Unit 3 Why I Teach I.Teaching Aims 1.Help the students to get the general idea of the article. 2.Enlarge the students'vocabulary by learning the new words and doing the vocabulary exercises 3.Help the students understand teaching asajob 4.Help the students to build up their language skills through more exercises on oral practice,phrases and expression,grammar,writing,etc. II.Key and Difficult Points 1.New Words and Phrases Outweigh,convince,compel renovate,switch,catch one's breath 2.Sentences 1.Certainly I don't teach because teaching is easy for me. 2.Sinking-stomach,because I leave the classroom an hour later convinced that I was e even more boringthanusual. 3.I teach because I enjoyfinding ways of getting myself and my students ou of the ivory tower and into the real world. 4.Being a teacher is being present at the creation,when the clay begins to breathe. 5.I teach because,being around people who are beginning to breathe,I occasionally find myself catching my breath with them. III.Teaching Methods Discussion,explanation,ask and answer IV.Time:4 periods V.Teaching procedures Step one Introduction 1.Warm-up questions: Give the students the following topics to discuss and then ask them to answer these questions. (1)Would you like tbe teacher?Why or why no? (2)What do you think are the advantages of being a teacher?What are the disadvantages? (3)What qualities does a good teacher need? 2.Background Information (1)Academic Calendar Academic calendar refers to the calendar used in an institution of education.It is a list of important events during the school year,such as when school terms begin. when exams are administered and when commencements are held. (2)Ralph Waldo Emerson
Unit 3 Why I Teach I. Teaching Aims 1. Help the students to get the general idea of the article. 2. Enlarge the students’ vocabulary by learning the new words and doing the vocabulary exercises. 3. Help the students understand teaching as a job. 4. Help the students to build up their language skills through more exercises on oral practice, phrases and expression, grammar, writing, etc. II. Key and Difficult Points 1. New Words and Phrases Outweigh, convince, compel renovate, switch, catch one’s breath 2. Sentences 1. Certainly I don’t teach because teaching is easy for me. 2. Sinking-stomach, because I leave the classroom an hour later convinced that I was even more boring than usual. 3. I teach because I enjoy finding ways of getting myself and my students out of the ivory tower and into the real world. 4. Being a teacher is being present at the creation, when the clay begins to breathe. 5. I teach because, being around people who are beginning to breathe, I occasionally find myself catching my breath with them. III. Teaching Methods Discussion, explanation, ask and answer IV. Time: 4 periods V. Teaching procedures: Step one Introduction 1. Warm-up questions: Give the students the following topics to discuss and then ask them to answer these questions. (1) Would you like to be a teacher? Why or why not? (2) What do you think are the advantages of being a teacher? What are the disadvantages? (3) What qualities does a good teacher need? 2. Background Information (1) Academic Calendar Academic calendar refers to the calendar used in an institution of education. It is a list of important events during the school year, such as when school terms begin, when exams are administered and when commencements are held. (2) Ralph Waldo Emerson
American philosopher and writer(1803-1882) Ralph Waldo Emerson was a leader of the philosophical movement of transcendentalism(先验说，超越论.Hi essays d a strong influe nce on American and European readers and writers in their study of man's relation to life.In a speech entitled"the American Scholar,"he called upon American students to"Know Thyself'and"Study Nature."In the essay "Self-Reliance"he stresses the importance of sturdy independence in thought and action (3)Henry David Thoreau American writer,philosopher,and naturalist(1817-1862) Born in Concord,Thoreau was educated at Harvard University.In the late 1830s and early 1840s,he taught school and tutored in Concord and on Staten Island,New York.After graduation from Harvard University in 1837.Thoreau started a school that was perhaps the first in America field trips for nature stuy.he den Pond with his own hands and lived there until 1847 spending 27 cents a week for food to supplement the vegetables he raised.In 1854,he published his masterpiece Walden or,Life in the Woods.In Walden,Thoreau