Открытый урок английского языка по теме Smile and Laughter. 9–11-е классы
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Aims – developing speaking and listening comprehension skills, thinking abilities & reading comprehension Enlarging on the history of April Fool’s Day.
Equipment – Interactive board (or computer) Handouts the topic CD with the story “ Smile”.
Lesson Stages:
Warming up (Guess whose smile it is)
Listening Comprehension & Discussion
Opinion Poll
Reading Comprehension
Communicative Pot-pourri:
Summing up
(A teacher greets the pupils smiling)
T: Hello, dear students! Today we have unusual lesson. On the eve of April Fool’s Day laughter. To start with let’s recognize some famous smiles. Look at these pictures and guess. (Students look at the pictures of Julia Robert, Yuri Gagarin, & so on).
T: But what smile is the most famous?
P: In my opinion it’s Mona Lisa.
T: Right. How can you characterize this smile? Try to finish the sentence “She smiles as if”.
P1: She smiles as if she knows the secret of universe.
P2: She smiles as if
T: What kinds of smile can you name? What adjectives can you use to characterize smiles?
P1: Smile can be sweet.
P2: It can be confused.
P3: It can be defending.
T: Great! I’d like to draw your attention to several other smiles, which are also famous & well-known. Look at the board!
P1,2:– strange, mysterious...
T: This smile is known as eternal or everlasting. And do you know whose smile is called sardonic?
P: Is it Voltaire’s smile?
T: You are quite right. Look at it! So you see different people smile differently. And what about nations? Let’s listen to the story of two smiles and them discuss it.
(Listening comprehension)
A Tale of Two Smiles
Words:
grumpy = cranky, in a bad mood
phony = insincere, not truthful, giving a false impression
scowl = a look of disapproval
surly = ill-humored, gruff
make fun of = mock, ridicule
In traveling through Russia, and in meeting lots of Russians, I’ve discovered that most Russians believe Americans smile more than they do. Aeroflot, Russia’s principle airline, must have heard mounds of complaints that their employees didn’t smile. That’s why, in the early nineties, they posted this slogan above ticket windows: “We don’t smile because we’re serious about making you happy.”
Many Russians consider the American smile insincere. “I think that the American wants something when he smiles much,” one Russian said. Larissa, an English teacher from Ulan-Ude told me the story of man—a fellow Russian—who asked directions from her on the street. She was in a good mood, smiling as she gave the directions, and the man said, “Are you telling the truth? Why are you making fun of me?” and off he went.
Imagine the reaction of a Russian tourist who visits a restaurant in San Francisco when the waiter approaches with a big smile, and says, “Hi! How are you all doing? My name is Gervais, and I’ll be your waiter tonight. Can I tell you about our specials?”
Even Americans think this is a bit much—a bit phony. But they forgive the waiter, because he’s trying to be friendly.
So now picture an American tourist at a cafe in Ulyanovsk, when the waitress approaches with a menu as fat as a novel. Her lack of smile (along with the shakes of her head to explain that most of the items on the menu are not available) make the American feel unwelcome.
This is why Americans think Russians are often grumpy or rude. The absence of a smile is interpreted as a scowl.
What we have here is a tale of two smiles, a tale of two cultures, a tale of two perceptions.
T: Well, let’s discuss this a little. What is our perception of American smile?
P: American smiles are sometimes insincere, fake.
T: And what is the reality?
P: Americans smile because they want be pleasant, polite. They want to show they are ready to communicate.
T: And what is American perception of Russian smile?
P: Russians don’t smile, they are rude and surly. Russians are not civilized people.
T: But what is the reality? We know it perfectly well.
P: Russians smile when they mean it, when joy or circumstances make them want to smile.
T: and now let’s have fun. The Smile Identification Test. You’ll see 15 smiles. Decide which of them are Russian smiles and which American.
T: To continue our discussion I’d like to offer you several questions and organize communicative pot-pourri. Well, let’s start. Take any card and answer the question.
(Pupils one by one choose the card, read the question and answer it)
P1: What are the most famous smiles? – Well, I think they are Buddha’s, Gagarin’s, Cheshire Cat’s, Mona Lisa’s, Julia Robert’s and others.
P2: Why do people smile? – Because they are people. No other being can do it. We smile because of different feelings.
P3: Why do Russian people smile little? As far as I can judge we don’t smile little. But some think so. May be it’s so because our life is too hard. May be because we do it when we mean it and not to be polite.
P4: Can you say fake smile from sincere one? Well , I’m not sure. May be I’ll do it if I understand the situation.
P5: What is Pan-American smile? What is its other name? In my opinion it’s a smile of American stewardess which is professional and may be not sincere. I don’t know its other name.
T: Well, students, does anybody know? OK, I’ll tell you. It’s also often called Botox smile.
P6: Should people smile only when they are OK? – In my eyes it shouldn’t be so. On the contrary if we are at a loss or feel sad or badly, and we start smiling we can improve our state.
P7: Do you agree with Americans who say “A smile costs nothing but gives a lot”? Sure they are quite right here. Smile helps us to make friends, solve problems.
T: I absolutely agree with you. Smile makes miracles. There’s another famous saying– “What soup is to the body, laughter is to the soul.” Soon we’ll celebrate April Fool’s Day. It’s day of laughter and fun. And do you know its origin? Let’s read a shoirt5 text and you’ll learn it. Look at the board and read!
(The text on Interactive board)
APRIL FOOL’S DAY
April Fool’s Day is thought to have originated in France. The beginning of tradition is 1582. Prior to that year the New Year was celebrated for 8 days beginning on March, 25. The celebration culminated on April, 1. With the reform of calendar New Year was moved to January, 1. News in those days travelled on Foot, so many people didn’t know the new calendar or refused to accept it continued to celebrate New Year on April, 1. They were called “Fools.” They were subject to some ridicule and were made practical jokes. In the 18th century tradition spread to England, later to America both by English and French. Another origin is Roman Festival of Hilaria, held March, 25 and Medieval Festival of Fools, held December, 28. In Portugal April Fool’s Day is celebrated on Sunday and Monday before Lent. The traditional trick there is to throw flour at your friends. Humor and practical jokes are universal.
T: Well have you ever been an April Fool? Did you play practical jokes yourself? Welcome with your stories.
(Students tell their stories.)
T: Thank you very much for your work. It was great!