大学英语精读3(专科)unit5教案

中南财经政法大学武汉学院外语系《大学英语3》课程教案Teaching Plan for College English (Book 3) Foreign Languages Department of Wuhan College, ZNUEL

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Lecture Notes

1.Warm-up discussion:

1)Does your mother work? What‟s her job?

2)What are your basic household chores at home?

3)Vacuum the house; Take out the garbage; Wash the dishes; Do the laundry; Clean the bathrooms; Dust the house; Take care of the pets; Recycle the collected papers/plastics

4)Do you think your parents understand you? Why or why not?

5)How much do you think you understand your parents?

6)Do you think there can be a friendship between parents and children? Information related:

1) Women in the workforce today

FACT 1: Women are now the majority of the workforce in the USA.

This occurred in the first half of 2010 for the first time in American history, and now women make up fifty-one percent of the professional workers in the USA. seventy percent of American women with children under eighteen are earning a paycheck while raising their children. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, women now hold 51.4 percent of managerial and professional jobs—up from 26.1 percent in 1980. Women are fifty-four percent of all accountants and hold about half of all banking and insurance jobs. Women are about one-third of the physicians and forty-five percent of the associates in law firms—and both percentages are rising fast. And, in the EU, women have filled six million of the eight million new jobs since 2000.

FACT 2: Women now earn almost sixty percent of university degrees in the USA and Europe.

Women‟s education is changing to more marketable subjects. In 1966, forty percent received a BA specializing in education and two percent in business and management. Now it‟s twelve percent education and fifty percent business and management. Women earn only twenty percent of the degrees in engineering and computer science. In the USA, women earn fifty-seven percent of the bachelor‟s degrees and fifty-nine percent of the master‟s degrees. Women are fifty-one percent of those enrolled in medical school and nearly half of those in law school.

FACT 3: In the USA, women make or influence eighty percent of consumer spending decisions.

Women purchases extend way beyond food, health, and beauty. Yes, women do purchase sixty-five percent of apparel. But they also purchase fifty-two percent of all new vehicles, including trucks, and influence eighty percent of those purchases. They purchase forty-five percent of consumer electronics and influence sixty-one percent. And women purchase eighty percent of family health care decisions, seventy percent of travel decisions, fifty-five percent of wine, and twenty percent of homes (and

influence ninety-one percent). Ninety percent of women participate in decisions that affect their household‟s retirement a nd investment accounts.

FACT 4: Only three percent of the Fortune 500 CEOs are women.

Unfortunately, even though women‟s influence has grown in other areas of business and management, the percentage and number of Fortune 500 CEOs has never risen much above three percent. We know many of the names—Meg Whitman at eBay, Carly Fiorina at H-P, Anne Mulcahy and Ursula Burns at Xerox, Indra Nooyi at PepsiCo, etc. Female CEOs may be rare in America‟s largest companies, but they are highly prized. Last year, they out earned their male counterparts by forty-three percent on average.

FACT 5: Women are increasingly opting to become entrepreneurs rather than languish in stalled careers.

Organizations need to focus on retaining the female half of the workforce to keep the talent pipeline full at all levels and avoid the enormous costs of retraining and recruiting new replacement talent. Over seventy-five percent of workers say their company has implemented gender-parity initiatives, such as flex-work programs and mentorship, but many feel these programs are not effective. Only forty-eight percent of the men polled feel achieving gender-parity should be a critical business imperative while eighty-four percent of the women do. However, in the past decade the number of privately owned companies started by women in the USA has increased twice as fast as the number owned by men. Women-owned companies employ more people than the largest 500 companies combined. The U.S. Census Bureau surveys show a twenty percent increase in women-owned businesses in 2007 over 2002, now accounting for 7.8 million non-farm U.S. businesses. California, Texas, and New York are the top three states. And in China, women own more than forty percent of private businesses.

FACT 6: Women make thirteen percent to twenty-three percent less than men. While this is very hard to measure as there are many variables from industry, occupation, profession, hours worked, etc., the pay gap has changed very little since 2001. Some of this gap is due to motherhood. Childless women in corporate America earn almost as much as men. Mothers with partners earn less and single mothers earn much less. Female programmers make ninety-three percent as much as their male counterparts. Female physicians only make sixty-one percent as much as the male physicians.

2) College tuition

In the United States, every child has the right to attend public elementary and secondary schools without tuition fees. About 12% of all children of elementary and secondary school age attend parochial and other private schools and their parents have to pay tuition fees.

Today about half of the high school graduates go to colleges and universities, of

which about one-third are public institutions supported and controlled by federal, state, or local governments. A student at a state college or university doesn‟t have to pay a lot if his or her parents live in the state. But private colleges and universities can be very expensive.

It has been a very common practice for students to work to earn money, not only by taking full-time jobs during vacations but also by taking part-time jobs during term-time. As the total cost of study and living on campus averages $12,000 —14,000 a year those earnings are useful and often essential.

