondon
martineden
?a?ajacklondon girlgroup
adventuresofhuckleberryfinn
?a?amarktwain
thecantos
?a?aezrapound
thegrapeofwrath
?a?ajohnsteinbeck
invisibleman
?a?aralphellison(b)
afarewelltoarms
?a?aernesthemingway
thegiftofthemagi
?a?ao.henry
thelastleaf
?a?ao.henry
...
theboygroupwinsthecompetitionwithsevendifferentworksandwriters.
stepiiwarmingup
talkaboutsomefamousamericanwritersandtheirfamousworksappearingonthescreen.
t:youdidagreatandexcitingjobjustnow.well,let?ˉslookatsomepictures.doyouknowsomethingaboutthem?ifyouknow,pleasetellusasmuchasyoucan.
showsomepicturesaboutsomefamousamericanwriterssuchasmarktwain,ernesthemingway,o.henry,nathanielhawthorne,andsoon.atthesametime,askthesstotrytotalkaboutthepicturesinorderthatthesscandrawasmuchinformationaboutamericanliteratureaspossible.12
showthepictureofnathanielhawthorneandhisfamousworkthescarletletteronthescreen.
t:who?ˉshe?andhaveyoureadthenovel?
sa:heisnathanielhawthorne.iknowalittleabouthim.hawthorneisanovelistandshortstorywriterandthescarletletterisoneofhismostsuccessfulworks.butihaven?ˉtreadthenovel.
t:good.doyouknowsomeotherbest-knownworkswrittenbyhawthorne£?
sb:letmetry.thehouseofthesevengables,twicetoldtalesandtheartistofthebeautiful.
t:verygood!let?ˉsseesomethingabouthim.
showthebriefintroductiononthescreenandasksomeonetoreaditaloud.
nathanielhawthorne
borninsalem,massachusetts.novelistandshortstorywriter,acentralfigureintheamericanrenaissance.nathanielhawthorne?ˉsbest-knownworksincludethescarletletter(1850)andthehouseofthesevengables(1851).
t:wehavelearnedsomethingaboutnathanielhawthorne.nowlookatthis!haveyoureadthestory?anddoyouknowsomethingaboutitswriter?
showthepicturesofharrietbeecherstoweandherfamousworkuncletom?ˉscabinonthescreen.
sc:yes!manyofushavereadthestory.itisanantislaverynovelwrittenin1852byharrietbeecherstowe.thestorywasaboutafaithfulblackslavewaskilledbyacruelwhiteenslaverandmadepeopleknowhowcrueltheslaverywas.itarousedthepeople?ˉssympathies.
t:great!now,let?ˉslearnsomethingmoreaboutharrietbeecherstowe.
showthebriefintroductiononthescreenandasksomeonetoreaditaloud.
harrietbeecherstowe
bornintheusa.in1811.herbookuncletom?ˉscabinnotonlymadeherfamousbutalsoshooktheworldandwashelpfulincausingtheamericancivilwar.therewastimewheneveryenglish-speakingpersonhadreadthenovelthatdidsomuchtostopslavery.presidentlincolngreetedherasthe?°littlewomanwhowrotethebookthatmadethisgreatwar.?±
t:haveyoureadthesepoems?
showthepoetryanthologyonthescreen.
ss:no.heardaboutitbuthaven?ˉtreadit./yes.thepoemsintheanthologyarewonderful...
t:yes.thatisawonderfulpoetryanthologywrittenbyagreatpoetwaltwhitman.in1855whitmanpublishedavolumeof12poemsathisownexpense,leavesofgrass,whichhehadbegunworkingonprobablyasearlyas1847.itwascriticizedbecauseofitsinnovationinverseform,thatis,theuseoffreeverseinlongrhythmicallineswithanatural,?°organic?±structure.12
whileintroducingthewriterandhispoems,showtheportraitofwaltwhitmanandthebookandthelogcabinwheretheworkwasbornonthescreen.
t:nowlet?ˉsappreciatetheversesfromoneofhispoems.
showtheversesonthescreen.
ocaptain!mycaptain!ourfearfultripisdone;theshiphasweather?ˉdeveryrack,theprizewesoughtiswon.
