英语微课教学

Hello, everyone! Today we are going to study unit three text A in New Horizon College English Reading and Writing book one.

Our class will be divided into five part: lead-in, structure analysis, language point, reading skill and group presentation.

Ok, let’s move on to the first part. The stories of heroes inspire and encourage us. Please think about: who are the heroes? You can discuss what kind of people can be called heroes with your partner. Are they superheroes who can always eventually save the world at a critical moment? In the past, the word hero was reserved for great leaders or for those who performed distinct courageous acts beyond the call of duty. But today, heroes can be average people like us, both civilians and first responders. As depicted in the movie the bravest, firefighters respond to the call to rush toward danger with unusual courage and even sacrifice themselves for others. As Joshua Lawrence Chamberlain puts it, heroism is latent in every human soul. You too can be one of the ordinary people who do extraordinary things! What will you do to become more courageous? How will you strengthen you own abilities and determination to serve the people and society?

Text A is a story about Yuan Longping, a renowned rice scientist and a true food hero, who devoted his whole life to developing hybrid rice. His achievements in hybrid rice and dedication to feeding the world brought him great honor both nationally and internationally. His vision and dedication serve as a beacon of inspiration for future generations of scientists, highlighting the powerful function of scientific innovation in solving global challenges.

Yuan wrote the lyrics of the song “I have a dream.” The song sings: I have a dream, buried in the soil. I believe it's unique. Light gives it hope. Rain provides nourishment. It grows alongside the seed. Yuan said that his dream is the growth of super rice. In his dreamland, the crops were so tall that he could enjoy the cool in the leaf-shade and the grains were super large.

Now, we’re going to analyze the structure of the text. Let’s break down the organization of this passage. Please look through the passage and look for general information. You can focus on the main facts, main ideas, or the main points as quickly as you can. You are required to complete two charts. In the first chart, you should pick one key word from each paragraph. In the second chart, you need divide the paragraphs of the passage and write down the main idea of each part. Then, I will invite two students to write the answers on the blackboard. Five minutes will be given. Please start. OK, time is up. Who want to have a try? Any volunteers? Emily and Frank, please. Thank you, go back to your seats please.

Let us check the answers together. The whole passage can be divided into three parts, right? Part one, composed of the first four paragraphs, describes Yuan Longping’s dream and his achievements in hybrid rice breeding. Part two, consisting of Paras. 5-8, explains why Yuan Longping became interested in developing hybrid rice. Part three is the last paragraph, which depicts a very moving scene of how people mourned and commemorated “Grandfather Yuan”.

After having a general understanding of the passage, we now learn some language points. Please look at the words and examples on the screen. First one: breed. It functions as a noun, a transitive verb, and an intransitive verb. Example: parents who stare non-stop at their phones and don’t read books are likely to breed kids who will do the same. It means parents who are constantly absorbed in their phones and do not engage in reading books are likely to raise children who will mirror these behaviors. In other words, children tend to imitate the habits of their parents, so if parents are always addicted to their phones and rarely read, their kids are probably going to end up doing the same thing.

Next one: transform. It's a transitive verb and can be directly followed by an object. Its prefix is “trans”, which denotes movement or change, and the root is “form”, which signifies shape or structure. Combined together, the meaning of this word is: completely change the appearance, form, or character of sth. or sb., esp. in a way that improves it. Let’s look at an example sentence. Those policy-makers are often fascinated by the latest technology in education and its potential to “transform” education overnight. This sentence describes how policy-makers are frequently fascinated by the most recent advancements in educational technology. They are particularly drawn to the idea that these technologies have the potential to radically and swiftly change the education system, as suggested by the use of the word “transform”. The phrase “overnight” implies a rapid and almost immediate impact, highlighting the high expectations and optimism that policy-makers often have regarding the power of new technology to revolutionize education.

The third one: humble. It is an adjective. Example sentence: The study also found that someone who is humble is more likely to initiate a romantic relationship, perhaps because they are less likely to see themselves as “too good” for someone else. Thus, a humble partner might be your ideal partner. This sentence points out findings from a study indicating that individuals who exhibit humility are more inclined to start romantic relationships. This tendency may be attributed to their reduced likelihood of considering themselves superior or “too good” for potential partners. Consequently, the sentence suggests that a humble person could be considered an ideal partner, as their humility fosters respect and equality in relationships.

The fourth one: poverty. It is a noun which indicates the situation or experience of being poor. Let's take a look at an example sentence. Whatever the measure, within that massive group, poverty is extremely diverse. We know that some people are more affected than others, like children, the elderly, people with disabilities, and people of color. This sentence emphasizes the various nature of poverty within a large population, regardless of how it is measured. It points out that poverty does not affect everyone equally; certain groups, such as children, the elder people, disabled people, and colored people, are more severely impacted than others.

These are phrases that appear in the passage. You can locate their positions within the text and deepen your understanding of their meanings and usage by considering the context in which they are used.

Then, let’s carry on the fourth part. The reading skill we are going to learn today is scanning. It is a technique used in reading to gather specific information in a text by going through it rapidly. In most cases, you know what you are looking for, so you are concentrating on finding some particular information. The most familiar way of scanning you may have experienced is reading menus or posters or looking up words in a dictionary. This technique is particularly useful when you're dealing with large amounts of text and need to extract specific details efficiently. It saves time and allows you to focus on the relevant parts of the text without getting misled by unnecessary information.

When using the scanning technique, it's important to follow a structured approach to effectively locate the information you need. Here are some tips for you: while scanning, you should have a clear idea of what you are looking for, think of questions, and look for answers. Do not read every word. Watch for definitions, highlighted words, especially words in italics or bold print. Spot dates and names. Look for numbers, letters, or signal words such as first, second, next. Look for repeated words of phrases.

Last part: group presentation. In groups, you will create a 3-5 minutes PowerPoint presentation about heroes (either domestic or international). Your presentation could include the heroes' life stories, achievements, the spirits they embody, and similarities or differences between them and so on. After completing your presentation, you need upload your group work to our online learning platform.

Now, everyone can access to the group assignments on our online platform and view them. Each group will be given an evaluation form. Based on the criteria listed, you can self-assess your own group's work and also evaluate the works of other groups. Through peer feedback, we can learn from the strengths of others and set goals for improvement in our own work. Let’s strive for better performance in our next group collaboration!

Thanks for watching!