Students can also borrow a certain amount of money form the government if they are in need of it. The Higher Education Act of 1965 allows students to receive loans in their first year in college. Students may take up to 11 years to repay the loans, and those who themselves become teachers in public schools only have to repay a portion of the loan. Those who teach in depressed areas are specially favored and teaching in depressed-areas each year wipes out 15% of the loan.

3) Ideal mother

✓Spends quality time with her children

✓Makes them self-sufficient

✓Teaches them etiquettes and mannerisms

✓Is friendly with them

✓Gives importance to their opinions

✓Teaches them to be confident

✓Creates a feeling self-respect in them

✓Becomes their guardian when they are in need

✓Listens to them very minutely

✓Shares problems with them and shares their problems

✓Praises & encourages them profusely

✓Teaches them to handle frustration

✓Expresses her love for children

✓Develops morality

✓Does not lose patience

✓Becomes their support system

2.Global reading:

Part 1: I was shocked at finding my mother crying because she would probably lose her new job. (1~6)

Part 2: I previously assumed my mother was capable woman. (7~17)

Part 3: I realized my mother‟s pressure and vulnerability as a human being. (18~21) Part 4: I understood my mother‟s perseverance and its influence on me. (22~24)

https://www.360docs.net/doc/cd19063281.html,prehension Questions

Have students read the text and answer the following questions:

1)Why was the mother crying?

Because she was going to lose her new job.

2)What‟s her new job?

The author gives the impression that she worked as a typist at the radio station.

3)Did the mother have any other jobs before?

Yes. She ran a day nursery at one time and then a motel.

4)Was she successful with her nursery and motel?

Yes. She was quite successful with the day nursery and she was probably quite successful with the motel, too. But neither of them brought in enough money to send the children to college.

5)How about the father? What did he do?

He had a full-time job and farm work.

6)What did the boy use to think of his mother before the day she cried?

The boy used to think of his mother as a strong woman, able to do anything.

7)What did he begin to understand about his mother after he saw she cried?

He began to understand his mother‟s pressures and her vulnerability.

8)Did the mother accept her failure easily?

No. She was never a quitter. She took a less-demanding job and continued with her practice on the used typewriter in the evenings.

9)Did she prove successful in the end?

Yes. She finally became a reporter with a local paper.

4.Detailed reading

a. understand difficult sentences.

1) Why did mother say “It‟s nothing, really. Nothing important. ”?

She said so to relieve the son, to control her emotion and to try to persuade herself not to mind it too much.

2) I was repeating a line she had spoken to me a hundred times when I was having trouble learning or doing something important to me.

Q: What can we learn from the boy‟s words?

A: It shows the boy was too surprised to say anything useful.

3) I felt helpless and out of place.

Q: What does “out of place” mean ?

A: “Out of place” means “not suitable for a particular situation or occasion.”Translation: 我感到既无能为力，又十分尴尬。

4) She sent away for correspondence courses in child care, did the lessons and in six months formally qualified herself for the task.

Q: What can we learn from the sentence?

A: His mother was really very smart and clever. She could learn things quickly.

5) Time was running out, and Mother was frantic for ways to save money. Paraphrase: Time for the children to enter college was drawing nearer and nearer so Mother was wildly anxious for ways to earn more money.

6) The slow tap, tap, tap went on some nights until midnight.

Q: What does it imply in this sentence?

A: “Slow” implies “it‟s difficult to learn to type”. From “until midnight”, we can see Mother‟s determination and perseverance.

7) I was not the least bit surprised, or impressed. But she was ecstatic.

Q: Why were their responses so different?

A: The boy took it for granted that his mother was capable of doing anything.

For Mother, however, it was a great surprise because it was, as a matter of fact, a real challenge and she got the job with great difficulty.

8) “She‟s having a little trouble with her typing,”he said. “She needs to practice. I think she‟d appreciate it if we all helped out a bit more.”

Q: What can we infer from the sentence?

A: The children and Father did little housework before.

Father was very considerate towards Mother.

9) Suddenly, something inside me turned.

Paraphrase: He felt deeply moved and couldn‟t help sympathizing with his mother. 10) I knew there was something more going on in there than a woman learning to type.

Q: What does the phrase “something more” refer to?

A: It means that besides learning to type, Mother was also showing her determination to overcome whatever difficulties she might meet with, her strong will of not accepting defeat easily and her courage to go ahead.

11) It is a memento, but what it recalls for me is not quite what it recalled for Mother. Q: What does the typewriter stand for to the boy? (Understand symbolism)

A: Her mother‟s determination, courage and responsibility in the face of defeat.

b. Words and expressions

1) issue

-- one of a regular series of magazines or newspapers

the July issue of …What Car?‟The article appeared in issue 25.

-- an important topic that people are discussing or arguing about

a key/sensitive/controversial issue

This is a big issue; we need more time to think about it.

She usually writes about environmental issues.

The union plans to raise the issue of overtime.

The party was divided on this issue.

You're just avoiding the issue.Don't confuse the issue.

-- a problem or worry that somebody has with something

Money is not an issue.

I don't think my private life is the issue here.