?a?aocaptain!mycaptain!
waltwhitman
t:canyoutastethedeepmeaning?
ss:sorry...
t:herewaltwhitmancomparesamericatotheship,lincolntothecaptain.theship?°hasweather?ˉdeveryrack?±,whiletheirgreatcaptainlaydownforever.
ss:...(thesswillfeelverysorrywhenhearingthis.)
t:yes.thatiswhatgoodliteratureworksbringus.look,youmusthavereadthisbook.
showthebooktheadventureoftomsawyeronthescreen.
ss:yes!almosteveryonehasreadthebook.that?ˉsveryinterestingandexcitingandmeaningful!
t:whowroteit?
ss:marktwain!!
showthepictureofmarktwain.
t:marktwainishispenname.doyouknowhisrealname?
ss:samuellanghorneclemens.
t:that?ˉsright.canyoucountmoreofhisworks?
sd:certainly!besidestheadventureoftomsawyer,hewrotemanyinterestingandhumorousstoriessuchasadventuresofhuckleberryfinn,themysteriousstranger,lifeonthemississippi,thegildedageandsonon.
se:alongwithessays,criticalworks,andmore.
t:verygood!hereonthescreenaresomemoreinformationaboutmarktwain.pleasegothroughitbyyourselves.
aboutmarktwain:
marktwain,pennameofsamuellanghorneclemens,wasagreatliterarygiantofamerica,whowasconsidered?°thetruefatherofournationalliterature?±.
thetypicalthemeinclemens?ˉwritingwasthenarrationofastorybyayoungornativeperson.whenhewroteaboutyouth,theyouthwasusuallywisebeyondhisyearsbutremainedanidealismwhichclementscomparedwiththeinsincerityandcrueltyoftheadultworld.
t:tillnow,we?ˉvelearnedaboutmanyfamouswritersofamericaandtheirworks,buthaveyoureadthiswork? pointingtothepoemonpage82.
ss:no,wehaven?ˉt.
t:nowpleasereaditcarefullytwiceorthreetimes,thengothoughthequestionsgivenbelowandhaveadiscussioningroupsoffour.afewminuteslater,i?ˉllcheckyourjobs.
ifthereisenoughtimeorthestudentshaveenoughknowledgeabouttheamericanliteratureandwriters,theteachercanhavethesstalkmoreaboutthem.
afewminuteslater.
t:areyouready? 12
ss:yes!
t:everyoneknowsthatthetextyou?ˉvejustreadisapoem,yes?
ss:yes!that?ˉsveryclear.
t:canyouguesswhowrotethepoem?imean,wasitwrittenbyawhitepoetorablackone?
sf:ithinkitwaswrittenbyablackpoet.
t:butwhydoyouthinkso?
sg:becauseit?ˉstalkingaboutlowestworkingpeopleallthewayandgivesthemandtheirworkhighgloryandshowstherespecttotheirancestors.
sh:ithinkso.although?°theblack?±isn?ˉtmentionedasingletimeinthepoem,stillicanfeelitwaswrittenbyablackpoetthroughthesensibilitiesandthelanguages.itdescribesthehardworkoftheirancestorsaswellastheirpoorlivingconditions.whooncelivedamiserablelifelikepigs?slaves!whooncewereforcedtobeslaves?blackpeople!
si:yes.andwhomadetheblackpeople,bornfreeones,slaves?theearlywhitesettlersinamerica!soicanjudgeitmustbeamericanliterature,andcouldn?ˉtbewrittenbyanypoetfromanothercountry.alsoicanreadouttheblackpeople?ˉsaspirationforfreedomandequality.
t:good!wonderfuldeducing!andwhatdeepthoughtcanwegetfromthepoem?
sj:ithinkthepoemisaboutaccusingofslaveryandtheunfairnessofthesociety.itshowsusaspiritoffreedomandtellsusthatpeopleareborntobeequalandnobodyisnoblerorlower.
t:verygoodanswers,andyouallhavedeepthinkingaboutthepurposeofthewriter.
