上外全新版大学英语综合教程讲义-book2-unit1

Unit One Ways of Learning

Teaching Objectives of this Unit:

Students will be able to:

1.grasp the main idea (that it would be ideal if we can strike a balance between the Chinese and

the Western learning styles) and structure of the text (introduction of the topic by an anecdote―elaboration by comparison and contrast― conclusion by a suggestion);

2.appreciate the difference between comparison and contrast, as well as different ways to compare

and contrast (point-by-point method or one-side-at-a-time method);

3.master the key language points and grammatical structures in the text;

4.conduct a series of reading, listening, speaking and writing activities related to the theme of this

unit.

Previewing Tasks:

T asks Ss to:

1.get familiar with the following important words and expressions in Text A, which will enable

them to understand the text better: attach, initial, occasion, neglect, relevant, accomplish, in due course, make up for, continual, evolve, emerge, superior;

2.pre-read Text A and try to find out the differences in education between China and America. Ss

are also encouraged to collect more information on this issue from some after-class materials; 3.finish the comprehension questions for text organization on p. 10 of the textbook.

First Period（90minutes）

I. Cultural Notes:

(1) Middle-class American: the old urban middle class consisted mainly of white collar workers and owners of the family businesses and their employees. They focused the majority of the middle class before 1945. The new middle class emerged out of the ashes of wartime destruction and consisted of salaried workers, blue collar, white collar, store clerks, shop keepers, regardless of the line of business they were in, all joined the ranks of the new middle-class which is between the very wealthy class and the class of unskilled laborers and unemployed people.

(2) Standing on the shoulders of giants: a well-known phrase frequently employed by inventors to express modesty about their achievements. The suggestion is that while they have been able to see further than those who came before them, it is not because they themselves are intellectual giants. Rather it is because they have been able to build upon the accumulated discoveries of their great predecessors.

II. A discussion for leading to Text A:

1. If you find a two-year-old boy is trying to put a key into a box, will you help him immediately?

---- Of course. He is too small to know how to do it

---- No. let him do it and learn by trying.

2.Can you recall how your parents taught you in your childhood? Did they like to teach you by holding your hand?

---- (stories in their childhood)

----Yes, I like it. I knew nothing as a little child and their help could give me a convenient way to achieve what I wanted.

---- No, I don’t like it. Doing by myself could help me to grasp the things tightly.

3. Which way did you prefer when you were in trouble with one of your toys in your childhood, turning to your parents for help, or exploring by yourselves?