ESL Teacher Reference Desk

 Week 

         Main 
      Theme 

      Classroom 
         Activity

    Home Assignment

       1

Communication, People, and Continents

1. What is communication?
2. Continents of the world.
3. Large cities and countries of the world.
4. Famous people.

1. Cassette: please listen and practice Unit 1 two times (more times, if necessary). Perform all activities related to the cassette. In addition, try to learn Key Vocabulary and Expressions on page S-2. Also study  “Countries and Nationalities” in the APPENDIX. You will find APPENDIX at the end of the textbook. Make sure you understand everything in the APPENDIX.
2. Read article about the famous actress Joan Chen. Do Exercise A in writing.
3. Prepare to speak about countries, largest cities and famous people of the world. If possible, find some interesting information in the Internet and/or books, magazines and/or newspapers. Write a brief outline of your speech.

       2

Transport Problems in Large Cities

1. Advantages and disadvantages of living in large cities.
2. Traveling.

1. Cassette: listen and practice Unit 2 at least three times (more times, if necessary). Perform all activities related to the cassette. In addition, try to learn Key Vocabulary and Expressions on page S-3.
2. Read article “Stuck in an Airport?” Do Exercise A in writing.
3. Prepare to speak about advantages and disadvantages of living in large cities, and about traveling. Find some interesting information in the Internet and/or books, textbooks, magazines and/or newspapers. Write a brief outline of your speech.

       3

 Lifestyle

1. Apartments and houses.
2. Thinking, dreaming, and talking about future.

1. Cassette: listen and practice Unit 3 two times (more times, if necessary). Perform all activities related to the cassette. In addition, try to learn Key Vocabulary and Expressions on page S-4.
2. Read article “Dreams Can Come True”.  Do Exercise A in writing.
3. Prepare to speak about advantages and disadvantages of living in apartments and houses, and about your future plans. Try to find some interesting information in the Internet and/or books, textbooks, magazines and/or newspapers. Write a brief outline of your speech.

       4

 Food

1. Ethnic dishes.
2. Western food.
3. Table manners in Western culture.

1. Cassette: listen and practice Unit 4 two times (more times, if necessary). Perform all activities related to the cassette. In addition, try to learn Key Vocabulary and Expressions on page S-5.
2. Read article “Eating for Energy” Do Exercise A in writing.
3. Prepare to speak about ethnic dishes, Western food and Chinese food, and table manners in Western culture. If possible, find some interesting information in the Internet and/or books, textbooks, magazines and/or newspapers and tell what you found. Write a detailed outline of your speech.

       5

 Holidays

1. My dream vacation.
2. The best way to spend holidays.
3. My  travel experience.

1. Cassette: please listen and practice Unit 5 two times (more times, if necessary). Perform all activities related to the cassette. In addition, try to learn Key Vocabulary and Expressions on page S-6.
2. Read article “Getting More for Less When you Travel.” Prepare Exercise B (make notes in writing).
3. Prepare to speak about your dream vacation, and how and where you would like to travel within the next five years. If possible, find some information in the Internet and/or books, textbooks, magazines and/or newspapers and tell what interesting facts you found. Write a brief outline of your speech.

       6

Parents and Children

1. Generation gap.
2. Problems of spending holidays in large cities.

1. Cassette: listen and practice Unit 6 two times (more times, if necessary). Perform all activities related to the cassette. In addition, try to learn Key Vocabulary and Expressions on page S-7.
2. Read article “Summer in the Country.” Do Exercise B (make some notes in writing).
3. Prepare to speak about generation gap, and problems you had/have with your parents. If possible, find some information in the Internet and/or books, textbooks, magazines and/or newspapers and tell what you found.

       7

Science and Technology

1. Brief history of science and technology
2. Rapid advance of science and technology.

1. Cassette: listen and practice Unit 7 two times (more times, if necessary). Perform all activities related to the cassette. In addition, try to learn Key Vocabulary and Expressions on page S-8.
2. Read article “A Day in Your Life – in the Year 2020.” Study Exercises A and B (make some notes in writing).
3. Prepare to speak about science and technology. Find some information in the Internet and/or books, textbooks, magazines and/or newspapers and explain the basic differences between “science” and “technology.”  Write a brief outline of your speech.

       8

Customs, Traditions, and Festivals

1. Festivals in different countries
2. Traditions of marriage, funerals, birthday parties, Valentine’s Day (and other traditions in Western and Chinese cultures).

1. Cassette: please listen and practice Unit 8 two times (more times, if necessary).  Perform all activities related to the cassette. In addition, try to learn Key Vocabulary and Expressions on page S-9.
2. Read article “Unique Customs.” Study Exercises A and B. Do Exercise A in writing.
3. Prepare to speak about festivals and traditions of marriage, funerals, birthday parties, Valentine’s Day (and some other traditions) in China. Find some information in the Internet, books, textbooks, magazines and/or newspapers about Western culture. Try to explain fundamental differences between Chinese and Western Cultures. Write down these differences and prepare to speak about them.

