План урока по английскому языку на тему "Use of Passives For Distancing"

Aims: by the end of the lesson my students will be able to use passives for distancing in oral and written speech.

Sub-aims:

• get general and specific info from audio and written texts;

• practise the use of passives for distancing in controlled and freer activities;

• analyse the use of passives for distancing

Personal aims:

• be patient

• correct students’ mistakes

• give students more talking time

What is the language form?

Include an example sentence that uses the TL and analyse it.

It is said that gas will become the main source of heating.

Gas is said to become the main source of heating.

It is said that gas will become the main source of heating.

This is a complex sentence, consists of two simple ones. The first sentence is simple, in passive voice where it is a subject, is said is a predicate in present simple present. The second sentence is compound in future simple active voice, where gas is a subject and will become is a predicate.

Gas is said to become the main source of heating.

This is a compound sentence in Present Simple passive, where gas is a subject, is said is a predicate, to become – an infinitive.

Concept(s)? When is this language structure used? Include concept checking questions and expected replies from Ss.

Passives can be used for ‘distancing’. This means that the speaker/writer doesn’t want the whole responsibility for the ideas they express. The passive is often used to make a statement less personal and slightly more polite.

In formal writing, when the focus is on achievements and events rather than people responsible.

The expressions are used to show that we are not certain of a statement.

It is said that gas will become the main source of heating.

Gas is said to become the main source of heating.

Do the sentences have the same meaning? (yes, they do)

Do we know who says that? (no, we don’t)

Are we sure that gas will become the main source of heating? (no, we aren’t)

Do we have much responsibility for the information we say? ( no, we just say what we’ve heard)

Any important phonological features to point out to students?

(stress / intonation / connected speech / sounds etc)

It is said / that gas/ will become the main/ source of heating.

How many stressed words are there? – 4

What are they? – said, gas, main, heating

Is the intonation rising or falling down? – in the first word group it is rising and then it is falling down

What problems will learners have?

Form/meaning/phonology?

Mention your solutions.

1)They can mix up the structures.

It is said that gas will become the main source of heating.

The first part in this sentence is impersonal, the second part is a compound sentence joined to the first part with the preposition that.

Gas is said to become the main source of heating.

One compound sentence where the subject has the meaning, impersonality is expressed in the predicate and the infinitive carries the meaning.

Give controlled activities

2) Students can mix up passives in general and passives for distancing.

Explain that in passives for distancing the speaker/writer doesn’t want the whole responsibility for the ideas they express and the expressions are used to show that we are not certain of a statement.

Earlier we studied that passives are used when we want to avoid or don’t know the doer of the action.

What will the boardwork look like?

It is said / that gas/ will become the main/ source of heating.

Gas / is said to become the main/ source of heating.

Stage

Stage Aims

Time

Procedure

Interac

tion Pattern

Warming up

Lead in

Presentation of new grammar

Controlled practice

Freer practice

Feedback

To motivate the students for the lesson

To involve the students in the discussion

To introduce new grammar material and check understanding

To avoid misunderstanding

To practise pronunciation and stress in new grammar material

correctly

To avoid misunderstanding

To practise pronunciation and stress in new grammar material

correctly

To practise the form and use of new grammar material

To practise the form and use of new grammar material

To practise the form and use of new grammar material

To use new grammar material in meaningful tasks

To get students’ opinion about the lesson

1 min

5 min

3 min

2 min

4 min

5 min

5 min

5 min

7 min

7 min

1 min

Yesterday when I was going home from the seminars my neighbour stopped me and told me the latest news. One of them took her half an hour to describe all the details and discuss the outcomes. What about?

Work in pairs. Read the news and choose the one we discussed for so long. Explain why it is the most important for her.

And here are the news (distribute the papers).

Discuss the results.

Contextualising: Honestly speaking, the main news for her is that a pub is said to be open in the building nearby. But what do you think is the most important news?

CCQs: Do we know who told her that news? (no, we don’t)

Are we sure that it will happen? (no, we aren’t)

Do we have much responsibility for the information? ( no, we just say what we’ve heard)

What voice do we use when we don’t know or don’t want to state who is the doer of the action? (passive).

Eliciting the rule. Am I right if I say that passive voice can be used for distancing when I don’t want to take the responsibility for the statement? (yes)

In this case I can say… (write the most interesting news for students on the board)

e.g. It is said that gas will become the main source of heating.

What are the key words which are stressed you think? (4).

What are they? – said, gas, main, heating.

Is the intonation rising or falling down? – in the first word group it is rising and then it is falling down.

Drill chorally and individually.

And now I want to make some magic for you. Please, close your eyes and relax. (write down on the board:

Gas is said to become the main source of heating.

CCQs: Do the sentences have the same meaning? (yes, they do)

Do we know who says that? (no, we don’t)

Are we sure that gas will become the main source of heating? (no, we aren’t)

Do we have much responsibility for the information we say? ( no, we just say what we’ve heard)

What are the key words which are stressed you think? (3).

What are they? – gas, main, heating.

Is the intonation rising or falling down? –it is falling down.

Drill chorally and individually.

Can we use other verbs in passive part close in meaning? (yes, e.g. thought, believed, reported…)

1. Work in pairs. Read the text and underline sentences where passive voice is used for distancing.

Read the sentences you found to another group. (they check). Then swap the roles.

Do you have any questions? (if necessary explain the difference in use of passives through CCQs:

When do we usually use passives?( when we want to avoid or don’t know the doer of the action.)

In passives for distancing does the speaker/writer want the whole responsibility for the ideas they express? (no) Are the expressions used to show that we are certain or not certain of a statement? (not certain)

Praise students.

1. One of my friends who is a news reporter is ill and she asked me to help her and read a short news block instead of her. Open the envelope. Oh my God! Somebody cut the script into pieces and threw the news around the classroom! Could you help me to collect the news pieces, put the words in order.

Grade the news from the most important and then we’ll record the report.

CCQs: Are you going to sleep? What are you going to do with parts of the sentences? Do you need to order the news? How?

It was so kind of you to help my friend. I’m sure she will be grateful for your help.

1. You see, sometimes there are situations when you have to rephrase the statement. If the producer of her chanel will like the report I’m going to send and invite one or maybe all of you on TV it can help to get the job.

I have some statements for you. If they are given according to the first example – rephrase it according to the other and vice verca.

Compare with your partners.

I’ve just received an email from the producer, where it was said that he liked everything and he wants to invite one of you to work, but it’s difficult to decide who’s the best judging by 1 statement. He asks to write a news report for their newspaper and earn some money. Would you like to try?

Great, then work in pairs. I have some key words for you that may help you collect ideas.

I’ve looked through your drafts, but it seems as if it’s not very attractive. Exchange your drafts and try to make them more catching for the readers. Both reports are great, so let’s send them both.

Now, you are experts in writing and presenting the news!

What have you learnt today?

Extra activity: tell one of the striking news you’ve heard recently. Choose the most striking. Explain why.

H/w WB p.7 Ex.4

Complete the texts using the passive for distancing using verbs in brackets.

T-class

T-class

Pair work

T-class

T-class

T-class,

Ind/group

T-class

T-class

T-class,

Ind/group

Pair work

Gr.work

T-class

Individual work

T-class

Individual work

Pair work

T-class

Pair work

T-class