I'm not bothered about the cost—you're the one who's making an issue of it. Because I grew up in a dysfunctional family, anger is a big issue for me.

She's always on a diet—she has issues about food.

He still has some issues with women (= has problems dealing with them).

If you have any issues, please call this number.

2) burst

-- to go or move somewhere suddenly with great force; to come from somewhere suddenly

He burst into the room without knocking.

The sun burst through the clouds.

The words burst from her in an angry rush.

3) approach

-- to come near to somebody/something in distance or time

We heard the sound of an approaching car/a car approaching.

Winter is approaching.

The time is fast approaching when we shall have to make a decision.

approach somebody/something As you approach the town, you'll see the college on the left.

-- to speak to somebody about something, especially to ask them for something or to offer to do something

approach somebody

We have been approached by a number of companies that are interested in our product.

I'd like to ask his opinion but I find him difficult to approach (= not easy to talk to in a friendly way).

approach somebody for something/about (doing) something

She approached the bank for a loan.

-- approach something to start dealing with a problem, task, etc. in a particular way What's the best way of approaching this problem?

4) set one‟s mind to

-- to decide you want to achieve something and give this all your attention

She could have been a brilliant pianist if she'd put her mind to it.

5) assume

-- to think or accept that something is true but without having proof of it

assume (that)…

It is reasonable to assume (that) the economy will continue to improve.

Let us assume for a moment that the plan succeeds.

She would, he assumed, be home at the usual time.

it is assumed (that)…

It is generally assumed that stress is caused by too much work.

assume something

Don't always assume the worst(= that something bad has happened).In this example we have assumed a unit price of $10.

assume somebody/something to be/have something

I had assumed him to be a Belgian.

6) stand in one‟s way

-- prevent sb. from doing sth

I won‟t stand in your way if you can find a better job elsewhere.

No one will stand in your way if you set your mind to leaving.

7) send away for

-- request (sth.) or order (goods) to be sent by post

You can send away for this book if it is not available in your town.

I have sent away for some things I saw in the catalog.

8) qualified

-- having passed the exams or completed the training that are necessary in order to do a particular job; having the experience to do a particular job

a qualified accountant/teacher, etc.

to be highly/suitably/fully qualified

qualified for something She's extremely well qualified for the job.

-- qualified (to do something) having the practical knowledge or skills to do something

I don't know much about it, so I don't feel qualified to comment.

9) frantic

-- done quickly and with a lot of activity, but in a way that is not very well organized a frantic dash/search/struggle

They made frantic attempts to revive him.

Things are frantic in the office right now.

They worked with frantic haste.

-- unable to control your emotions because you are extremely frightened or worried about something

frantic with worry

Let's go back. Your parents must be getting frantic by now.

The children are driving me frantic (= making me very annoyed).

10) in addition to

-- used when you want to mention another person or thing after something else

In addition to these arrangements, extra ambulances will be on duty until midnight. There is, in addition, one further point to make.

11) ignore

-- ignore something t o pay no attention to something

He ignored all the …No Smoking‟ signs and lit up a cigarette.

I made a suggestion but they chose to ignore it.

We cannot afford to ignore their advice.

She deliberately ignored my question and changed the subject.

-- ignore somebody

to pretend that you have not seen somebody or that somebody is not there

She ignored him and carried on with her work.

If he tries to start an argument, just ignore him.

-- ignorance

a lack of knowledge or information about something

widespread ignorance of/about the disease

They fought a long battle against prejudice and ignorance.

She was kept in ignorance of her husband's activities.

Children often behave badly out of/through ignorance.

I hate to admit my ignorance, but how does it work?

12) on guard

-- to be very careful and prepared for something difficult or dangerous

He is constantly on guard against any threat of humiliation.

13) recall

-- to remember something

recall something She could not recall his name.

(+ adverb/preposition) If I recall correctly, he lives in Luton.

recall (somebody/something) doing something I can't recall meeting her before. recall that… He recalled that she always came home late on Wednesdays.

recall what, when, etc… Can you recall exactly what happened?

+ speech…It was on a Thursday in March,‟ he recalled.

5. Writing skills: retelling the story

Rewrite the text based on the Chinese given below.

在我的办公室里有一台绿色的旧打字机，对我来说，这是一件纪念品，它常常使我想起妈妈学用打字机的日子……

1. 买打字机的时间、原因

2. 妈妈学用打字机的经历

3. 给我留下的深刻印象

Model:

There is an old green typewriter sitting in my office. It is a memento to me. It often reminds me of the days when Mother learned to type.

Just two years before I went to college, Mother bought an old typewriter. She practiced every night as soon as she had finished the dishes in order to get a job to earn enough money to send my sister and me to college.

One Wednesday afternoon, I found Mother in tears. She lost the job because she couldn‟t type fast enough. But she didn‟t give up easily. She kept on practicing on the green typewriter. Several years later Mother successfully became a local reporter.

Now when I am in trouble and think about giving up or when I start to feel sorry for myself and think things should be easier for me, the typewriter recalls Mother‟s courage and encourages me to go ahead.

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