records his life in the woods and describes freshly and vividly the changing seasons and other natural events and scenes that he observed.Thoreau had kept a ournal since 1837 and this d the basi s for severa l books pu ublished after his death. (④Aldous Huxley English novelist.essavist.critic.and poet (1893-1963) In his later works he expressed concern that the pursuit of material possessions was taking place at the expense of individual freedom and a respect or nature.He satirzed such tr nds in Bro New World (1932). novel set in a futu world whe d.In Island (1962).on the e other har d,he presents utopia,a libertarian community living in close harmony with its natural environment 3.Introductory Remarks Teaching has been considered an undesirable profession in many parts of the world.Education may be respected and highly valued,but teachers are not.Their pay and prestige ar in st co tries.They work s both during a day and in the evening and thei r hard work often goes unnoticed and unappreciated.Yet,they have always been people who love the teaching profession and choose teaching as their life-long career.Here,Mr Beidler,Professor of English at Lehigh University in Pennsylvania,gives his reasons why he teaches. Step Two Global reading 1 Give the students 10 minutes to read the text as quickly as they can.and ask them to list the reasons why Mr.Beidler chooses teaching as his career. Answer the following questions (1)According to the author, what is the goal most Americans are taught to achieve in life? (2)Is teaching the easiest way for the author to earn a living?How does he feel about teaching? (3)What does the author mean when he says "teaching is profession built on
American philosopher and writer (1803-1882) Ralph Waldo Emerson was a leader of the philosophical movement of transcendentalism (先验说, 超越论 ). His essays had a strong influence on both American and European readers and writers in their study of man’s relation to life. In a speech entitled “the American Scholar,” he called upon American students to “Know Thyself” and “Study Nature.” In the essay “Self-Reliance” he stresses the importance of sturdy independence in thought and action. (3)Henry David Thoreau American writer, philosopher, and naturalist (1817-1862) Born in Concord, Thoreau was educated at Harvard University. In the late 1830s and early 1840s, he taught school and tutored in Concord and on Staten Island, New York. After graduation from Harvard University in 1837, Thoreau started a school that was perhaps the first in America to introduce field trips for nature study. In 1845 he built a small cabin at Walden Pond with his own hands and lived there until 1847, spending 27 cents a week for food to supplement the vegetables he raised. In 1854, he published his masterpiece Walden or, Life in the Woods. In Walden, Thoreau records his life in the woods and describes freshly and vividly the changing seasons and other natural events and scenes that he observed. Thoreau had kept a journal since 1837, and this journal formed the basis for several books published after his death. (4)Aldous Huxley English novelist, essayist, critic, and poet (1893-1963) In his later works he expressed concern that the pursuit of material possessions was taking place at the expense of individual freedom and a respect or nature. He satirized such trends in Brave New World (1932), a novel set in a future world where individuality is deliberately stifled. In Island (1962), on the other hand, he presents his utopia, a libertarian community living in close harmony with its natural environment. 3. Introductory Remarks Teaching has been considered an undesirable profession in many parts of the world. Education may be respected and highly valued, but teachers are not. Their pay and prestige are low in most countries. They work long hours both during a day and in the evening and thei r hard work often goes unnoticed and unappreciated. Yet, they have always been people who love the teaching profession and choose teaching as their life-long career. Here, Mr Beidler, Professor of English at Lehigh University in Pennsylvania, gives his reasons why he teaches. Step Two Global reading 1. Give the students 10 minutes to read the text as quickly as they can, and ask them to list the reasons why Mr. Beidler chooses teaching as his career. 2. Answer the following questions: (1) According to the author, what is the goal most Americans are taught to achieve in life? (2) Is teaching the easiest way for the author to earn a living? How does he feel about teaching? (3) What does the author mean when he says “teaching is profession built on
