-Teachers' meeting on 19th November 2014

'Ioan Popescu' Highschool Barlad

Topic: Teaching new vocabulary through school plays

Coordinating teacher: Mihaela Iacob

Cast: 1. narrator: Micu Catalina

4. Juno: Vasilache Alisa

2. Narcissus: Luca Cristina

5. Dalila: Buzoi Silvia

3. Echo: Saranfir Larissa

6. girl: Maxim Bianca

Aims: - to arouse Ss' interest in foreign literature;

- to get Ss to appreciate art (through plays );
- to motivate Ss to learn new words;
- to get Ss to enrich their vocabulary ( synonyms & antonyms ).
Skills: Listening; Speaking; Reading; Writing.
Resources: pictures, quiz, school-play, worksheets

activity

scenario

Activity no.
Activity 1

Procedure
Greetings
- Teacher asks Ss to look at some
pictures and talk about what they see;
( ' What do you see in the first image?' , '
What kind of feelings do you think the
people in the picture share? ' )
- Teacher concludes that love is a big part
of a person's life and that it comes in
different forms, depending on the receiver
of that emotion;
- Teacher asks Ss if they love
themselves;
- Teacher asks Ss to take a quiz to see
exactly how much they love or don't love
themselves;
At the end of the quiz, the teacher
presents the interpretation of it;

Activity 2

- Teacher introduces the term 'narcissism'

and explains its Greek root;
- Teacher asks Ss to enjoy the
performance of a school-play called 'The
story of Echo and Narcissus' to find out
more about Narcissus, about his love for
himself and his tragic end;
- Teacher asks Ss to pay attention to
some words in the play because later on

Students' activity

Skills

Interaction

- Ss speak about what they

see in the pictures; they
identify the people and talk
about the relationships based
on affection / love people
share with the others;

Listening

Class work

Speaking

- Ss read the questions in the

test called 'How much do you Reading
love yourself?' and write their
Writing
answers on a sheet of paper;
- Ss identify the type of
person they are when it
comes to loving themselves;

- Ss listen to the teacher

explanation of the word
'narcissism';

Listening
Reading

Ss watch the school-play,

paying attention to the words

Individual work

Class work

Activity 3

they will be asked to find their synonyms

and antonyms;
- Teacher asks Ss to identify the correct
synonyms and match them with the
words in the first column;
- Teacher asks Ss to find an appropriate
antonym for each word on the sheet;

mentioned by their teacher;

- Ss receive worksheets to
match the new words with
their synonyms;
- Ss pair the words on the
sheet with their antonyms;

Listening
Class work
Reading
Team work
Writing
Individual work
Speaking

Activity 4

- Teacher asks Ss to use the new words to - Ss write down their

write a real or imaginary story as
homework for next class;
homework (no more than 30 lines);
- Teacher values the Ss work at the end
of the activity.

Listening

Class work

Writing

Individual work

Activity - pictures

PICTURE 1

PICTURE 2

PICTURE 3

PICTURE 4

PICTURE 5

PICTURE 6

PICTURE 7

PICTURE 8

PICTURE 9

Activity - quiz

Question

Answer

1. How often do you look in the mirror ?

A. - All the time

B. - 3-4 times a day
C. - Almost never; I avoid the mirror
A. - red / yellow
B. - blue / green
C. - grey / black
A. - a lion
B. - a panda
C. - a turtle
A. - None, I'm perfect !
B. - A few, but they don't really affect me
C. - A lot; that's why I avoid to look in the mirror
A. - I know !!
B. - Thank you; so do you !
C. - No response
A. - Everybody, of course !
B. - Not too many or too little ... a normal amount
C. - Nobody; why would they ?
A. - Everything I do is excellent !
B. - I'm ok at most things, but really good at ... just a few
things
C. - I'm not really good at anything ...
A. - I'm the prettiest in every room !!!
B. - It's ok, everyone is special in their own way
C. - Everyone is looking at me, judging me ... I'd better

2. What's your favourite colour ?

3. If you were an animal, what would you be ?

4. When you look in the mirror, how many flaws do you see ?

5. How do you generally respond to compliments?

' You look very beautiful / handsome!'
6. How many people do you think love you?

7. How many things are you good at?

8. 'Just being alive is such a gift, but nobody ever told you to
be thankful for your existence'

disappear ...
A. - Yes, everybody should want to kiss or hug me !
B. - Sure, it's always nice to feel loved
C. - Like anyone would ever want to come so close to me ...
A. - There's nothing I could improve ... I'm just PERFECT !!
B. - Maybe one or two ... if nothing else works
C. - There's nothing good about me ... so EVERYTHING !

