Урок "Компьютер:за и против"

ADVANTAGES OF COMPUTERS 

By the end of the lesson you will be able:

-          to understand the main idea of the text without a dictionary;

-          to extract the main points  needed to be understood;

-          to recognize the function of modal verbs in the text;

-          to discuss advantages and disadvantages of computers.

1.      We are going  to discuss some questions about computers.

Answer my questions, please

·        Are you a PC user?

·        Was it easy for you to learn how to use it?

·        What for do you use your computer?

·        Who taught you to use a computer?

·        How much time a day do you spend in front of the computer?

2        Read the text, using a vocabulary.

Understand a main idea.

Vocabulary.

      cast-off                             out of date, obsolete

      software                           computer program

      white elephant                  expensive useless thing

      e-mail                                electronic post

      solve                                 find the answer

      confident                          feeling  sure

      message                            a piece of news

      brag                                  boast

      conquer                             win

      install                                set

Gwen and her husband Tim live in a small town in Colorado in the USA. When Gwen was 70 and her husband was 77, their daughter gave them a cast-off computer and some software.

Gwen and Tim were not interested in it and saw the gift as ‘the white elephant’. Their first responses were ‘Don’t need one’.’ I won’t use it’. ’I’m too old to learn’.

In spite of their protest, their daughter left the computer to them. She also told them that

the computer would help them to be in communication with her when she was in London with her job, as well as with their grown children who live in different parts of the country. She explained them how to use the computer, but they don’t show any interest in it.

Some time later Gwen decided to try the computer. It was not easy. At first Gwen was afraid she would break the machine. She called her son-in-law and asked him some questions about using e-mail. She learned the basics of computer communication and learned to solve problems which arise in the process of work with  computer.

After 3 months she could send e-mail to her children, a nephew, and anyone she could reach. She is now so confident in her abilities that she is exploring new ways of getting information with her computer.

Gwen says; ’E-mail allows me to be in touch with people every day. It allows me to communicate regularly with my son who has health problems. I don’t have to wait a certain time of day to call. I can send and receive messages at any time’.

And Gwen has a right to brag. When  she tells people about the computer, they are amazed at the fact that she can learn something like that.

She has learned a little terminology and can talk to people who know something about the computer. She conquered the technology she didn’t think she would be able to learn.

Now Gwen is planning to install a new modem, join Internet and explore the net.

3. Is there any information in the text

• concerning rules of sending e-mail?
• how Gwen learned to use the computer?
• showing that Gwen had a right to boast?
• about the family of Gwen and Tim?
• about their age?
• about their town?
• about computer games?

4.Find the synonyms:

 useless                     find the answer                            feeling certain

 boast                        surprised                                      obsolete

5. Complete the sentences:

The daughter of Gwen and Tim gave them…

At that time Gwen was… and Tim was…

First Gwen and Tim…

In spite of their protest their daughter…

She told them…

She showed them…

Some time later…

She learned…

Now…

6. Match the words with their definitions:

modem                a)a system that allows messages to be sent from one computer to another

software              b) feeling certain

e-mail                  c) a piece of electronic equipment that allows to send information from one

                                computer to another

confident             d) a piece of news

hard disk             e) the programs that you put into computers to make them do the job

                                you want                     

message               f) a part inside a computer that can store information  

7. Grammar focus. Insert must or have to. Mind the tense. Negative forms are possible.

If you want to have e-mail, you …install a modem.

You don’t … wait a certain time of day to call.

It was too late, so I … go home.

If your computer crashes, you … invite a specialist.

You … smoke in buses.

Nowadays pupils in Russia don’t … wear a uniform.

8. Join these split sentences

Knowing how to use a computer     a) an electronic machine which is used to store

                                                             information.

The term ‘virtual reality’                 b) describes computer images which look almost like real

                                                             life.

A computer is                                  c) you should invite a specialist.

More and more schools are              d) your computer can become obsolete.

using multimedia

In two years                                      e) as a teaching aid.

If you can’t fix your computer          f) is a useful skill.

