Topic: One of the pages from the British life
Objectives:
• to develop listening for gist;
• to practise students’ reading skills;
• to develop speaking skills of students.
Warming up
English people say: “There is no place like home”. Does it mean that the English are stay-at-home people? Introducing the topic
I. Listening
1. Pre-listening activity.
Answer the questions.
1) Why do we say that the English are stay-at home people?
2) How many English proverbs and sayings do you know to prove that? What are they?
3) What are the English very much fond of?
4) Do the English have love of gardening?
Stay-at-Home People
People all over the world know the saying “The Englishman’s home is his castle”. English people like to live in small houses for one family with a small garden. The English have love of gardens. Listen to the men’s talk on Monday morning in the office and in the factory. It will be about gardens. It will be about the best ways of growing vegetables, fruit, flowers and other plants.
The English like to make different things grow. They grow things not only in gardens but in window boxes. They will make a garden everywhere.
2. Post-listening activity.
Check your answers and tell what you knew about stay-at home people.
II. Reading
The Students are divided into 2 groups. The first group read the text about sports and the second one - about the devotion of English people to animals.
Group 1. Sports and Games the English Are Fond of
The British are know to be great sports - lovers, so when they are neither playing, nor watching games, they like to talk about them. Many of the games we play now have come from Britain. About half the population of Great Britain take part in sport. The most popular outdoor sporting activity is walking about 2 miles. The most popular indoor activity is snooker (billiards). You know, of course, that English boys like to play football and hockey. But do you know what games English girls like to play? In Britain girls usually play netball. They play hockey, too. Do you know that there are also such games in Great Britain as rugby and cricket? English people like to watch games even if the weather is bad.
1. Choose the sentences which are true to the text.
1) A. In Great Britain people like to play only football.
B. The English do not like sports.
C. English people like to play a lot of games and sports.
2) A. English boys are not fond of football.
B. In Great Britain boys are fond of playing hockey.
C. English boys like to play football, hockey, rugby, cricket.
3) A. In Great Britain girls play hockey.
B. English girls are fond of playing netball.
C. Girls in Great Britain don’t like sports.
4) A. English people come to watch games and sports in any weather.
B. In Great Britain people don’t like to watch games and sports.
C. The English come to watch games only when the weather is fine.
2. Are the following sentences true (T) or false (F)?
1) Lots of British people go in for different kinds of sports and are fond of playing sport games.
2) The most popular outdoor activity is running about two miles.
3) The most popular indoor activity is billiards.
4) One of the most popular British games is cricket.
5) English people like to watch games and sports on TV.
Group 2. The Devotion to the Animals
A tradition that is rooted not only in their own soul, but in the devotion of English to animals. Animals are protected b law. If, for instance, any one leaves a cat to starve in an empty house while he goes for his holiday, he can be sent to prison. There are about 7 million dogs and over 1.5 billion pounds on pet food. They support 380 charities which protect animals. The Royal Society for the Prevention on Cruelty to Animals (the RSPCA) is the largest animal welfare society in Britain. It provides practical help and campaigns against animal cruelty. In Britain, people help charity. Once the RSPCA got 1,7 million from an animal lover to help them. Many charities get letters from the people enclosing a pound or two, saying “This all I can give”.
1. Are the sentences true (T) or false (F)?
1) People have dogs and cats as pets.
2) Every year the British spend more than 1,5 billion pounds on pet food.
3) The Royal Society for the Prevention on Cruelty to Animals is one of the largest animal welfare society in Britain.
4) People in Britain never help charity.
5) Only rich people help RSPCA.
6) Animals are protected by law.
2. Ask 8 questions to the text.
IV. Work in groups
Quiz “British people”.
1) Shaking hands as a daily greeting.
a) is found in Britain;
b) is not found in Britain.+
2) Shaking hands on leaving after a meal, a party.
a) is done;+
b) is not done.+
3) Shaking hands when being introduced to someone for the first time.
a) is done;
b) is not done.
4) Men raise their hats to women.
a) yes;+
b) no.
5) Men raise their hats to men.
a) yes;
b) no.+
6) The word “please” is frequently used in shops and in many business requests.
a) yes;+
b) no.
7) Is it normal to say “please” if you want a sentence repeated.
a) yes, of course;
b) no, of course not.+
8) English people __ as much as we do.
a) talk;
b) do not talk.+
9) When you go to a friend’s house for meal, it’s a custom to say “Thank you”.
a) at the end of the meal;
b) when you leave to go home.+
V. Speaking
Work in groups. Compare the customs and traditions of the British and Russian people.
VI. Homework
Discuss the English people’s customs and compare them with ours.
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