9. Do you need a kiss or a hug ?

10. If you had money for plastic surgery, how many things
would you correct / change ?
( E.g.: nose, lips, hair, muscles, body weight etc. )
Interpretation
Mostly A

No one is right but me! No one is better than me! No one

is more beautiful than me! You have an exaggerated good
opinion and love for yourself. You always put yourself above
everyone else! Try to listen what others think also, try to be
more realistic and self-conscious cause, otherwise, you may
run out of friends one day !..
You know yourself very well, you know your strengths and
weaknesses, you know that nobody is perfect and everyone is
special in their own way. You have accepted who you are and
know what others think about you! You love yourself just the
right amount!
Stop criticizing yourself for being less than perfect! Stop
comparing yourself to others! Stop trying to be what you think
people expect you to be be who you really are and you will
learn to accept and love yourself, and so will others. Forgive
yourself and give you another chance !

Mostly B

Mostly C

Question

10

A
B
C
Activity - script

THE STORY OF ECHO

AND

NARCISSUS

Narrator
Echo was a beautiful nymph, fond of the woods and hills, where she devoted herself to woodland
sports. Many times
she accompanied the goddess Diana in hunting activities. But Echo had one failing : she liked
talking very much and always had the last word!
One day, Juno, a young nymph, was looking for her husband :
Juno :
Echo :
Juno:
Echo:
Juno:
Echo:

My dear, where are you?

My dear, where are you?
I cannot find you! Please, come to me!
I cannot find you! Please, come to me!
Don't be so cruel! I miss you!
Don't be so cruel! I miss you!

Narrator Juno was crying by the river while Echo was laughing at seeing her despair. Some other day, a young
nymph, called Dalila, was looking for her sister :
Dalila :
Echo:
Dalila:
Echo:
Dalila:
Echo:

My beloved sister, where are you?

My beloved sister, where are you?
Come! We must return home! It's getting dark!
Come! We must return home! It's getting dark!
Stop this childish behaviour and listen to your sister! Come, I tell you, or you'll be in big trouble, sister!
Stop this childish behaviour and listen to your sister! Come, I tell you, or you'll be in big trouble, sister!

Narrator Echo :

And so Dalila started crying while Echo was enjoying a new victory.

I will always have the last word!

Narrator - As she was wondering the woods, Echo saw a beautiful man named Narcissus. She fell in love with
Narcissus and followed him everywhere from a distance. Oh, how she longed to speak to him in her softest voice and
win his heart. She waited impatiently for him to speak first and had her answer ready. One day, Narcissus, being
separated from his companions, shouted aloud:
Narcissus:
Echo:
Narcissus:
Echo:
Narcissus:
Echo:
Narcissus:
Narrator

Who's here?
Here!
(whispering) I can see no one! (aloud) Come!
Come!
Why do you tease me?
Why do you tease me?
Let us join one another!
-

Narcissus:
Echo:
Narcissus:
Echo:

Echo came out of her hiding, ready to throw her arms around his neck.
Hands off! I would rather die than you should have me!
Have me! Have me!
Leave! I wish you not to be with me!
Be with me! Be with me!

Narrator But it was all in vain. Narcissus didn't want Echo and so he left her. With tears in her eyes and grief in
her voice, Echo went to live in caves and on the mountain cliffs. Her body shrank away, her bones changed to rocks
and there was nothing left but her voice. With her voice, she is ready to reply to anyone who calls and keeps her habit
of having the last word.
During this time, all the nymphs of the forest had stopped talking to Narcissus because of what he had
done to Echo.
Some other day, another young girl, mad in love with Narcissus, came to the river, and, in despair, she
said a prayer :
Girl:
Oh, you beautiful and cruel Narcissus! What have you done with my poor heart? Who gave you such beauty,
but such cruel heart? You have rejected me, you have rejected Echo and all the other nymphs! No one is good enough
for you! May the day come when you shall fall in love with someone and may you never have the same return of
affection! Gods, hear my prayer !!
Narrator -

And the goddess of hate and revenge heard the poor girl and granted her prayer.
And here comes Narcissus, after a hunting, tired and thirsty. He stopped to drink some water and saw
his own image reflected and thought it was some beautiful water-spirit living in the river.
Narcissus:

What beautiful head full of locks and what bright eyes!

Such rounded cheeks and ivory neck!

