Конспект урока "Family issues" 11 класс

Конспект
урока английского языка в 11В классе.
Тема урока « FAMILY ISSUES»
Курочкина Н.Ю.
учитель английского языка
Смоленск, 2013
I. Warm up
I won’t tell you about the things we’ll do today as I usually do, you’ll have to work the topic of
our lesson yourselves after having watched a short episode from the film.
II. The film
So, how you would entitle the today’s topic?
Suggested answers: problems between the children and their parents, generation gap,
family issues, family problems, ideal family, family values, how
how to bridge the “generation gap”
All of you have guessed the main points of the problem we’ll touch upon today. We’ll speak
about family issues. So, we’ll work with the vocabulary on the topic, we’ll listen to two girls’
stories, discuss them, and then we’ll have a role play.
Our aim is to work out strategies of how to overcome the difficulties each member of any
family can face, of how to reach a compromise with the people who are either older or younger
than us, of how to make our relationships and, thus, our families if not ideal, then, at least,
happy.
III. Revision of the vocabulary
a) First we’ll revise the words which you got acquainted with in the previous lesson. Please
enter our experimental site in the Net, then go to Lesson 5 and open the file with Task 1. Study
the list of family values. Then match them with their definitions.
Words
Definitions
1
caring
a
the state of being free from public attention
2
sharing (mutual)
b
the state of being protected from the bad things that could
happen to you
3
respect
c
feeling that someone is important, so that you are interested
in them, worried about them, etc.
4
security
d
a strong belief in the honesty, goodness etc. of someone or
something
5
comfort
e
having the same opinion, experience, feeling etc. as
someone else
6
privacy
f
an attitude of regarding someone as important so that you
are careful not to harm them, treat them rudely, etc.
7
trust
g
feeling of being calm, more cheerful, or hopeful after you
have been worried or unhappy
Answers: 1 c, 2 e, 3 f, 4 b, 5 g, 6 a, 7 d.
Save your answers- I’ll check them after the lesson- exit from the file and now you’ll see
whether your answers were correct or not. Look at the screen.
b) Now, please, work in two groups and try to reach an agreement on the following
statements:
- We only need a family for comfort and protection.
- Trust is more important for a happy family than any other feature.
The first statement is for Group 1, the second for Group 2.
Negotiate so that represents all the opinions of your group.
So, who will take the floor?
IV. Listening
Now I suggest you listening to two girls’ stories. Sasha and Kelly wrote a letter to the youth
magazine “Shout” telling about their life at home. Each story is meant for one group: Sasha’s
story is for Group 1, Kelly’s – for Group 2. But I have divided them into 5 paragraphs. It means
that you all will listen to the different extracts. Your task after listening is to work in groups
trying to restore the events of the whole story. Then one person of each group will give a short
summary of the text.
Is the task clear? Then I’ll announce the number of the extract for each to listen to.
Please enter our experimental site (www.learning.9151394.ru ) in the Net, then go to Lesson
5 and open the listening files with Sasha and Kelly’s stories. Start listening.
Now which of you will present the story?
Questions for Group 1
1. What is/are Sasha’s main problem(s)?
2. What resolution of her problems has Sasha chosen?
Questions for Group 2
1. What is/are Kelly’s main problem(s)?
2. What’s Kelly’s dream?
What problems do you have at home? How do you solve them?
V. Role play
Let’s imagine that Sasha’s family have read her letter in the magazine. They are worried about
the situation and have decided to discuss the problem with a family therapist who in his/her turn
have invited Kelly to participate in a family therapy session. Choose one of the character you’ll
speak for:
Psycologist
Kelly
Sasha
Mother
Father
Elder brother
Younger brother
Sister
You’ll have to think over the problems Sasha has in the family and your role in the situation. Try
to find the way out; I mean the solution of her problems or at least a compromise.
The ideas on these cards will prompt you.
Sasha
- Try to collect all the arguments to explain your attitude to your family
- Tell what you dislike about your relatives’ behaviour
Language support:
Language of agreement
Language of disagreement
Expressing probability
Yes, that’s right.
I don’t agree.
She may…
I think so, too.
I don’t think so.
Her Dad might…
Exactly.
You can’t say that.
She probably…
It’s true.
That’s not the point.
I might have done…
Therapist
- Think over the questions you could ask each member of the family to clear up the situation
- Summarize what you have heard from all the members of the family
- Try to analyze the situation in a short report
Language support:
Language of agreement
Language of disagreement
Expressing probability
Yes, that’s right.
I don’t agree.
She may…
I think so, too.
I don’t think so.
Her Dad might…
Exactly.
You can’t say that.
She probably
It’s true.
That’s not the point.
I might have done…
Kelly
- Tell Sasha about your situation
- Ask her to clarify one of the reasons in more detail
- Suggest possible reasons for the behaviour of Sasha’s family
Language support:
Language of agreement
Language of disagreement
Expressing probability
Yes, that’s right.
I don’t agree.
She may…
I think so, too.
I don’t think so.
Her Dad might…
Exactly.
You can’t say that.
She probably…
It’s true.
That’s not the point.
I might have done…
Mother
- Start a family therapy session
- Ask Sasha some questions to clarify one of the reasons in more detail
- Try to explain Sasha’s attitude to you and the whole family
Language support:
Language of agreement
Language of disagreement
Expressing probability
Yes, that’s right.
I don’t agree.
She may…
I think so, too.
I don’t think so.
Her Dad might…
Exactly.
You can’t say that.
She probably…
It’s true.
That’s not the point.
I might have done…
Brothers
- Try to be objective to girls’ problems – you might have never taken them seriously
- Try to collect you arguments to explain your behaviour
Language support:
Language of agreement
Language of disagreement
Expressing probability
Yes, that’s right.
