JANUARY 2009

K
PRINT & TEACH LESSON DECEMBER 2009

BECAUSE I SAID SO!

Language Function: Vocabulary/Topic:

discussing issues; reading comprehension parenting; children; raising children; sentences & expressions

advanced upper-intermediate intermediate pre-intermediate

Dont sit to close to the TV or youll get square eyes.

Most of us believe that we are, or will be, better parents than our own mums and dads. We dread to think that we can grow up to be just like them, using all their annoying sayings that we had to endure when we were children. However, a recent research has revealed that eight out of ten mums use the same old tired and tested adages to deal with their children and in doing so feel like they are turning into their own mothers.

focus on talking
Activity 1. Read the introduction to the lesson and discuss these questions in pairs or small groups. 1. Do you believe you are (will be) a better parent than your mother and father? Why yes or why not? 2. Do you remember any adages your parents said to you? How did you react to them? Were they effective in discipining you? www.english-4u.com

GLOSSARY BOX
adage - a wise saying endure - to suffer something difcult, unpleasant or painful

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BECAUSE I SAID SO!

focus on comprehension
Activity 2. Here is the list of top 20 most popular sayings used by mothers, presented in random order. Guess which of them are the 5 most frequently repeated sayings?

Ask your father. Back in my day ... Because I said so. Do as I say, not as I do. Dont sit too close to the TV or youll get square eyes. Eat carrots to see in the dark. If you cant nish your dinner, youre too full for dessert. If you were asked to jump off a cliff, would you do it? Itll end in tears. Ive told you a thousand times. I want never gets. Say pardon, not what. Stop crying or Ill give you something to cry about. Thats for me to know and you to nd out. Theres no such word as cant. Wait and see. What did your last slave die of? Where you born in a barn? Whos she, the cats mother? Youll have someones eye out.

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Activity 3. Read the sayings again and answer the questions below.

Which saying ...

1. ... is a response to a child asking why they have to do something? 2. ... is an answer used to deal with impatient children pestering to find out when something will happen? 3. ... is used to rebuke a child for having done something dangerous? 4. ... is a warning to a child to be more careful, e.g. with a sharp object, because they can hurt someone? 5. ... is used when a child wants their parent to do something for them? 6. ... is said to a child who has forgotten to close the door? 7. ... shows that parents are impatient because their child has not done something although she/he has been asked to do it many times? 8. ... is used by parents to encourage their children to try to do things which they might find difficult or even impossible to do? 9. ... is used to rebuke a child for saying what when they didnt hear what someone said? 10. ... is a warning about consequences of a childs behaviour? 11. ... is used to rebuke a child for having referred to their mother, or any other woman in the third person, instead of using a properly respectful title or their name? 12. ... is used to teach a child to say Please may I have? 13. ... is used by parents to encourage them to eat their food? 14. ... means I know what I know and Im not going to tell you? 15. ... is usually used to talk about the hardships the parent experienced in his/her childhood in order to show their child how lucky she/he is now? 16. ... is a lie used by parents to discourage them from siting too close to the TV? 17. ... is a threat made by a parent whose child is having a tanturm? 18. ... would be said encourage a child to eat vegetables? 19. ... is used by a mather who wants to palm a difficult question off on her spouse? 20. ... means: dont imitate my behaviour but obey my instructions?

GLOSSARY BOX
to pester - to behave in an annoying manner towards someone by doing or asking for something repeatedly to rebuke - to speak angrily to someone because you disapprove of what they have said or done

a tantrum - a sudden period of uncontrolled childish anger to palm something off on someone - to give something to someone because you do not want it

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focus on vocabulary: sentences & expressions

Activity 4. Match the words and their denitions.

sentences
expressions
3. a wise saying

adage cliche idiom slogan

aphorism collocation motto soundbite

catchphrase epigram proverb tongue twister

1. a group of words in a xed order that have a particular meaning that is different from the meanings of each word understood on its own 2. the combination of words formed when two or more words are frequently used together in a way that sounds correct

4. a word, phrase or sentence that is difcult to pronounce 5. a comment that is very often made and is therefore not original and not interesting 6. a short easily remembered phrase, especially one used to advertise an idea or a product 7. a short clever saying which is intended to express a general truth 8. a short sentence or phrase that is easy to remember, often included in a speech made by a politician and repeated in newspapers and on television and radio 9. a phrase which is often repeated and therefore becomes connected with a particular organization or person, especilly someone famous such as a television entertainer 10. a short sentence, etc., usually known by many people, stating something commonly experienced or giving advice 11. a short sentence or phrase that expresses a belief or purpose 12. a short saying or poem which expresses an idea in a way that is clever and amusing

focus on talking
Activity 5. Discuss the questions in pairs or small groups.
1. Do mothers use similar sayings in your country? Are there any adages that you think are specic for your culture? 2. Which of the sayings listed on page 2 do you nd effective and which ones wouldnt you like to use dealing with your own children?

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