9. Speaking.

Work in pairs. Talk about computers. What can they   do and what can’t they do?

e.g . Computers can count but they can’t think.

count                             think

translate                         have conversations

play chess                      make music

speak English                write books

do sums                         forecast the weather

hear                                smell

What can people do that computers can’t do?

10. Discuss advantages and disadvantages of computers.

Compare your opinions with text below.

Advantage of Computers

1.      Computers give access to a lot of information.

2.      Computers let you communicate very quickly by e-mail or using the Internet.

3.      Computers can do some tasks very quickly, for example, send off large number of letter or bills.

4.      Computers make it possible to work at home.

5.      Word processors make it easier to write letters and reports, and do work for school or college.

6.      Children enjoy using computers, and multimedia, interactive software and virtual reality make learning more exciting. Many books are now available on CD-ROMs.

7.      Large amounts of information can be stored in a database.

Disadvantages of Computers

1.      Many people do not like using computers, and would prefer to deal with a person instead.

2.      Computers can get viruses.

3.      Software often has bugs, and sometimes computers fail and people lose all the work they had done.

4.      Some children spend too much time playing computer games which can be very violent.

5.      Anyone can put information or images on the Internet, so it can easily be used by criminals to communicate with each other. There are no laws to stop this yet, and it is extremely difficult to control the Internet.

6.      Computers quickly become obsolete, so they soon need to be replaced or upgraded.

7.      If a computer is not working properly, most people do not know how to fix it, and this can be very annoying.

UNIT 1

By the end of the lesson you will be able

-          to get some basic information from a long text without having to find every unknown word in your dictionary.

-          to discuss the problem: ‘Do your parents have the right to choose your friends?’

The following activities accompany the reading ‘Shakespeare meets MTV – A classic love story set in our time’. You may think that reading is too long and beyond your abilities, but don’t be afraid! You will find that you can understand more of it than you think. Don’t worry: you won’t be asked to do more than you can be expected to be able to do at this point.

By following step by step activities, you will read parts of the text closely and scan parts of it for general information.

You will use some of the information you learn from the text to discuss the problem ‘Parents and children.’

Pre-reading tasks.

1.   Look at the title; can you guess at the reading content? Which of these statements may be true?

      A famous writer meets his readers in TV-program.

      You can see a new  version of famous love story on TV.

2.      What do you know about this writer?

3.      Have you read or seen his tragedies?

4.      Here are some words from the text. Try to guess what this text is about.

the famous Shakespearean play                                   a great pop sound track

a modern version                                                          a wonderful film

to hate each other                                                         to enjoy in a new way

to lead to a tragic end                                                                film’s sad ending

While-reading tasks.

1. Read the text quickly and find out whether your predictions were right.
2. Say if these sentences are true or false:

a)      ‘Romeo and Juliet’ is a classic love story.

b)      The main characters of the film live in Great Britain.

c)      The Capulets invite Romeo to the masked ball.

d)      Neither Romeo nor Juliet knows that their families are enemies.

e)      Their love leads them to a tragic end.

f)       A modern version of this play has a happy end.

3. Identify a topic sentence of each paragraph.

Post-reading tasks.

1. Discussion.

a)      Do you need modern versions of the classic plays?

b)      Have you been in such situation when your parents were against your love or friendship?

c)      Do you follow your parents advice?

d)      Let’s imagine another end of this sad story. What  ending will you think of?

e)      Advise or don’t advise your friend to watch this film. Explain why.

Further reading.

Henry is a newspaper psychologist. He gives people advice about their problems. Here is one letter asking for help.

Will you read the letter, please.

Now work in pairs. Ask your partner the following questions:

1. Who wrote this letter?
2. What is the problem?
3. How old is the son?
4. Does his mother hate his girl-friend?
5. What does his mother want her son to do?
6. What advice can you give her?

Talk about the advice you gave the worried mother. Do you agree with each other?

Do your parents have such problems?

Writing.

Write your advice the worried mother on a sheet of paper.

Congratulations! You have read two articles from the newspaper without a dictionary.