Lesson 6

The lesson plan

1. Introduction to the theme (2 min)

2. The task (2min)

3. Presentations (80 min)

4. Evaluation. (5-7 min)

Introduction

As an introduction to the lesson “British culture” for students a teacher may say that it is impossible to learn the language without knowing its culture. It will also help them to know their native culture better.

The task

Ask students to work in groups and prepare a presentation about English culture using internet resources recommended. Encourage students to speak about:

• Facts and figures (country, geography, weather, population, flag, economy, religion, etc.);

• Daily life (place to live, houses, transport, shops, family life, etc.);

• Etiquette (social customs, greetings, eating manners, meal times, etc.);

• Customs and traditions (festivals and holidays, unusual customs, costumes, national flowers, etc.)

Presentation

Evaluation

Evaluate the task using the following criteria.

This assignment is worth 10 grades. Points will be awarded as follows:

1 grade – the use of the vocabulary of the lesson

1 grade – the grammatical correctness of speech

1 grade – personal effort and activity

2 grades – creativity and neatness of presentation

3 grades – informativeness (did you answer all the questions)

Self-study materials for section II

Ask students to study the table on the use of the Present Continuous Tense and do the exercises.

Formation
+			–			?
I	am	writing	I	am not	writing	am	I	writing?
you	are		you	are not		are	you
he she it	is		he she it	is not		is	he she it
we you they	are		we you they	are not		are	we you they

Exercise 1. Ask students to add –ing to the verbs to form The Present Continuous.

1. I’m writing a report.

2. They are studying English.

3. She is traveling abroad.

4. We are listening to the teacher now.

5. Don’t make noise. Sandra working on a new project.

Exercise 2. Ask students to complete the sentences about Russia using one of the verbs in the necessary form positive or negative.

get become change rise increase fall pay

1. The population of Russia is increasing at the moment.

2. The economic situation in the country is not really good but it is changing.

3. The number of people without jobs is not falling now.

4. The cost of living is rising. Every year things are dearer.

5. These days food is getting more and more expensive.

6. The government is paying more attention to the social programme now.

7. People are becoming more and more patriotic.

Exercise 3. Ask students to translate the sentences using the Present Continuous Tense and the vocabulary of the lesson.

1. They are building a new shopping center in our street.

2. Our city is becoming bigger more and more beautiful. New streets and avenues tall buildings, theatres and museums appear in our city.

3. Because of the pollution the climate on our planet is changing. For example, our winters are becoming milder and milder, and there is unbearable heat in summers.

   • Take an umbrella. It is raining outside.

4. OK. After such heat we need fresh air.

5. Look here. We are moving to the suburbs. It is not so noisy and dangerous there. The air is fresher, because there is not so much traffic there.

Exercise 1. Ask students to choose the correct form the Present Indefinite or the Present Continuous and explain the choice.

1. My parents live / are living in Moscow (A - permanent action).

2. We read / are reading many books in the original during English classes. Now we read / are reading Tales by Oscar Wild (A -customary action; present period of time).

3. The USA consists / is consisting of 50 states (A -permanent action).

4. Look at him. He wears / is wearing a hat and a long coat. He looks / is looking like a real gentleman (B – moment of speaking. moment of speaking).

5. Many shops in Britain as well as theatres and cinemas close /are closing on Sunday (B – customary action).

Exercise 2. Ask students to use the Present Indefinite or the Present Continuous of the verbs in brackets.

1. My elder sister is traveling around Scotland now. She always travels in summer.

2. Who are you waiting for? – I am waiting for Ann, she must come in ten minutes.

3. London stands on the river Thames.

4. Russian people celebrate the Victory Day on the 9^th of May. It is a popular national holiday in Russia.

5. My dad is not working at the moment. Today is his day off.

6. Why is it so noisy out-of-doors? Our neighbours are having a party. They always organize parties in spring in the open air, when the weather is warm.

7. Usually the Englishmen live in their own houses not flats.

8. I can’t give you the book about British customs and traditions, because my brother is using it. He needs it now, he is preparing a report for the English class on Monday.

9. Silvia is in America for three months. She is learning English.

10. Ben is in London now. He is staying at the Hilton Hotel. He always stays there when he is in London.

Exercise 3. Ask student to translate from Russian into English using the necessary tense form the Present Continuous or the Present Simple.

1. He is shopping the whole week to find some presents for the holiday. On New Year’s Eve people usually choose presents for their relatives and friends.

2. What are you waiting for? You can start decorating the house for the holiday without our help.

3. The British like to keep pets. They can care about their cats, dogs, horses, canaries, parrots and so on for hours.

4. On the first of January thousands of people come to Times Square to see the New Year in.

5. I am looking forward to coming holidays not because I like to receive presents. I prefer to give them.