Professional Documents
Culture Documents
EFT3 Coursebook Module 1
EFT3 Coursebook Module 1
www.teachingenglish.org.uk
English for Teaching 3
Module 1: Whats in a word? Course book
1 Language
Vocabulary Definition
Chick lit To look through something, e.g. a book or a bookshop, without a particular purpose.
Fantasy
Chick lit
Crime
Celebrity
autobiographies
FANTASY
The UK has always been famous for its stories of magic and wizardry. There are strong cultural memories
of the druids who built Stonehenge and ruled the country before the arrival of the Romans or Christianity.
Shakespeare wrote some fantastical plays like The Tempest and A Midsummer Nights Dream. J. R. R.
Tolkien is credited with creating the modern genre of fantasy, with The Hobbit in 1937, but there was also
a lot of fantasy in the work of H. G. Wells, who published The Time Machine in 1895. And the tradition of
British fantasy is still alive and kicking. Everyones heard of J. K. Rowling and the humorous Terry Pratchett.
You might also have heard of Philip Pullmans His Dark Materials trilogy too, as the first book was made
into the film The Golden Compass, starring Nicole Kidman. In fact, the fantasy genre is so popular that new
sub-genres such as metaphysical fantasy and steampunk are now emerging.
CHICK LIT
Chick lit refers to books that are written about and for modern women. The most famous example is
probably Bridget Joness Diary, by the British author Helen Fielding. Titles in this genre are usually about
complicated love lives, modern working life and trying to remain healthy. These books usually always
contain humour or a feel-good factor. In many ways, they represent escapist fantasy, but are persuasive
because they deal with day-to-day topics.
CRIME
The UK is known for its detective fiction and murder mysteries. A couple of the most famous British
authors in this genre are, of course, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, who started his series of Sherlock Holmes
stories in 1887, and Agatha Christie, who created the detectives Hercule Poirot and Miss Marple. These
characters are still popular on television and in film. In fact, the latest Sherlock Holmes film has just been
made starring Robert Downey Jr. and Jude Law, and directed by Guy Ritchie. Yet there are
contemporary British authors of crime fiction who are also popular, including P. D. James, Ian Rankin and
Colin Dexter.
CELEBRITY autobiographies
It seems that every minor celebrity has written a book these days. Theyre not really serious authors and
are simply cashing in on their 15 minutes of fame. Many of their books are kiss and tell, i.e. theyre of
interest to readers only because of the secrets they reveal about other famous people. A number of the
books are not even written by the celebrities themselves rather, they have been written by anonymous
ghostwriters. Even so, this genre is popular because celebrity culture is well developed in the UK. Is the
book dead?
As you can see from the above, the books alive and well, so dont call in Sherlock Holmes just yet. Are
bookshops dying out because of websites like Amazon? Not really. The British are bibliophiles and love to
browse in bookshops, particularly when there is a coffee bar within the store. So, are libraries completely
disappearing in the UK? Well, its true that 40 public libraries closed in England alone in 2007, but the
others are surviving because they now offer computer access and training as well as books for
borrowing. Finally, 62 per cent of British parents read their children bedtime stories and none of us can
see that tradition changing soon.
So long live the book!
Useful language
Do you read (fantasy novels)?
(If yes) Which aspect of (fantasy novels) do you most enjoy?
(If no) Why not?
What is it about (romance novels) that you really like?
Survey results
Collate your results see the Useful language box below.
Design a poster illustrating your results.
Useful language
How do reading tastes vary?
Which genres are the most popular?
We found that
One interesting discovery was that
Language analysis
1. British libraries have been getting fewer and fewer visitors for the last 20 years.
2. In 1997, the Net Book Agreement in the UK ended.
3. The UK has always been famous for its stories of magic and wizardry.
4. The British are bibliophiles and love to browse in bookshops
5. In fact, the latest Sherlock Holmes film has just been made
6. It seems that every minor celebrity has written a book these days.
7. As you can see from the above, the books alive and well
8. Finally, 62 per cent of British parents read their children bedtime stories...
1. Hes been a writer for years. / Hes been writing for years.
2. Ive eaten a bag of crisps. / Ive been eating a bag of crisps.
3. Ive done my homework. / Ive been doing my homework.
4. Ive written three stories. / Ive been writing a story.
Now do the quiz there are two points for each correct answer.
Did you get any wrong? Do you understand why?
2 Methodology
Compare clues in your groups and make any changes which you think are necessary.
Discuss what the clues mean.
Now turn to Appendix 1 and check your clues with the original.
Lexical chunks
Cashing in on
Dying out
Working life
Bedtime stories
Detective fiction
Contemporary
British authors
Feel-good factor
Minimum prices
Credit crunch
Now read Part two of this article, which suggests techniques for teaching or practising vocabulary using
the lexical approach. Choose two of the techniques.
Compare the techniques you have chosen with your groups choices.
Which ones were the most/least popular?
Are there any techniques you wouldnt use? Why?
3 In the classroom
4 Pronunciation
5 Magazine
The Teacher
The magazine for teachers everywhere
THIS WEEKS HOT TOPIC
LEXICAL THREADS
This week we will explore two different activities
for dealing with vocabulary in the classroom
Lexical threads are easy Procedure if someone shouts out a
for teachers to plan and Split the class into two word the others dont know,
they help learners to learn teams. Ask one learner to learners tell each other
and recall vocabulary. give you a letter from the what the word means. It
Thread 1: alphabet (make sure they helps them recall words
The verb dome dont say X or Z though). they may have only seen
once or twice and it aids
This activity originally Then ask each team to
memory.
started out as a warmer. call out a verb beginning
One of my learners gave it with the letter chosen. In future classes, you can
its name and it just stuck. Write the verbs on the choose another letter and
It is not linked to any board and continue in this do the activity again, or ask
themes or part of the way each group taking them to do this for
course but it shows it in turns to call out. collocations. This time
learners how much they When a team cant think of learners call out the verb
know, in a fun way. any more verbs they lose. and must complete it with
another word that
Preparation It is highly motivating when
collocates naturally with it.
You only need the board learners see how much
and a pen and, most they know. It also gives
importantly, your learners. them an opportunity to
share knowledge. I find that
6 Vocabulary
To become fixed
or permanent
An enjoyable approach
to doing something
Divide
Assists
Give out
7 Activity page
The page where you try out a classroom activity.
You can find a full description of the activity and download a blank template and more sets of word cards at:
http://www.teachingenglish.org.uk/try/activities/collocation-pelmanism.
8 Reflection
Appendix 1
Clues
An economic situation where banks restrict the amount of money you can borrow.
Someone or something which is living, healthy and doing well.
The part of your life when you have a paid job.
A feeling that life is good and things are going well.
Novels where police characters solve crime mysteries.
British authors who are currently writing.
Taking advantage of a situation usually for financial benefit.
To reveal private or confidential details about people usually to do with romance or relationships.
To gradually disappear or stop existing.
Stories you read to children just before they go to sleep.