sk:justnowsisaiditmustbeamericanliterature,iagreewithit.fromthehistoryandthesubstanceofthepoemwecanknowthis.americausedtobeacolonyofengland.slaveryexistedinamericaforalongtime.slavesweretreatedcruellyasdraughtanimals.asamericahadnotaperiodoffeudal,americansdidn?ˉtbelieveinkingsandqueens.aftertheindependentwarandthecivilwar,americamarchedontofreedom.atthattime,slaveryhadbeenabolishedbutthethinkingofslaveryandracialdiscriminationstillrootedinthemindsofamericans.thewriterwantedtobreakthewallbetweenpeople,callforequalityandblackpeople?ˉsself-respectandconfidence.sohewrotethispoem.
t:great!you?ˉveanalyzedthehistoryoriginandmadetheanswerreasonable.andthen,whocantellussomethingaboutthewriter,whosenamewasmarkedbelowthepoem?
sl:iknowsomethingabouthim.dudleyrandallwasborninwashington,d.c.in1914.heworkedduringthedepressioninthefoundryofthefordmotorcompanyindearborn,michigan,andthenasacarrierandclerkfortheu.s.postofficeindetroit.heservedintheu.s.armysignalcorps,andgraduatedfromwaynestateuniversityandtheuniversityofmichigan.12
sm:hewasalibrarianatseveraluniversities,andfoundedthebroadsidepressin1965?°soblackpeoplecouldspeaktoandfortheirpeople?±.
t:verygood.andwhatabouthisideatotheblackpoets?
sn:randalltoldnegrodigest,?°precisionandaccuracyarenecessaryforbothwhiteandblackwriters...??ablackaesthetic?ˉshouldnotbeanexcuseforsloppywriting.?±heurgedafricanamericanwriterstorejectwhatwasfalsein?°white?±poetry,butnottoforsakeuniversalconcernsinfavorofaracialagenda.
t:wonderfulandclear!whocantellsomethingabouthisachievements?
so:letmetry.hisworksincludeongettinganaturalandalitanyoffriends;newandselectedpoems.heeditedtheblackpoets,anextensiveanthologyofpoetry,fromslavesongstothepresent.
t:excellentjobsyou?ˉvedone!
showthepicturesofdudleyrandallandoneofhisworks.
t:whenlookingbackthehistoryandlifeintheunitedstates,whatspecialthemesandwhatsortofstorieswouldyouexpectforamericanliterature?iwanttoknowyourideas.
sp:iwanttoreportmyidea.americausedtobeacolonyofenglandandslaveryexistedforalongtime.freedomcametrueaftertheindependentwarandthecivilwar.therewerealotofstoriesaboutloveandcourageinwars.sothefightsaboutamericanespeciallyblackpeoplewhofoughtforfreedomandequalrightsmustbeveryexciting.
sq:i?ˉvereadthestoryadventuresofhuckleberryfinnwrittenbymarktwain,whichisaboutawhiteboyandablackslaverunningawayfromtheirterribleplacestogethertohavetheiradventuretravel.thestoryisveryinterestingandexciting.
sr:iexpectforthemesaboutwars.thefuriouswarcanshowusthestrongforcetotheslaveryandbringuscourageandpower.certainly,thisthemecanmakeusfeelexcitedandthrilling.
st:thethemesaboutthecommonpeople?ˉslifeofamericawillbeattractions,fromwhichwecanknowmoreaboutthereallifeofpeopleinlowerclass.thiskindofthemesisoftenrealisticandmovingwithkindandhard-workingcharactersinthem.wecanlearnmorefromthemandgetedificationinheart.
t:good!andyouhavesomuchwonderfulthoughtthatialmostwanttoreadallofthethemesoftheamericanliteratureworks.howcouldidoandwhichoneshouldichoose?
thesswillhaveavarietyofideasaboutthethemesofamericanliterature.deal withthesituationabouttheirdiscussionandletthemreportfreelydependingontimeandthecase.collecttheideasabouttheirinterestingthemesbymakingaformforthestudents tofillin.12
possiblelist
themes works writer
antislaveryandcivilwar uncletom?ˉscabin
theslave harrietbeecherstowerichardhildreth
nativeamerican theadventureoftomsawyer
lifeonthemississippi marktwain
westernpioneers shane jackschaefer
neuter leavesofgrass waltwhitman
commonlife thegiftofthemagi o.henry
?- ?- ?-
stepiiispeaking
t:fromwhatyoudidjustnow,ibelieveyou?ˉveknownmuchabouttheamericanliterature.youknowthemajorthemesintheliteratureofacountryreflectimportanteventsorperiodsinthehistoryofthecountry.therearefourpictureshereaboutamericanliterature.lookatthemanduseyourhistoryknowledgeaboutthe usa.workinpairsanddiscusswhatkindofstoriesyou?ˉdliketoread,usingtheusefulexpressionsonpage84.afewminutes1ater,i?ˉllasksomeofyoutopresentyourideasintheformofdialoguestotheclass.ok?
