Learn and Talk II

Lesson 66
Superstitions

Content:
Part 1 Warm Up 3’
Part 2 Text 7’ Part 4 Discussion 8’
Part 3 Retell 3’ Part 5 After-Class Review

Tutor: Please keep your greeting in 2 mins. And you can go through Part 5 if time allows.
 Part 1 - Warm Up 3 mins

Do you have any irrational beliefs?

Tutor: Please encourage the student to answer the questions and keep this part in 3 mins.

1
Part 2 - Text Superstitions 7 mins Words and Expressions
Many superstitions may seem silly, even stupid to us today, but they continue to
influence our behavior. In most cases, the reasons behind common
superstitions date back to medieval or even ancient times1. They are quite often 1. … superstitions date back to medieval …
even more peculiar than the beliefs they attempt to explain2. (to have existed for a particular length of
time or since a particular time)
Black cats are the source of literally hundreds of unlucky superstitions. It's a
E.g. This tradition dates back to medieval
sign of bad luck if they walk in front of you. It's unlucky to step on their tails. times.
They even bring bad luck into a house if they sneeze inside.
2. They are quite often even more peculiar
than …
This unfortunate connection with misfortune dates back to the Middle Ages
when they became associated with witches and were thought to harbor evil (unusual and strange, sometimes in an
unpleasant way)
spirits3.
E.g. She has the most peculiar ideas.
There are very practical reasons for thinking twice before walking under a
3. This unfortunate connection with
ladder, but a more mysterious explanation can be traced back to ancient Egypt. misfortune …
The early Egyptians believed that the shape of the Pyramids had a special
(bad luck, or an unlucky event)
power. It was considered very bad luck to break the “power” of this shape and
E.g. She suffered a good deal of misfortune
that's exactly what walking under a ladder would do.
over the years.

Tutor: Please read or let the student read the text, and explain the underlined expressions in blue.
2
 3 mins
Part 3 - Retell

Now retell the passage by yourself based on what you’ve read.

Hints:
superstitions … date back to … peculiar
black cats … unlucky … sneeze
misfortune … evil spirits
ladder … Egypt … special power

Tutor: Please encourage the student to retell the text. The

hints are NOT necessarily needed.

3
Part 4 - Discussion 8 mins Expressions may be used
(Try to talk for at least 2 minutes for each question. You are encouraged to use the
expressions that you’ve learned today. )
1. date back to
date back to / peculiar / misfortune
In most cases, the reasons behind
common superstitions date back to
1. Do you know any belief or custom that has existed for a long
medieval or even ancient times.
time?

2. peculiar
2. Have you heard of any strange and unusual belief? And have They are quite often even more peculiar
you ever seen any strange behavior of someone? than the beliefs they attempt to explain.

3. What’s your most unlucky experience? 3. misfortune

This unfortunate connection with
misfortune dates back to the Middle

Tutor: Please let the student talk freely, each question about 2 mins. Using the expressions from Ages ...
today is encouraged.

4
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After-Class Review

Review the expressions you’ve learned today and try to use them to make some sentences.

1. date back to （时间）追溯 3. misfortune 不幸；厄运

to have existed for a particular length of time or since a particular time bad luck, or an unlucky event
E.g. 1. In most cases, the reasons behind common superstitions date back to E.g. 1. This unfortunate connection with misfortune dates
medieval or even ancient times. back to the Middle Ages ...
2. This tradition dates back to medieval times. 2. She suffered a good deal of misfortune over the years.
3. The history of hockey can date back to thousands ago. 3. One misfortune followed another.

2. peculiar 奇怪的，古怪的
unusual and strange, sometimes in an unpleasant way
E.g. 1. They are quite often even more peculiar than the beliefs they attempt to
explain.
2. She has the most peculiar ideas.
3. This patient has rather peculiar symptoms.
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