Strike while the iron is hot!!!

Transcription

1 DAY 1 AUDIO LESSON Strike while the iron is hot!!! Number of children in Japan at record low Gregory Mike I want to ask for a raise, but I'm afraid my boss will turn me down. But, you've been doing a great job. 1. Trend 2. Decade 3. Linger Gregory I know, but I'm nervous about asking. Mike If I were you, I'd strike while the iron is hot. Gregory What do you mean? Mike Do it while he's happy with you, and you'll surely get that raise. Guide Questions Gregory Thanks, I'll try it. I think I deserve it. 1. At what age does the number of children in Japan dramatically went down? 2. What is the effect of the low birth rate to the young working people in Japan? 3. What is the effect this to their economy? 1. State your thoughts about the issue. 2. How does your Government regulate the population of your country so it won t go souring high or super low? 3. What is the advantage and disadvantage of having low number of children? Explanation: Strike while the iron is hot - Take advantage of favorable conditions Example: They just made a huge profit, so let's strike while the iron is hot and ask for some money.

2 DAY 2 ARTICLE One Small Step, Big Miracle Since the sinking of the Sewol on April 16, 187 passengers had been found dead, and 115 others were still missing as of April 26, with 174 rescued. The ferry had carried 476 passengers, including 325 students and 15 teachers from Danwon High School in Ansan, Gyeonggi Province. People have been greatly shocked and saddened. In efforts to offer condolences and sympathies, people, as well as young students, have been tying yellow ribbons to the main gate of Danwon High and to trees and posts at various other places across the country. Sunday Masses or worship services at cathedrals, churches, and temples turned into moments of prayer for the souls of the deceased and for the safe return of the missing. Many streets and public places throughout the country are lined with yellow ribbons waving in the winds. Social media have also been inundated with images of yellow ribbons or yellow squares with a bow in black with the message, One small step, big miracle. Yellow flags are also fluttering along the streets in many towns, including Jindo, off which the ferry sank. The tradition of the yellow ribbon for hope and remembrance has been handed down from the past. The tradition was reignited by She Wore a Yellow Ribbon, a 1949 Western film, and by Tie a Yellow Ribbon Round the Ole Oak Tree, a 1973 pop song. 1. Sadden 2. Condolences 3. Inundated 1. Give your opinion about the article. 2. What is the meaning of tying of the yellow ribbon and flag? 3. What are the lessons that we have learned from the Sewol tragedy?

3 DAY 3 PICTURE ANALYSIS Malala to Boko Haram 7. What is the woman doing? 8. What is the reason why this terrorist group kidnapped school girls? 9. What do you think the Nigerian government should do? 10. Do you think the United States should help the Nigerian government? Why or why not? GRAMMAR REFRESHER: From the marked areas A, B, C and D, identify the one that is wrong, correct it. 1. My brothers (A) can't stand (B) lose an argument (C) with a woman. I enjoy (D) teasing them. 2. (A) Despite of many objections (B) from our relatives, my sister (C) married an Englishman when she was (D) studying in England. 3. A large lorry (A) containing bottles (B) were involved in (C) an accident (D) in Memphis. 4. My aunt (A) passed away last month. (B) Since she (C) had no children, my sister (D) took up her business. 5. The love (A) of parents (B) to their children (C) is very (D) important for their development. DISCUSSIONS: 1. What s the setting of this picture? 2. Who are the characters? 3. What are they doing? 4. What is the issue in this photo? 5. What idea is implied by the photo? 6. (A) After twenty years (B) of living in France you (C) must be well (D) adjust to the culture and the climate there. 7. Her recital (A) was so well (B) received that the pianist gave a (C) repeated performance the (D) following night. 8. The difficulties (A) he (B) faced in his childhood (C) has (D) affected his personality. 9. (A) Do you remember (B) posting the letter and (C) bought some stamps (D) a few days ago? 10. David (A) is an energetic person (B) and liked (C) to play a lot (D) of games. 6. What is the man doing?

4 DAY 4 DEBATE Are the new media better? With the rise of 24-hour cable news networks and the ubiquity of Internet communication, the news has never been more accessible. Unlike the past, when people got their news from the morning paper or the evening news, the news today is a constant stream of information. Because of this, journalistic standards have declined. Instead of checking the whos, whats, wheres, whys, and hows, many journalists seem to put an emphasis on delivering possible news instead of accurate news. Some people lament the loss of the old media. They prefer quality journalism over shoddy, incomplete information. Others, however, have an insatiable desire for any new information, even if that information is not verified. Which side of the debate are you on? Pros: The new media are much better than the old media. The new media give the people what they want - information fast. People are not interested in spending a few hours reading newspapers every day. They are interested in shocking headlines and attention-grabbing photos. So that is what journalists give the people. If it were not true, why is CNN so popular? Why are there so many news websites? The answer is clear. It is because people want to be entertained. They do not care about quality news. Cons: I admit that there were a lot of bad apples among the old media. But that is true of every profession. And people knew who the reliable journalists were. People knew who the journalists who had political biases were. These were not secrets. It is also true that everyone can have a voice with the new media, but that does not mean that it is a quality voice. Bloggers and tweeters do not have the same resources that newspapers have to do research. They do not have the same journalistic training that professional journalists have. They also lack the ethical considerations that trained journalists have. There is a space for the new media, but people should trust and rely on the old media because the quality is much better. 1. Ubiquity 2. Declined 3. Insatiable 1. What can you say about the issue? 2. What is your house rule of using the internet or other media by your child/children at home? 3. What is the effect of the media to the family and the society?

5 DAY 5 BUSINESS IDIOM FOCUS Read and be familiar with the Business Idiom below and use them in your conversation. Why study idioms? One of the keys to speaking like a native is the ability to use and understand casual expressions, or idioms. Elbow grease: hard work; effort. EXAMPLE 1: Yes, the car is pretty dirty, but it'll look nice again with a little elbow grease. EXAMPLE 2: You need little bit more of an elbow grease to be successful. Every other : alternately; omitting the second one in each group of two. EXAMPLE 1: In your essays, please write on every other line. That will make the essays much easier to read. EXAMPLE 2: You should save a buck or two every other day. This might help you buy the play station you want. Far-fetched: difficult to accept; difficult to believe. EXAMPLE 1: That story's pretty far-fetched. Nobody's going to believe it. EXAMPLE 2: It s really far-fetched to understand why he left me. Feel blue: feel sad and depressed. EXAMPLE 1: I'm feeling blue because I haven't had any mail except bills for a long, long time. EXAMPLE 2: When I m feeling blue, all I have to do is to take a look at you.