ss:yes!
thestudentsstarttohaveadiscussioninpairs,whiletheteachergoesamongthemtoseeiftheyhaveanyquestionsanddirectsthestudents?ˉactivities.
afewminuteslater.
t:areyouready?
ss:yes.
t:whowantstobevolunteer?
ss:(thefirstpair)letushaveatry.
possibledialogues
picture1
a:doyouknowwhowasthenativeofamericabeforeeuropeancame?
b:ithink,it?ˉsindian,americanindian.therearealotofstoriesaboutthem,andsomeareveryinteresting,especiallysomeabouttherelationshipbetweenindiansandwhitepersons.
a:really?ifeeltheurgeinmyhearttoknowsomethingaboutthem.doyouknowanyfamousnovelsaboutthem?
b:sorry,butihaveseenafilmnamed?°dancingwiththewolves?±,it?ˉsastoryaboutacaptain,anenglishwhiteman,whowenttothewestpartofamerica,whenalotofpeoplehadgonethereandindianswerediscriminatedandkilledbywhitepersons.hemadefriendswithagroupofindiansandhelpedthemnotbehurtbywhitepeople.it?ˉsaverysadstory.
a:theremustbeanexcitingplot!iwon?ˉtmissit.
b:ihopeyoucanenjoyit.
picture2
a:ilikecowboyverymuchandievendreamthaticangotoamericaandbeacowboyoneday.
b:well,itisreallyawonderfuldream.buthowmuchdoyoulearnaboutthelifeofcowboyinamerica?
a:verylittle,thatiswhatiwanttoknow.
b:ithinkicantellyousomethingaboutit.whenthepopulationofsettlersbecamelargerandlagerinthe1800s,manypeoplewenttothewestland.theywereattractedbythelowpriceofthelandandthechancetoearnmoney.atthattime,cowsweremorethanpeople,socowboyswereneeded.torunafterthecows,cowboysrodehorsesandworeleatherboots.theycreatedtheirspecialsongs,stories,lifestylesandspecialcharacters.ifyouwanttoknowmoreaboutthem,youcanreadsomebooks,forexample,lifeonthebackofhorseandthenotoriousjumpingfrogofcalaverascounty.12
a:thankyouverymuch.iwillgotothelibrary.
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a:youhavebeentothelibrary,haven?ˉtyou?
b:yes,i?ˉvejustborrowedsomeinterestingbooks.
a:well,letmesee.er?-youseemtolikemarktwain.
b:notverymuch,butireallylikehisnoveladventuresofhuckleberryfinn,hiswell-knownbook.
a:itsoundsinteresting.whatisitabout?
b:thestoryhappenedduringamericancivilwar.acleverandkind-heartedboynamedhuckleberryfinnhelpedhisfriend,aslave,escapefromhisowner?ˉsgarden.theytraveledalongthemississippi,andfinallytheygottothenorthpartofamerica.duringtheirincredibletrip,theybuiltafriendship.astheslavegotfreedom,thestorygotahappyending.thestoryshowsussomefactsofthewarandtellsusthattheslavesshouldbetreatedfair.
a:itisreallyinteresting.ihopeicanreadthisbookwhenyoufinishreadingit.
b:noproblem!
