Unit Three: School Life
3.2. I Have a Head for…
To have a good head for…
To have a good command of something
To use something
To be computer literate
To broaden one’s horizons
To make magic
To search the Internet
Somehow or other… . Vice versa.
I. Conversation Warm-up
Look at the photos and guess what these children’s favourite subjects may be.
Example: I think Boris likes PT lessons. You can often see him in the gym.
II. Pronunciation Warm-up
Read and practise
THE NOTHING-DOINGS POEM
Meet the lazy Nothing-Doings,
All they do is stand around,
When it’s time for doing nothing,
Nothing-Doings can be found.
When it’s time for doing something,
You won’t find a single one,
For the Nothing-Doings vanish
When there’s work that must be done.
II. Grammar Smart
1. Look and recall!
Use the linking words so, and, but to combine two simple sentences into one.
Example: I like literature soі often read books.
I like literature and I often read books.
I like literature but I don’t like history.
A) Play a grammar competition game using linking words.
Example: I have a head for computers and can design a website.
1. Ann wants to talk to native speakers… .
2. Val is computer literate… .
3. Art classes broaden my artistic horizons… .
4. Many pupils like Maths… .
5. My elder brother is fond of sports….
6. Helen takes part
B) Combine two simple sentences into one.
Example: I adore Geography. I joined a geography club. →
I adore Geography and I joined a geography club.
1. Paul is a member of our English-speaking club. I have a chance to talk to native speakers.
2. I like my PT lessons. I take part in sport competitions.
3. Ann likes history. I like Biology.
4. Bill has a head for computers. He knows much about them.
5. I spend much time at the computer lab. I use it to advantage.
6. Our history teacher asked me to write a report. I searched the Internet.
2. Time to Look and Remember!
1) Use because when you want to say why you like or dislike your school subjects.
Example: I like to research because it is very interesting.
2) Use that’s why when you want to explain what you do for some reason.
Example: I need more information about Britain, that’s why I search the Internet.
A) Look at the pictures and say why these children like or dislike to do the following things at their lessons.
Example: Oksana likes to work with a dictionary because she wants to have a good command of English.
B) Say what you prefer to do for these reasons.
Example: You are a nature lover. -> I am a nature lover that’s why I adore Botany.
1. You are a sports person.
2. You are good at drawing.
3. You have a head for Maths.
4. You are fond of poetry.
5. You are computer literate.
IV. Word Smart
1. Say what you must do if:
Example: You don’t understand ancient manuscripts. ->
If I don’t understand ancient manuscripts, I must decipher them.
1. You want to have more information about something.
2. You found the information in the Internet and want to have it.
3. You feel uneasy about your English.
4. You are an elementary computer user.
5. You know little about something.
6. You have a good head for Maths.
2. Match the verbs to the nouns and make up your own sentences with them.
Example: I like to research the problems at my history lessons.
3. Answer the questions.
1. What do you have a good head for?
2. About what do you feel uneasy?
3. What do you use to advantage?
4. What broadens your language horizons?
5. What club do you want to join?
6. When do you search the Internet?
At home: Write what you like or dislike to do at different lessons.
Go to Ex. 41, 42 of your Workbook
V. Time to Listen and Read
1. Listen to / read what sixth formers of different countries say about their favourite subjects and say who are you with.
My name is Sarah. It is the end of January in Australia and I am back to Sydney school. The term has just begun and I’m proud that I’m in the sixth grade.
In my timetable there are so many subjects:
Australian history, Geography, Biology, ICT and two foreign languages. I adore foreign languages and I learn Spanish and French. I work hard on them both. I want to have a good command of both languages, especially French, because my grandmother lives in France.
I visited her last summer and had a chance to practise my French. Most of all I liked how my new French friends taught me to speak good French: they taught me what native speakers say in this or that situation, corrected my mistakes good naturedly. It was a really fantastic experience!
I am Phil and I’m also in the sixth grade. I study in Boston High School. Of all the school subjects I like ICT the best. I am not an elementary computer user. Vice versa, I’m computer literate and I know how to design a web page, to make computer programmes and to send e-mails.
Our ICT teacher taught us how to search the Internet and I found free websites where members can communicate with several people in a chat room by typing messages. Thus I became acquainted with many children from different countries: we exchange information, discuss problems and even help each other.
All of us use the social network to our advantage. For example, my new pal Jeremy is a Canadian. He is very good at Geography and he helped me to write a report about his country. I downloaded my task and he sent me the newest information. It’s cool to learn from each other.
I’m Boghdan and as many Ukrainian school children I like to learn more about the history of my country. They say I have a head for it. Somehow or other, history is my favourite subject. Our teacher makes magic at our lessons: we work with historical maps and even decipher ancient manuscripts, see documentary films. All this broadens my historical horizons and stimulates me for independent research.
I am trying to research the roots of our Cossackdom. In summer our history club plans to go to Zaporizhzhya. Maybe I’ll find support for my research. Who knows?
Sydney – найбільше місто в Австралії, важливий культурний і фінансовий центр країни.
Boston High School – середня школа в Бостоні, США.
Example: He lives in Britain, he is British.
1. Sarah is from Australia, she is… .
2. My friend lives in Canada, he is… .
3. Bob and Roy came from America, they are….
4. I live in Kyiv, I’m… .
5. Lora’s motherland is France, she is… .
6. Miss Smith works in England, she is
Australia – Australian
France – French
Canada – Canadian
America – American
Ukraine – Ukrainian
England – English
See First Aid Kit: Grammar, p. 212
3. Look at the pictures anti say for what children these things are important and why.
Example: I think Phil likes to work on computer. ICT lessons are his favourite.
VI. Time to Communicate
1. Act as one of the children and speak about your favourite subject. Use:
To have a head for something;
To use something to advantage;
To make magic at a lesson;
To learn from each other;
To broaden somebody’s horizon;
To stimulate for something.
2. In pairs, speak about your favourite subjects. Use the pattern.
A: I say…. What… ?
В: As for me… . It… .
A: I see. And what do you usually… ?
B: Our teacher… . We often…. Sometimes… .
A: It broadens… and stimulates… , doesn’t it?
B: Sure. I like… most of all. And what about you?
A: They say I have a head for…. I really adore….
B: What helps you… ?
A: I… and… .
3. Look at the list of subjects (p. 80) and choose your favourite one. Speak about it.
VII. Time to Write
Write about your most important/interesting/difficult subjects and explain why it is so.
Go to Ex. 43, 44 of your Workbook