change"? (4)What are the two most important reasons why the author teaches? (5)What does offer beside money and Step Three Detailed study Explain the important and difficult points in the text,including the usage of new words and phrases.structure of complex sentences and relevant grammar. 1.Do the rewards of teaching outweigh the trying moments? ouweigh:.be more importantor valuable than sth.else e.g.The benefits of this treatment far outweigh any risks. This outweighs all other consideration. 2.He was puzzled that I did not want what was obviously a"step up"toward what all Americans are taught to want when they grow up:money and “Step up”means“promotion'”,which can bring him money and power.For example,a university administrator earns more money and has more power than an average professor and most Americans would be only too pleased to get a"step up" (2)Translat the into Ch ine 所有美国人受的教育是长大成人后应该追求金钱和权力，而我却偏偏不要明 明是朝这个目标“迈进”的工作，他为之大惑不解。 3.Certainly I don't teach because teaching is easy for me. (1)Meaning:Certainly I teach not because teaching is easy for me (2)Translate 41 当然，我之所以教书不是因为我觉得教书轻松。 4.Teaching is the most difficult of the various ways I have attempted to earn my living:mechanic,carpenter,writer. Meaning:I have tried many other ways to make a living.I have worked as a mecha ic,a writer,and no wI am working as a teacher.Of all these professions,teaching is the most difficult for me 5.For me.teaching is a red-eye,sweaty-palm,sinking-stomach profession. Meaning:Teaching is a profession that makes my eyes red for lack of sleep,my palms sweaty because of nervousness and my stomach sinking because I often feel so disappointed with my lectures 6. sure that I will be found out for the fool that I am Meaning:for I'm sure that the students will find out what I really am:a fool 7. Sinking-stomach.because I leave the classroom an hour later convinced tha I was even more boring than usual. (1)convince:v.make someone feel certain that sth.is true;persuade sb.to do sth. e.He was ofhise We convinced Anne to go by train rather than by plane. Pattern:be convinced of(that)确信：承认 be fully(half)convinced完全相信（半信半疑） convince sb.of使某人承认：使某人信服
change”? (4) What are the two most important reasons why the author teaches? (5) What does teaching offer besides money and power? Step Three Detailed study Explain the important and difficult points in the text, including the usage of new words and phrases, structure of complex sentences and relevant grammar. 1. Do the rewards of teaching outweigh the trying moments? outweigh: v. be more important or valuable than sth. else e.g. The benefits of this treatment far outweigh any risks. This outweighs all other consideration. 2. He was puzzled that I did not want what was obviously a “step up” toward what all Americans are taught to want when they grow up: money and power. (1) What does the expression “step up” mean? “Step up” means “promotion”, which can bring him money and power. For example, a university administrator earns more money and has more power than an average professor and most Americans would be only too pleased to get a “step up” towards these goals. (2) Translate the sentence into Chinese. 所有美国人受的教育是长大成人后应该追求金钱和权力，而我却偏偏不要明 明是朝这个目标“迈进”的工作，他为之大惑不解。 3. Certainly I don’t teach because teaching is easy for me. (1) Meaning: Certainly I teach not because teaching is easy for me. (2)Translate the sentence into Chinese. 当然，我之所以教书不是因为我觉得教书轻松。 4. Teaching is the most difficult of the various ways I have attempted to earn my living: mechanic, carpenter, writer. Meaning: I have tried many other ways to make a living. I have worked as a mechanic, a carpenter, a writer, and now I am working as a teacher. Of all these professions, teaching is the most difficult for me. 5. For me, teaching is a red-eye, sweaty-palm, sinking-stomach profession. Meaning: Teaching is a profession that makes my eyes red for lack of sleep, my palms sweaty because of nervousness and my stomach sinking because I often feel so disappointed with my lectures. 6. …sure that I will be found out for the fool that I am. Meaning: for I’m sure that the students will find out what I really am: a fool. 7. Sinking-stomach, because I leave the classroom an hour later convinced that I was even more boring than usual. (1) convince: v. make someone feel certain that sth. is true; persuade sb. to do sth. e.g. He was convinced of his error. We convinced Anne to go by train rather than by plane. Pattern: be convinced of (that) 确信；承认 be fully (half) convinced 完全相信（半信半疑） convince sb. of 使某人承认；使某人信服