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a:doyouknowsomethingaboutthegreatdepressionat1933-1937?
b:it?ˉsaterribleeventforthewholeworld.noonecanforgetit.millionsofbusinesseswentbankrupt,millionsofpeoplelosttheirjobs,andmillionsofpeoplecouldnotsupporttheirchildren?ˉsfood.itwasalsoonereasonoftheworldwarii.ifyouwanttoknowit,youcanreadthebook?°liveofroosevelt?±.itdescribesthisevent.
a:no,idon?ˉtwanttoreadthiskindofbooks.iwantsomestoriesatthattime,justforpleasure.itneedsinterestingcharacters,excitingplotsandsoon,youknow?
b:oh,wouldyouliketoreadnovels?you?ˉvefoundtherightperson!youcanreadsomestorieswrittenbyfrancisscottfitzgeraldsuchasthegreatgatsby,tenderisthenightandthelasttycoon.hisworkslayoutthebleakvisageinspiritinamericanupperclassduringthegreatdepression.ialsoadviseyoutoseesomefilmsofchaplin,hisfilmsreflectthelowest-classlifeatthattimeandtheyareveryinterestingandcangiveyoualotofadvicetofightwithterror.
t:verygoodandwonderfuljob!thankyouandsitdown,please!
stepivtalking(workbookonpage218)
letthestudentsworkingroupsoffour.chooseoneofthegroupsoftheauthorsandhavethediscussionaboutwhysuchbooksarepopularornotpopularinchina.whilethessdotheirgroupwork,goamongthemtoseeiftheyhaveanyquestionsanddirectthem.afewminuteslater.
t:wouldyouliketomaketheclassknowtheoutcomeofyourdiscussion?
ss:yes!
t:who?ˉdliketobethefirst?
ss:(thefirstgroup)we?ˉlltryfirst.we?ˉdliketotalkaboutedgarsnow.12
a:edgarsnowwasanamericanjournalistreportingonchina,andwasfamousforhisbookredstaroverchina.i?ˉvereadit.it?ˉsveryauthenticandmoving.
b:whatisthebookabout?iheardaboutitbuthaven?ˉtreadit.isitpopularinchina?
c:yesit?ˉsverypopular.in1936,hestartedhistravelfrombeijingandatlasthegottotheredareasofchina.thereheinterviewedmaozedongandrecordedfactuallyeverydaylifeoftherevolutionistsofchina.
d:innovemberof1936,hewentbacktobeijingandwrotedownwhathesawandheard.atlast,hecollectedallhisreportsinthebookredstaroverchina.
a:thereisanotherreasonwhyitispopularinchina.itisthefirstbookwrittenbyawesterner,inwhichtheredareasandthepeopletherearereportedfactually.
c:edgarsnowwasanhonestperson.healwayssoughttruefactsinbothhisbooksandlife.andheisagoodfriendofchinesepeople.
b:isee!thepopularityofhisbookisbasedonhisnoblecharacter.imustreadhisbookcarefully.
t:verygood!itseemsthatmostofyouhavereadthebook.it?ˉsreallypopularinourcountry.
ss:(thesecondgroup)we?ˉlltalkaboutisraelepstein.
a:i?ˉmreadingthebookwomaninworldhistory:lifeandtimesofsoongchinglingwrittenbyisraelepstein.
b:oh,ihaveheardofhim.hewasborninpolandandbecameachinesecitizenin1957.
c:butiheardhedied4daysago!
d:yes.hehadbeenlivingandworkinginchinaformorethan70years.hewrotebooksaboutchinesehistory,china?ˉsrevolutionandconstruction.
c:iheardthathewasapersonalfriendofsoongchinglingandthebookyouarereadingisabiographyhewroteforher.
d:helovedchinaandchinesepeopleverymuch,sothebookshewroteareverypopularinchina
t:wonderfuljob!doyouhaveanydifferentideas?
ss:(thethirdgroup)wehavesomeviewsaboutpearlsbuck.
a:thegoodearthisaboutchinesepeasants?ˉlifeinthe1930swrittenbypearlsbuck,whogainednobelprizeofliteratureforthisbook.
b:ihavereadthisbook,itdescribeschinesepeasants?ˉlifefactuallyanddeeply.whenitwaspublishedin1931,itsoonbecamebestsellerinamericaandwastranslatedintomanylanguages.
c:she?ˉsawesternwomanwriterwithdisputation.inchina,someonelikesherworkwhilesomeonenotbecausethedescriptionaboutchinesepeasants?ˉlifeisthethoughttohavesuspicionofsmear.
d:yes.in1935,whenthebookwaspublished,itcausedagreatuproarintheworld.whetherornot,ithasbeentranslatedintomanylanguagesandiswidespreadinwesterncountries.itcontributedalottothepositiveimagethatwesternershaveaboutchinesepeople.12