Oh, and those sweet, red, parted lips!
You beautiful creature! My heart is yours!
Narrator And so Narcissus fell in love with himself. Every day, he went to the river to meet his beloved one. He
brought his lips near the river to take a kiss from his lover, he plunged his arms to embrace the beloved spirit. The
spirit disappeared at his touch, but returned again after a moment, renewing Narcissus fascination and torture. The
girl's prayer was finally coming true. Juno approached the river:
Juno:

Oh, what beautiful creature! But look, it doesn't want to come with you!

Narrator
Dalila:

Then, Dalila, the girl who lost her sister, came :

Wonderful spirit! Too bad it doesn't want to play with you!

Narrator

At last, the voice of Echo came from a distance :

Echo: Hmm, how do you like it now, Narcissus?! How does it feel when the love you give does not equal the love
you receive?! This is what you deserve !!!
Narrator
- Narcissus was mad with anger and torn with pain. He had lost all interest for food, or hunting or
anything else. He looked into the water and began to talk with the supposed spirit :
Narcissus:
Why, beautiful being, why do you tease me? Surely my face is not one to repel you! The nymphs loved
me and you yourself look not indifferent upon me! When I stretch forth my arms, you do the same; and when I smile,
you smile back to me!
Narrator - His tears fell into the water and disturbed the image. When Narcissus saw it was leaving, he exclaimed :
Narcissus:

Stay, I beg you! Let me at least look at you if I may not touch you!Please!

Narrator - Consumed by his love, Narcissus brought his arms up and tried to hug his beloved. He fell in the water
and was one with the creature he so much cherished. The nymphs felt sorry for poor Narcissus and mourned for him.
They prepared a funeral pile and wanted to burn Narcissus body; but it was nowhere to be found; and in its place a
flower, purple within and surrounded with white leaves appeared, which bears the name and preserves the memory of
Narcissus.
All the nymphs:
Oh, Narcissus, your destiny : tragic!, your love : immense! May you ever be a symbol of true love
and may your sweet smell always bring lovers together for eternity!

Activity - vocabulary practice

Read the following sentences:

- Echo was fond of the woods and hills.

- Narcissus shouted aloud : ' Who's here? '
- ' Why do you tease me? ' - asked Narcissus.
- With her voice, she is ready to reply to anyone who calls.
- You have rejected me and all the other nymphs!
- The goddess heard and granted the girl's prayer.
- Narcissus plunged his arms into the water to embrace the spirit.
- The girl's prayer was finally coming true.
- ' Surely my face is not one to repel you! '
- Narcissus fell in the water and was one with the creature he so much cherished.

Now, try to match the verbs below with their synonyms:

I
1. to be fond of smb / smth

II
A. - to become real, to happen;

ANSWERS
1.

2. to shout (aloud)
3. to tease smb
4. to reply
5. to reject
6. to grant
7. to embrace
8. to come true
9. to repel
10. to cherish

B. - to accept and fulfill a request, to allow;

C. - to adore, to hold dear;
D. - to hold / squeeze closely in the arms;
E. - to like, to enjoy
F. - to refuse to accept or believe in;
G. - to push away, to dislike intensely;
H. - to answer, to respond;
I. - to scream, to yell;
J. - to make fun of smb, to mock;

ANTONYMS
1. TO BE FOND OF
2. TO SHOUT
3. TO TEASE
4. TO REPLY
5. TO REJECT
6. TO GRANT
7. TO EMBRACE
8. TO COME TRUE
9. TO REPEL
10. TO CHERISH

ANTONYMS

TO
TO
TO
TO
TO

REFUSE, TO DENY
BE INDIFFERENT / TO BE HOSTILE
WHISPER
MAKE HAPPY, TO PLEASE
ASK FOR, TO QUESTION

2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.

TO
TO
TO
TO
TO

ACCEPT; TO APPROVE, TO LET IN

DISAPPEAR
ATTRACT, TO PULL IN
HATE, TO DISLIKE, TO DESPISE
LET GO, TO LET FREE

ANTONYMS

1. TO BE FOND OF

2. TO SHOUT

3. TO TEASE

4. TO REPLY

5. TO REJECT

6. TO GRANT

7. TO EMBRACE

8. TO COME TRUE

9. TO REPEL

10. TO CHERISH

TO REFUSE, TO DENY
TO BE INDIFFERENT / TO BE

HOSTILE
TO WHISPER
TO
TO
TO
TO
TO
TO

MAKE HAPPY,
PLEASE
ASK FOR,
QUESTION
ACCEPT;
APPROVE, TO LET IN

TO DISAPPEAR
TO
TO
TO
TO
TO
TO

ATTRACT,
PULL IN
HATE,
DISLIKE, TO DESPISE
LET GO,
LET FREE

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