convince oneself of充分相信 (2)What is the grammatical function of"convinced that..'usual"in this sentence? Con ,作伴随状语 The mother couldn't eat or sleep,worried about her son's safety. 8. ...because I have knowledge I feel compelled to share. (1)compel:v.force someone to do sth.;make people have a particular feeling or attitude e.g.He was compelled by illness to suspend his experiment Their cleverness and skill compel our admiration (2)Meaning:because I have knowledge that I feel forced to share(with my students) 9.When the material is the same,I change and,more important,my students change Meaning:even if I use the same textbook I have used before.I always teach in a different way as I may have new ideas about the subject.And above all,each year I have new students who are different from the ones I have taught before and therefore I have to change my way of teaching accordingly to meet their needs 10.The world is full of right answers to bad questions (1)What does"bad questions"refer to? It refers to careless questions or simple questions that every student can answer without difficulty (2)Translate this sentence into Chinese 我们这个世界有无穷无尽的正确答案来对付拙劣的问题 11.But we also set up a corporation,borrowed money,purchased a run-down house and practiced self-reliance by renovating it renovate v.repair a building or old furniture so that it is in good condition again e.g.He renovates old houses and sells them at a profit. The old furniture here should be renovated. 12.I teach ecaus enjoy finding ways of getting myself and my students out of the ivory tower and into the real world Meaning:Institutions like university and colleges are often referred to as "ivory towers"where professors and their students study only book knowledge and have little to do with the practice of everyday life what the author tries to do is to help the students go out of the ivory nd into the real world,le rn to solve practica 13.....with an occasional nudge from me... Meaning:with.now and then.some encouragement and suggestions)from me 14.who started as an engineering student.then switched to english because he decided he liked people better than things (1)switch: 1)change from doing or using one thing to doing or using another e.g.I used to cook on electricity,but I've switched to gas. 2)turn offa machine,light,radio,ete.using a switch
convince oneself of 充分相信 (2) What is the grammatical function of “convinced that…usual” in this sentence? Convinced 引导的是过去分词短语，作伴随状语。 e.g. The student left the classroom, disappointed at the teacher’s decision. The mother couldn’t eat or sleep, worried about her son’s safety. 8. …because I have knowledge I feel compelled to share. (1) compel: v. force someone to do sth.; make people have a particular feeling or attitude e.g. He was compelled by illness to suspend his experiment. Their cleverness and skill compel our admiration. (2) Meaning : because I have knowledge that I feel forced to share (with my students) 9. When the material is the same, I change — and, more important, my students change. Meaning: even if I use the same textbook I have used before, I always teach in a different way as I may have new ideas about the subject. And above all, each year I have new students who are different from the ones I have taught before and therefore I have to change my way of teaching accordingly to meet their needs. 10. The world is full of right answers to bad questions. (1) What does “bad questions” refer to? It refers to careless questions or simple questions that every student can answer without difficulty. (2) Translate this sentence into Chinese. 我们这个世界有无穷无尽的正确答案来对付拙劣的问题。 11. But we also set up a corporation, borrowed money, purchased a run-down house and practiced self-reliance by renovating it. renovate v. repair a building or old furniture so that it is in good condition again e.g. He renovates old houses and sells them at a profit. The old furniture here should be renovated. 12. I teach because I enjoy finding ways of getting myself and my students out of the ivory tower and into the real world. Meaning: Institutions like university and colleges are often referred to as “ivory towers” where professors and their students study only book knowledge and have little to do with the practice of everyday life. What the author tries to do is to help the students go out of the ivory tower and into the real world, learn to solve practical prolems and prepare themselves for the life they will encounter after graduation. 13.….with an occasional nudge from me... Meaning: with, now and then, some encouragement and suggestions) from me 14. who started as an engineering student, then switched to English because he decided he liked people better than things. (1) switch: v. 1) change from doing or using one thing to doing or using another e.g. I used to cook on electricity, but I’ve switched to gas. 2) turn off a machine, light, radio, etc. using a switch
