AN ARGUMENT

FOR THE OPTIONAL COURSE ACROSS CULTURES

Level: 9th grade, 1 class/ week

This course addresses 9th graders who study English as a first foreign language, in a number of five 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: Elisabeta Dulceanu

Liceul Teoretic Mihail Sadoveanu, Pacani, judeul Iai Disciplina: limba englez, curs opional Numr de ore/ sptmn: 1 Profesor: Elisabeta Dulceanu Clasa: a IX-a A Materiale: ACROSS CULTURES, BY Elizabeth Sharman, textbook and CD An colar: 2007- 2008

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

Nr. crt.

Unitatea de nvare

Competene specifice vizate

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 ; gastronomy- the reflection of a societys taste and evolution; hobbies and personal growth; families; me at the

Nr. ore

Perioada

Modaliti de evaluare

Obs.

1.

An Introduction to the concept of culture

2.3 3.1 3.2 2.3 3.1 3.2 3.3 5.1

1st W

Debate

2.

Culture as the deeper underground

2nd W

Presentati on

Everyday Life

2.3 3.1 3.2 3.3 5.1

3rd W; 4th W

Listening and readingbased assessments

4.

Habitats and Homelands

5.

Links with the Past

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

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 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 Hobbies; personality and pastime Hobbies; technologys part in contemporary life

5th W; 6th W; 7th W; 8th W; 9th W 10th W; 11th W; 12th W 13th W

Essay: My Place

Cloze test

6.

States and Systems

Essay: My freedom
manifesto

7.

Society

14th W; 15th W, 16th W 17th W 18th W

8. 9.

Consolidation Education

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

Transcripts; Essay: My Vision of an Educational System

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

10.

The Arts

11.

Links to Literature

3.2 4.1 4.2 5.1 3.2 4.1 4.2 5.1 1.2 1.3 3.3 2.2 3.2 3.3

3 4

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

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

12. 13.

Sports and Leisure Communication and technology

2 1

30thW, 31st W 32nd W

Consolidation 14.

3.2 4.1 4.2 5.1

Recycling of knowledge

33rd W; 34th W

Cumulative test