Dear student! Speech Practice
This term the course covers the topic Environmental Problems. The 4th year students will have to study a number of authentic texts, listen to audiotapes and then fulfill various tasks. This will help you to improve your command of English, develop your speaking, reading and listening skills, and broaden your cultural horizons.
At the beginning of the each term you will have to write the entrance test; at the end — the final test, which will check the progress of your independent work. Please, mind the fact that the exercises in your tests are meant for independent work and are part of the training procedure. To get ready for the tests, you are expected to do the exercises in the guides to the texts and tapes and practise the vocabulary units.
COURSE OUTLINE Term 7
Course size — 6 hours, independent work — 22 hours
1. Learning objectives
The final part of the course is intended for our students to:
achieve greater fluency in speaking and reading;
widen their vocabulary and general background knowledge;
learn to plan their work individually and in teams;
acquire some understanding of certain aspects of life in Great Britain;
raise their awareness of cross-cultural differences.
2. Essential Study Materials
“Horizons. Aspects of Modern Life” Mikhalyova E.P., Lapteva O.A., Petrashkevich N.P.
“Horizons. Word Practice” Lapteva O.A., Sharabchieva E.V.
“Horizons. Texts for reading and project presentation” Sharabchieva E.V., Lapteva O.A., Mikhalyova E.P., Petrashkevich N.P.
The manuals are available at “Lexis” book-shop in MSLU.
3. Content
During the 7th term students are expected:
to read 5 authentic texts;
to listen to 1 audiotape;
to keep the student’s language learning diary;
to accomplish home and class tests.
For more detailed information, see Course Map III.
Course Map III (Class Work)
|
№ |
Topic |
Hours |
|
1 |
Air pollution (global warming). Energy crisis. |
2 |
|
2 |
The major environmental problems confronting Britain today. The Green Movement. |
2 |
|
3 |
Environmental problems in Belarus (Chernobyl). |
2 |
|
4 |
Title |
2 |
|
5 |
Symbolism |
2 |
|
6 |
Credit test. |
|
4. Course examination
Oral examination:
Part 1: Answer the questions after the given short-story and comment on its central idea(s).
Part 2: Define 3 active vocabulary notions given by the examiner.
Part 3: Present the given speaking point.
5. Student Activity
The course presupposes thorough and conscientious independent and class work on behalf of the student. The course offers you different types of work:
— classroom activities (including group discussions and projects);
— learning independently using recommended books and tapes;
— home tests with self-check keys and class tests.
Revision will be a substantial component of students’ curriculum and independent work this term. Mind the fact that the examination speaking points, the examination stories and the examination active vocabulary involve those studied throughout terms 5, 6 and 7.
Follow the scheme of effective time management, so as to have enough time for the revision of the material studied in terms 5 and 6.
Procedure
Step 1. Working independently in September – December, you are supposed to read the indicated information in the course book Horizons and compile a file of useful information and vocabulary items, which will help you to cover the examination speaking points. For better time management and effective learning, we suggest a weekly scheme of independent work.
Step-by step guide:
Environmental Issues
|
Date |
Study Material |
Follow-up |
Creative task: *choose one of the following and get ready for class presentation |
|
01-14. 09. |
Read the texts “Environmental protection – nationwide concern”; “Welcome to the new world”, Horizons, pp. 149, 152-153; Word study Ex.4, p.98; Ex.5-7, p.99-100. |
Plan or write the speaking point “The major environmental problems confronting Britain today”.
|
Conduct an opinion poll among your friends / colleagues / pupils about the environmental problems that worry them most. Make up you own questionnaire. |
|
15-28. 09. |
Listen to the tape “Talk about the problems of pollution”; Word study, Ex.8, p.103-104. |
Do the test “Talk about the problems of pollution”. Plan or write down the speaking point “Air pollution (global warming”. |
Write an essay “Warmer than ever?” about the problems of global warming |
|
29.09.- 13.10. |
Read the text “The Friends of the Earth”, Horizons, pp. 154-155. |
Find some extra information about environmental organizations, e.g. Greenpeace, etc. Plan or write down the speaking point “The Green Movement”. |
Answer the questions in the written form or plan a lecture: 1) Which environmental pressure group would you join / organize? Enumerate the campaigns / fundraising events you would like to participate in.
2)Plan a talk/lecture for school pupils on the theme “I can make the difference” about the role of an individual in improvement of the environment |
|
14-27. 10. |
Read the text “Chernobyl’s deadly legacy”, Horizons, pp. 161-165; Word study, Ex.1,2, p.108; Ex.6, p.109; Ex.10, p.111. |
Write the speaking point “Environmental problems in Belarus (Chernobyl)”
|
Find some information about the ecological situation in your town and plan a project “Ecological problems of my town” |
|
28.10.- 11.11. |
Read the text “Bright new dawn” Horizons, pp. 165-166. |
Plan or write the speaking point “Energy crisis”.
|
Find some information on the internet about the alternative sources of energy in different countries or ways to save energy and make a short presentation in class. |
|
12-25. 11. |
Test for unit “Environmental Issues”
|
Vocabulary revision
|
Put down the vocabulary definitions in the language learning diary. |
|
26.11.- 02.12. |
General Revision (Term 5) |
Topic: Languages
|
Revise examination speaking points №№ 1-4 and the corresponding active vocabulary units: -English as a world language. -English or Esperanto as a world language. -Variants of English. -How to be a good language learner.
|
|
03-09. 12. |
General Revision (Term 5) |
Topic: The mass media in GB
|
Revise examination speaking points №№ 5-7 and the corresponding active vocabulary units: -The importance and characteristics of the British press. -Radio and TV in Great Britain. -The Open University.
|
|
10-16. 12. |
General Revision (Term 5) |
Topic: Musical traditions in GB
|
Revise examination speaking points №№ 8,9 and the corresponding active vocabulary units: -Musical traditions in Great Britain. Music festivals. -Musical traditions in Great Britain. Folk music.
|
|
17-13. 12. |
General Revision (Term 6) |
Topic: Social Issues
|
Revise examination speaking points №№ 10,11 and the corresponding active vocabulary units: -Personality studies (Appearance and character). -Modern family values.
|
|
24-31. 12. |
General Revision (Term 6) |
Topic: Some aspects of British and American life |
Revise examination speaking points №№ 12-15 and the corresponding active vocabulary units: -The British versus the Americans. -British stereotypes. -Customs and traditions in GB. -Monarchy or republic in GB?
|
Step 2. Listen to the recording “Talk about the problems of pollution”. The tapes are available in room A -317 (MSLU).
Study the vocabulary. Do the guide to the recording “Talk about the problems of pollution”. Add to the file of useful information and vocabulary items.
Step 3. Find some additional information and plan а project.