eg.would you please switch the radio off? the act of tu When did you make the switch from gas to electricity in this house (2)Meaning:a student of English studies mainly literature,which reflects man's life and thought.while an engineering student concerns himself mainly with the making of things which have no feelings or emotions. 15.There is Jacqui,a cleaning woman who knows more by intuition than most of us learn by analysis Meaning:Jacqui,a cleaning woman whose intuition enables her to make more correct judgments tan most of us can do with all that we have learned by analysis. 16.Being a teacher is being present at the creation,when the clay begins to breathe (1)How to understand "being present at the creation when the clay begins to breathe According to the Bible,man was created by God out of clay.When God breathed the breath of life into the clay,it became alive and the creation of man was completed. Here the author res the job of a teacher to the work of God. (2)What can you infer from this senter We can infer from this sentence that the author implies that the teacher helps the student to become a real man or woman 17.I have the power to nudge,to fan sparks,to suggest books,to point out a pathway. (1)Meaning:I have the power to give to arou to greater achievements (2)Translate this sentence into Chinese 我有权启迪，有权激发才智，有权开出书目，有权指点迷津。 18 What other power matters? Meaning:what other power is important to me?(I need no other power apart from the power to nudge.to fan sparks 19....that rare student who walks into a teacher's life and begins to breathe Meaning:that exceptionally good student who becomes part of a teacher's life and begins to grow and change in front of him. 20.I teach because,being around people who are beginning to breathe,I occasionally find myself catching my breath with them (1)catch one's breath:rest so as to be able to continue an activity,stop breathing for a moment from surprise.shock.etc. e.g.After running to the bus stop,we sat down to catch our breath. The dogs were catching their breath after the long chase. (2)Meaning I teach he when I see that y students are beginning to grow and change in front of me,I from time to time find myself growing and changing with them too,as if new life were being breathed into my body. (3)Translate the sentence into Chinese. 我教书，是因为与开始成长的学生朝夕相处，我有时感到自己也和他们一起
e.g. Would you please switch the radio off? n. the act of turning or changing e.g. After several switches of direction I found myself in front of the post office. When did you make the switch from gas to electricity in this house? (2) Meaning: a student of English studies mainly literature, which reflects man’s life and thought, while an engineering student concerns himself mainly with the making of things which have no feelings or emotions. 15. There is Jacqui, a cleaning woman who knows more by intuition than most of us learn by analysis. Meaning: Jacqui, a cleaning woman whose intuition enables her to make more correct judgments tan most of us can do with all that we have learned by analysis. 16. Being a teacher is being present at the creation, when the clay begins to breathe. (1) How to understand “being present at the creation when the clay begins to breathe”? According to the Bible, man was created by God out of clay. When God breathed the breath of life into the clay, it became alive and the creation of man was completed. Here the author compares the job of a teacher to the work of God. (2) What can you infer from this sentence? We can infer from this sentence that the author implies that the teacher helps the student to become a real man or woman. 17. I have the power to nudge, to fan sparks, to suggest books, to point out a pathway. (1) Meaning: I have the power to give my students a gentle push in the right direction, to arouse their interest and curiosity, to recommend good books, to point out the way to greater achievements. (2) Translate this sentence into Chinese. 