AN ARGUMENT

FOR THE OPTIONAL COURSE ACROSS CULTURES

Level: 11th grade, 1 class/ week

This course addresses 11th graders who study English as a first foreign language, in a

number of three classes a week. Enlarging their sphere of knowledge beyond the curricula was
expected by our students.

The present optional course will provide further support for childrens interest in issues

less insisted upon in any textbooks their level: dialects, varieties of English, legends, customs,

traditions; present- day reference to each of these sections is also being made; but, most

importantly, it is meant to provide enough information as to enable them to compare and

contrast between same generations, situated on the other sides of the world. At the end of the

course, students will have been able to state whether culture, civilization and, implicitly, the

foreign languages which allow us to get to know them can be considered passports.

Across Cultures , by Elizabeth Sharman- is one of the best cross-cultural course

books; it has a wide range of cultural information on topics such as civilization, literature,

music, language, history, geography, society, etc of the English-speaking world. I also

strongly recommend it for FCE-preparation or for the Higher Mature Exams.

The book is organised into modules and there is the possibility to focus particularly on one of

the countries.

Across Cultures is a new modular, flexible, user-friendly course which presents a wide

variety of material on the English-speaking world. Traditional topics, such as geography and

institutions, are fully covered, along with the most up-to-date themes and topics.

The aid of the audio materials considered, the course is most likely to bring about excitement,

curiousity, enthusiasm and the need for more.

A course suggestion by:

Voichita-Iuliana Pernes

Liceul Teoretic George Pop de Basesti, Ulmeni

Disciplina: limba englez, curs opional
Numr de ore/ sptmn: 1
Profesor: Voichita-Iuliana Pernes
Clasa: a XI-a A
Materiale: ACROSS CULTURES, BY Elizabeth Sharman, textbook and CD
An colar: 2016-2017

PLANIFICAREA ORELOR PENTRU CURSUL OPIONAL, CLASA a XI-a A

Nr. crt.

1.

2.

Unitatea de nvare

An Introduction to the
concept of culture

Culture as the deeper

underground

Everyday Life

Competene
specifice
vizate

2.3
3.1
3.2
2.3
3.1
3.2
3.3
5.1

2.3

Coninuturi
Students become
familiar with several
definitions of the term
culture, then debate
and state whether
culture, as a
phenomenon can be
treated separately
Further focus on nonseparable concepts
spinning around
culture- individual
and group values
Arguing whether
cultural differences are
always negative in
meaning; tolerance ;

Nr.
ore

Perioada

1st W

2nd W

Modaliti
de evaluare

Debate

Presentati
on

Obs.

3.1
3.2
3.3
5.1

4.

5.

6.

7.

Habitats and
Homelands

Links with the Past

States and Systems

Society

8.

Consolidation

9.

Education

10.

The Arts

11.

Links to Literature

12.

Sports and Leisure

1.2
1.3
2.1
2.2
3.2
3.1
3.2
5.1
3.2
4.1
4.2
5.1
2.3
3.1
3.2
3.3
5.1
2.2
3.2
2.3
3.1
3.2
3.3
5.1

gastronomy- the
reflection of a
societys taste and
evolution; hobbies and
personal growth;
families; me at the
centre of the family;
me/ the others( as in
non- versus) ;
varieties of English
or... fun with dialects
House and familyassertive development
components ;
lifestyles; adjectives of
measurement
British history;
American history;
word building; words
related to army
Rigour and
development; forms of
government; national
celebrations;
prejudice; law and law
infringements
Discrimination and
(non-) evolution; equal
rights- pros and cons;
basic rights and
freedoms; single
parents

Listening
and
readingbased
assessments

3rd W;
4th W

5th W;
6th W;
7th W;

Essay:
My Place

8th W;
9th W
10th W;

Cloze
test

11th W;
12th W
13th W

Essay:
My
freedom
manifesto

3.2
4.1
4.2
5.1
3.2
4.1
4.2
5.1

Self- awareness in the

social context
Educating very young
learners; state/ private
schools; elite schools;
educational systems;
exams as forms of
recognition ; words
connected to
education; dialects
The concept of art;
samples of art; art and
fame; contemporary
approaches of art
Deconstruction; poetry
and drama; searching
for ones style in
writing

1.2
1.3

Hobbies; personality
and pastime

3
4

18th W

Quiz;
essay: My
most
special/
most
feared
freedom
Debate

19th W
20th W
21st W
22nd W

Transcripts;
Essay:
My Vision
of an
Educational
System

14th W;
15th W,
16th W
17th W

23rd W;
24th W;
25th W
26th- 29th
W

30thW, 31st
W

Project
Writing
poetry by
following
specified
patterns
Essay: My
time, my

13.

Communication and
technology

Consolidation
14.

3.3
2.2
3.2
3.3
3.2
4.1
4.2
5.1

Hobbies; technologys
part in contemporary
life

32nd W

choice
debate

Recycling of
knowledge

33rd W;
34th W

Cumulative
test