Unit 8

Learning a foreign language: twice as hard?

Pre-reading

learn new words, learn how to pronounce, learn new grammar rules, overcoming shyness.

by living together with our family and work with the people round us.

older, efficiently , in class

young, not only in class (everywhere), all the time

know how to study, be brave, be interested in the language

save time; not fear making mistakes, faster and happy

by improving our study skills

by working together with our classmates

1) improve our study methods

2) learn to work together with others.

3)make good study plans

4)make use of all kinds of recources.

Fast reading:

What’s the purpose of the text?

This text tells us about the differences between learning a foreign language and learning our mother tongue. The writer also describes the study skills and characteristics of successful language learners.

Detailed reading:

Para.1 : more than; obviously; receive formal instructions; distinguish…from, give lessons to sb. ;make sense of

Sp1. It is obvious that S+V

e.g. It is obvious that he is wrong.

Sp2. It is possible for sb. to do sth.

e.g. It was impossible for the little boy to

finish such hard work in a short time.

Main idea:

How was it possible for us to learn our mother tongue without receiving formal instructions.

Para.2 :

be equipped with; adjust oneself to; in the same way, be born with; regardless of; by the age of;

Sp3: S+ agree that S+V

e.g. They agreed that we went on a tour to Beijing.

Main idea:

Language experts have different answers.

Para.3

be different from; (differ from) take place; communicate with, as a consequence; think of; consider sth further; in other words, all day long; in a few years’ time, be much more efficient

Main idea:

Learning a foreign language is different from learning our mother tongue.

Para.4:

be good at; have…in common ; be anxious about, be willing to take chances, be confident in our ability, deal with

Main idea:

Successful language learners do share quite a few characteristics.

Para.5:

a strong sense of achievement ;experiment with, put sth to good use; do well in; take risks, put oneself in new learning situations;

Sp4: The adj-er/adv-er S+V, the adj-er / adv-er

e.g. The higher you stand, the farther you’ll see.

e.g. The harder you work, the greater progress you’ll make.

Sp5: If S+ V-ed, S+ would/should/could/ might +V ( the Subjunctive Mood)

e.g. If I were you, I should listen more carefully.

Main idea:

Successful language students gain confidence and are able to relax and enjoy the learning because they plan and evaluate their learning.

Para.6:

the purpose of doing sth; study skills, study habits; in fact

Sp6:Not all…./ All… not ….

e.g. Not all the students can answer it.

Sp7. It takes …to do sth.

e.g. It takes great patience and imagination to be a teacher.

Sp8. S1+V/ be + times as adj/ adv. as +S2

e.g. Learning English can be twice as easy as Learning Chinese.

Main idea:

If we adopt some of the study skills and

Characteristics, we will become more

successful.

Dicussion:

How can you be a successful language learner ?

Homework:

Understand the text further and try to talk about how to be a successful language learner.

Learn the language points and make sentences using the following sentence patterns:

1)It is obvious that S+V

2)It is possible for sb. to do sth.

3)S+ agree that S+V

4)The adj-er/adv-er S+V, the adj-er / adv-er

5)If S+ V-ed, S+ would/should/could/ might +V ( the Subjunctive Mood)

6.) Not all…./ All… not ….

7.)It takes …to do sth.

8.)S1+V/ be + times as adj/ adv. as +S2

3. Learn Integrating skills “ Studying abroad” by yourself.