我有权启迪，有权激发才智，有权开出书目，有权指点迷津。 18 . What other power matters? Meaning: what other power is important to me? (I need no other power apart from the power to nudge, to fan sparks…) 19. …that rare student who walks into a teacher’s life and begins to breathe. Meaning: that exceptionally good student who becomes part of a teacher’s life and begins to grow and change in front of him. 20. I teach because, being around people who are beginning to breathe, I occasionally find myself catching my breath with them. (1) catch one’s breath: rest so as to be able to continue an activity, stop breathing for a moment from surprise, shock, etc. e.g. After running to the bus stop, we sat down to catch our breath. The dogs were catching their breath after the long chase. (2) Meaning: I teach because, when I see that my students are beginning to grow and change in front of me, I from time to time find myself growing and changing with them too, as if new life were being breathed into my body. (3) Translate the sentence into Chinese. 我教书，是因为与开始成长的学生朝夕相处，我有时感到自己也和他们一起
成长了。 IV.Summary 1.Main idea of the text In this article,the author mainly talks about the reasons why he teaches.As a teacher,.I have money.(我拿了薪水去做) what I enjoy.And I have power(启迪，激发才智，指点迷津) Teaching(是建立在“变 化”这一基础上的职业) (与那些开始成长的人朝夕相 处) I occasionally find myself catching my breath with them 2.Structure Para.1.While all Americans are taught to want money and power,I want to teach and this greatly puzzles my friends. Para.2-3 I teach neither because teaching is easy for me,nor because I have so much knowledge that I must share with my students Para.4-11 I love the teaching profession because teaching offers me a great number of rewards,such as pace,variety,intellectual challenge and the chance to keep on learning Para.12-19 Being a teacher,I can help and see my students grow and change in front of me Para.20-21 Teaching offers something besides money and power:love.In addition,seeing students growing,I find myself growing and changing with them too. 3.Words and expressions V.Homework 1.Memorize the new words and phrases in the text. 2.Do exercises on p51-59 3.Learn the text in"Reading Activity"by yourself. 4.Write a comp ition about 120 words entitled Why IChose to Atend College. VI.References 1.College English Intensive Reading 3.LinYinhua(ed.)Shanghai Foreign Language Education Press,2006. 2.College English Intensive Reading 3,(Teacher's Book),Zhang Zengjian(ed.), Shar eign Language Educatio De ,2006 3.Oxford Advanced Learner's English-Chinese Dictionary(hedition.Oxford university press The Commercial Press,2004. 4.大学英语语法.薄冰主编.山西：山西教育出版社，2006. .大学英语实用语法讲解与练习.任福洪等主编。北京：国防工业出版社， 2004 6.实用英语语法.张道真北京：外语教育与研究出版社.2002
成长了。 IV. Summary 1. Main idea of the text In this article, the author mainly talks about the reasons why he teaches. As a teacher, I have money. (我拿了薪水去做 )___________ what I enjoy. And I have power (启迪，激发才智，指点迷津)________________. Teaching ( 是 建 立 在“变 化”这一基础上的职业)_________________. (与那些开始成长的人朝夕相 处),_________________ I occasionally find myself catching my breath with them. 2. Structure Para. 1. While all Americans are taught to want money and power, I want to teach and this greatly puzzles my friends. Para. 2-3 I teach neither because teaching is easy for me, nor because I have so much knowledge that I must share with my students. Para. 4-11 I love the teaching profession because teaching offers me a great number of rewards, such as pace, variety, intellectual challenge and the chance to keep on learning. Para. 12-19 Being a teacher, I can help and see my students grow and change in front of me. Para. 20-21 Teaching offers something besides money and power: love. In addition, seeing students growing, I find myself growing and changing with them too. 3. Words and expressions V. Homework 1. Memorize the new words and phrases in the text. 2. Do exercises on p51-59 3. Learn the text in “Reading Activity” by yourself. 4. Write a composition about 120 words entitled Why I Chose to Attend College. VI．References 1. College English Intensive Reading 3, LinYinhua(ed.), Shanghai Foreign Language Education Press, 2006. 2. College English Intensive Reading 3, (Teacher’s Book), Zhang Zengjian(ed.), Shanghai Foreign Language Education Press, 2006. 3. Oxford Advanced Learner’s English-Chinese Dictionary（6 th edition）, Oxford university press﹠The Commercial Press, 2004. 4. 大学英语语法. 薄冰 主编. 山西：山西教育出版社，2006. 5. 大学英语实用语法讲解与练习. 任福洪等主编. 北京：国防工业出版社， 2004.6.实用英语语法. 张道真.北京：外语教育与研究出版社. 2002