I don’t agree.
She may…
I think so, too.
I don’t think so.
Her Dad might…
Exactly.
You can’t say that.
She probably…
It’s true.
That’s not the point.
I might have done…
Sister
- Try to collect you arguments to explain your behaviour
- Try to reach an agreement or a compromise with your sister
Language support:
Language of agreement
Language of disagreement
Expressing probability
Yes, that’s right.
I don’t agree.
She may…
I think so, too.
I don’t think so.
Her Dad might…
Exactly.
You can’t say that.
She probably…
It’s true.
That’s not the point.
I might have done…
VI. Mommisms. Daddisms. Kiddisms.
Everyone understands that in each family, especially in an extended one, there may arise
problems not only between the children, but also between grandchildren and grandparents,
children and parents.
While preparing for this lesson and surfing the Internet for the ideas I came across the so
called “mommisms”. What do you think this word means? You may consult the Net resources to
find its definition. Boys, will you do it?
Meanwhile, my next question is:
- What are the most important things for you in your relationship with your parents?
OK. So, What are “mommisms” ?
“Mommisms” are things your mother said a million times.
What are the most popular phrases with your mums?
“Mommisms”
- I would never have talked to my mother like that.
- Why? Because I said so, that’s why.
- I’m going to give you until the count of three.
- ‘I don’t know’ is NOT an answer.
- If everyone jumped off a cliff, would you do it, too?
- I’m not talking just to hear my own voice.
- I hope, some day, when you have kids, they’re just like you, then you’ll know.
-Wait till your Father gets home
- If you fall out of that tree and break your leg don't come running to me.
- Why do you bother asking me a question and then don't bother to listen to the answer?
- Look into my eyes! You are telling lies.
- You’d better not do it again!
They think that mums nag and lecture their children the most. But believe me dads are not less
inventive. I have found expressions used by fathers as well. I am sure you’ve guessed that they
are called “daddisms”.
What are the most popular phrases with your dads?
“Daddisms”
- Come here, boy.
- This story reminded me of my childhood......
- Stop crying before I give you something to cry about.
- “Can't” means “won't try”
- My dad would unbuckle his belt and whip me with it before I could even think of
running away.....
- Might tempt fate again.......
- You start to worry about your parents’ health.
- and...and....and...........
- Money doesn’t grow on trees.
- What's that you say?
- I am fed up.
- That’s none of your business.
I tried to find either “kiddisms” or “childisms” in the Net and I’ve managed but,
unfortunately, they turned out to have other meanings. “Kiddisms” are short jokes about kids
whereas “childisms” mean discrimination towards children and young people. So let’s work out
the most popular phrases with you?
“Kiddisms”
- You never let me stay out late.
- You are never there for me.
- What have I done now?
- I am busy at the moment.
- It’s not my fault.
- I’ll do it later.
- You never let me watch what I want on TV/
- I am doing my homework now.
- I couldn’t care less.
- You don’t understand a thing.
- Leave me alone.
- That’s really not fair.
VII. Generation gap
- Do you think parents know about their teenagers’ problems?
- Do you think teenagers know about their parents’ problems?
- What are the things children and their parents argue about?
Suggested answers:
Hair style
Clothes
Music
Behavior
Computers
TV
Idleness
Household chores
Friends
Hobbies
Education
Staying late out
Lack of privacy
- Is a compromise possible?
- What kind of a compromise would you suggest?
VIII. Building a bridge
Some people get upset with each other not because of the words, but because of the meanings
behind the words.
It’s very important to communicate effectively. Here are some “bridge burners” and” bridge
builders” which can either burn the bridges or bridge the “generation gap” correspondently.
Parents
Children
1
You don’t need to know about that.
I am fed up with…
2
What do you think about it?
I couldn’t care less.
3
You always say that.
I am not a slave, you know.
4
I can’t understand that, but…
Well, you’ve got a point there.
5
Thank you for saying that.
It didn’t occur to me.
6
If you say that again, I’ll…
Please, explain it to me again.
7
Your feelings are important for me.
What I am saying is very important to me.
8
When you say/do that it really upsets
me.
Leave me alone.
9
You are telling lies.
What have I done now!
10
That’s none of your business!
You are never there for me.
11
You’d better not do that again!
I think, I’ve overreacted.
* Right answers are given in italics.
To bridge the generation gap we should also (suggested answers)
- respect others if we want others’ respect
- view mutual understanding as the most important thing
- be flexible and tolerant
- speak to each other
- listen so that to hear and learn
- trust each other
- communicate
IX. Famous People about the Conflict with a Smile
Look at the sayings by the famous people and comment.
There was no respect for youth when I was young, and now that I am old, there is no
respect for age - I missed it coming and going. - J.B. Priestly
The first half of our lives is ruined by our parents and the second half by our children. -
Clarence Darrow
Parents often talk about the younger generation as if they didn't have anything to do with
it. - Haim Ginott
There is nothing wrong with today's teenager that twenty years won't cure. - Author
Unknown
Each generation imagines itself to be more intelligent than the one that went before it,
and wiser than the one that comes after it. George Orwell
Every generation needs regeneration. Charles H. Spurgeon
The longer I live the more keenly I feel that whatever was good enough for our fathers is
not good enough for us. - Oscar Wilde
X. Conclusion
Don’t just expect your parents to understand you. If they don’t, it could be your fault. Build
bridges, do not burn them! And in any case we should be grateful to our parents and the people
we live with for what we are.
XI. The Final Film
XII. Homework
Your homework will be to do
1. You should write a letter to “Shout” as your response to Kelly’s and Sasha’s letter.
2. Do Ex. 5 pg. 86. This text is about the “generation gap”. There is one mistake in each
sentence. Find and correct the mistakes.
We’ve done it! Thank you very much.