Readers in the classroom.

Jest to scenariusz lekcji mający na celu zainteresowanie uczniów niektórymi aspektami brytyjskiej kultury i tradycji poprzez analizę uproszczonej wersji książki "How to be an Alien". Ćwiczenia rozwijające umiejętność wypowiadania się, poszerzające zasób słownictwa, sprawdzające zrozumienie przeczytanego tekstu a przede wszystkim unikalny brytyjski humor uczynią lekcję ciekawą i zabawną.

Readers in the Classroom

Title: “ How to be an Alien “ by George Mikes.

Level: Pre-Intermediate

Age Group: 15 – 16

Aims:

The students are able to deal with different comprehension check tasks.

The students get to know some aspects of British culture and tradition.

Time: 90 minutes.

Procedure:

The first part of the lesson ( 45 minutes ):

The teacher asks the students to write down the things they associate with Britain.

The students work in groups and compare their lists.

The teacher gets feedback by asking the students why they thought of those things.

The students choose the adjectives from the box to describe a typical Englishman. Then, the teacher elicits discussion about the stereotypes of an Englishman and a Pole.

The students read a short conversation about the weather in England and try to discuss this topic briefly on the basis of the given picture a joke and their general knowledge of the world.

The teacher asks the students to read a short version of George Mikes’ book

“ How to be an Alien “.

The second part of the lesson ( 45 minutes ).

The students work individually and answer the comprehension check questions to the

text. The teacher gets feedback after the accomplishment of each task.

The students work in pairs and try to act out the conversation between a civil servant

and someone who wants to be naturalized. The teacher gets feedback by asking a few pairs to present their dialogues.

The teacher elicits discussion on the basis of the questions 5 and 6.

Pre-reading tasks:

Work alone. Close your eyes and think of Britain.

Write down the first five things you thought of.

Double-deckersPolicemen in funny hatsDouble-deckersPolicemen in funny hats

Double-deckers

Policemen in funny hats

Double-deckers

Policemen in funny hats

2. Work in groups. Compare your lists.

Why did you think of those things?

3. Do you have a stereotype of an Englishman?

Look at the list of adjectives in the box below. Which of them would you choose to describe a typical Englishman?

boring jolly friendly uncommunicative

outgoing fashionable cool interesting

spontaneous reserved proud helpful

conservative polite crazy hypocritical

4. Do you think that stereotypes are prejudicial or unfair? Justify.

5. What is the stereotype of a typical Pole?

6. British people love talking about the weather!

A typical dialogue between two Englishmen goes as follows:

X: Hallo, Mike! Nice to see you again!

Y: Hallo, Steve! How are you ...