       9

Past, Present, Future

1. Comparison of our life in the past, present, and future.
2. Love and life.

1. Cassette: please listen and practice Unit 9 two times (more times, if necessary).  Perform all activities according to the requirements of the speaker in the cassette. In addition, try to learn Key Vocabulary and Expressions on page S-10.
2. Read article “Are You in Love?” Prepare Exercises A (in writing) and B (make some notes in writing).
3. Prepare to speak about (1) past, present and future technology, and about (2) the advantages and the disadvantages of falling in love and falling out of love. If possible, find some information in the Internet, books, textbooks, magazines or newspapers. Write an outline of your speech.

      10

 Jobs

1. My dream job.
2. How to find the best job?
3. Stages of finding a job.

1. Cassette: please listen and practice Unit 10 two times (more times, if necessary). You must perform all activities according to the requirements of the speaker in the cassette. In addition, try to learn Key Vocabulary and Expressions on page S-11.
2. Read article “Find the Job That’s Right for You!” Prepare Exercises A  and B as required.
3. Prepare to speak about (1) your dream job, (2) how to find the best job, and (3) stages of finding a job. If possible, find some information in the Internet, books, textbooks, magazines or newspapers. Write a detailed outline of your speech.

      11

Wonders of the World

1. Famous landmarks.
2. Ancient wonders of the world.
3. Modern wonders of the world.

1. Cassette: please listen and practice Unit 11 two times (more times, if necessary). Perform all activities related to the cassette. In addition, try to learn Key Vocabulary and Expressions on page S-12.
2. Read article “Seven Modern Wonders of the World .” Do Exercises A and B.
3. Prepare to speak about (1) ancient wonders of the world, (2) modern wonders of the world. Find some information in the Internet and/or books, textbooks, magazines and/or newspapers and tell what interesting facts you found. Write an outline of your speech.

      12

 How to Succeed?

1. How to become famous and popular?
2. How to improve lifestyle?
3. Major business tycoons and their lives.
4. How to make your business successful?

1. Cassette: please listen and practice Unit 12 two times (more times, if necessary). Perform all activities related to the cassette. In addition, try to learn Key Vocabulary and Expressions on page S-13.
2. Read article “Child Prodigies.” Do Exercises A (in writing) and B (write brief notes).
3. Prepare to speak about the topics on the left column. Find some information in the Internet and/or books, textbooks, magazines and/or newspapers and tell what interesting facts you found. Write an outline of your speech.

      13

 Movies

1. Film as a medium of mass communication and as an industry.
2. Censorship and social responsibility.
3. World’s famous movies.
4. Children, TV, and violence.

1. Cassette: listen and practice Unit 13 two times (more times, if necessary). Perform all activities related to the cassette. In addition, try to learn Key Vocabulary and Expressions on page S-14.
2. Read article “Star  Wars – Three Reviews” Do Exercises A, B.
3. Prepare to speak about movies. Find some interesting information in the Internet and/or books, textbooks, magazines and/or newspapers. Write an outline of your speech.

      14

 Body Language

1. Different countries, different cultures, different meanings.
2. Mimics, gestures, manners, and cross-cultural misunderstandings.

1. Cassette: please listen and practice Unit 14 two times (more times, if necessary).  Perform all activities according to the requirements of the speaker in the cassette. In addition, try to learn Key Vocabulary and Expressions on page S-15.
2. Read article “Body language. What Does it say?”  Study the picture and do Exercises A and B (make some notes in writing).
3. Prepare to speak about the topics related to body language. If possible, find some information in the Internet, books, textbooks, magazines or newspapers. Write an outline of your speech.

      15

How to Become Honest?

1. How to make amendments when we’ve done wrong?
2. White lies (case studies).

1. Cassette: please listen and practice Unit 15 two times (more times, if necessary). Perform all activities related to the cassette. In addition, try to learn Key Vocabulary and Expressions on page S-16.
2. Read article “Ask Alice”. Do Exercise A as required. Prepare to discuss B.
3. Prepare to speak about the topics on the left. If possible, find some interesting information in the Internet and/or books, magazines and/or newspapers. Write a brief outline of your speech.

      16

How to Lie and How NOT to Lie

1. Professional lies (case studies).
2. Types of lying: oral (face-to-face/telephone/ads over radio) and written (personal and business letters, e-mail messages, mobile phone messages, advertisements).

1. Cassette: please listen and practice Unit 16 two times (more times, if necessary). Perform all activities related to the tape. In addition, try to learn Key Vocabulary and Expressions on page S-17.
2. Read article “The Truth About Lying”. Do Exercise A as required. Prepare to discuss B.
3. Prepare to speak about the topics on the left. If possible, find information in the Internet and/or books, magazines and/or newspapers. Write a brief outline of your speech.

      17

The Secrets of Learning English Better

 1. How to learn to listen better?
2. How to learn to speak fluently?
3. How to learn to write effectively?
4. How to learn to read properly?
5. How to learn words faster?

Free discussion. Questions-Answers.