METHODS OF TEACHING

Страны изучаемого языка

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Данный материал можно использовать в кружке, на факультативных занятиях, а также как внеклассное мероприятие в 10–11-х классах.
Проведение подобных мероприятий способствует расширению кругозора учащихся, стимулированию познавательного интереса, помогает реализовать задачи обучения иностранному языку в комплексе.
Данная разработка соответствует требованиям программы, закрепляет навыки самостоятельной работы: в поиске нужной информации, в подготовке самостоятельных высказываний. Привлечение красочного иллюстративного материала с дополнительной информацией содействует развитию активности, творческих способностей учащихся.
Данный материал может варьироваться в зависимости от языковой подготовленности учащихся.
Праздничность данному мероприятию придадут музыкальные паузы (стихи, песенки, музыка на английском языке в исполнении учащихся).
Праздник начинается приветствием учителя. Также необходимо сказать несколько слов о самом мероприятии (название, ход основных выступлений и заданий), а также представить участников и жюри. Заранее можно оформить место проведения и приготовить необходимый материал всех заданий мероприятия.

1. BACKGROUND INFORMATION

The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland

Britain forms the greater part of the British Isles, which lie off the northwest coast of mainland Europe. Great Britain is separated from the Continent by the English Channel. “Great Britain” is a geographical expression, but “The United Kingdom” is a political expression. The full name is the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. Great Britain comprises England, Wales and Scotland. It is in fact the biggest of the group of islands which lies between the North Sea and the Atlantic Ocean.
The population of the United Kingdom is 60 million people.
The British Isles today are shared by two separate and independent states. The smaller of these is the Republic of Ireland, with its capital in Dublin. The larger, with London as its capital, is the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. This long title is the result of a complicated history. The Island of Great Britain contains three “nations” which were separated at earlier stages of their history: England, Scotland and Wales. The United Kingdom is a name which was introduced in 1801 when Great Britain became united with Ireland.
The largest and most densely populated part of the U.K. is England. Scotland is the northernmost part of the Island of Great Britain. It is divided into 3 parts: the Highlands, the Lowlands and the Southern Uplands. The well-known lake, Loch Ness is there. The capital is Edinburgh.
In 1536 Wales was brought into the English system of national and local government by the Act of Union. It is a highland country of old, hard rocks. The capital of Wales is Cardiff. The Welsh are fond of folk music, singing and poetry. Welsh literature is one of the oldest in Europe.

The USA

The United States of America occupies a large territory. It is situated in the central and southern part of Northern America. It is washed by the Atlantic Ocean in the east and by the Pacific Ocean in the west.
In size, the USA is the fourth largest among the nations, after Russia, Canada and China. It has as territories and protectorates many islands in the Pacific Ocean, Puerto Rico and some of the Virgin Islands in the Atlantic. It has military bases all over the world.
The USA is divided into three areas: the Eastern area – a highland, the Central area – a plain, and the Western area which is mountainous.
The USA consists of 50 states and the District of Columbia, the nation’s capital.
Some states are famous for their busy cities. Other states are known for their tree-covered mountains. Still others consist of miles and miles of rich farmland.
Alaska is the largest of all the 50 states. The USA is a very large country, so it has several different climate zones.

The Commonwealth of Australia

Australia is situated in the southern hemisphere. It is an island continent. The Commonwealth of Australia is a federal state within the Commonwealth. Its territories are the continent of Australia, the island of Tasmania and a number of smaller islands. It has an area of about eight million square kilometres.
Canberra is the capital of Australia.
People from about 200 nations live there. English is the official language in Australia.
Australia was discovered by the Dutch in 1606, but the continent was not settled till Captain Cook landed on the east coast in 1770.
Australia has several different climatic regions, from warm to subtropical and tropical. Australians boast that they can slip out-of-doors all the year round. The sun shines in winter and in summer. Snow and ice are rare, except in the high mountains. There is not much rain.
Australia is a land of birds and animals which cannot be found in other parts of the world. The koala is one of Australia’s most famous and best-loved animals. The koala lives on leaves alone.
There are native trees such as the eucalyptus and the bottle tree. They never lose their leaves in winter.
Agriculture is the main occupation in Australia. Australia is famous for its sheep. The great sheep-farms are called sheep stations. They are found in many parts of the country.

Canada

Canada has an area of nearly ten million square kilometres. Its western coast is washed by the Pacific Ocean and its eastern coast by the Atlantic Ocean. There are many islands in the north of Canada.
Canada has mountains, high plains and low plains. Canada is a country of lakes. Canada also has large rivers. Niagara Falls (on the border with the USA) is one of the most splendid sights in the world.
Canada has several climatic regions. Winter in Canada lasts from four to five months with heavy snowfalls. There is much rain in the east and west, but less in the centre.
The population of Canada is over 32 million people.
The capital of Canada is Ottawa. Other big towns are Montreal, Toronto, and Vancouver.
Canada is rich in metal ores, oil, gas, and the metal, machine-building, automobile and ship-building industries are highly developed.
Canada’s main agricultural products are wheat, meat, some kinds of fruit, especially apples, and dairy products. Canada’s fishing industry is still important on both the Pacific and Atlantic coasts. Canada’s large ports are Vancouver, Montreal and Halifax.

New Zealand

New Zealand is situated southeast of Australia. The country consists of three large islands, called North Island, South Island and Stewart Island, and many other small islands.
New Zealand is a mountainous country. The Southern Alps, the highest New Zealand mountains, lie near the west coast of South Island. The central part of North Island is a high volcanic plateau. There are many lakes in this part of the island. New Zealand’s rivers are short.
The climate in New Zealand is warm. There are good forests of evergreen trees and large areas of rich grasslands. New Zealand has very few native animals.
New Zealand’s natural resources are not rich – timber, coal, natural gas, iron ore, and some others.
The majority of the population are of British origin, but there are small groups of Chinese, Indians, Dutch, Greeks and Poles. The Maori people make up eight percent of the total New Zealand population. The Maoris are famous for their folk songs, music and dances; they are very skilled in woodwork.
Two-thirds of the total area of New Zealand are devoted to agriculture and animal husbandry.
New Zealand is mainly self-sufficient in horticultural products and exports some of these, such as apples and honey.
New Zealand has an excellent shipping system. There are educational and cultural institutions such as universities, colleges, museums, theatres, libraries and others.

2. GUESS THE COUNTRY (The UK of GB and NI, The USA, Canada, Australia, New Zealand)

1) It is a parliamentary democracy with a constitutional monarch as the head of state.
2) It is a Federal Republic.
3) It is a capitalist, self-governing federal state and a member of the Commonwealth. The Federal Parliament consists of the House of Commons and the Senate.
4) It is a capitalist, self-governing federal state and a member of the Commonwealth. The Parliament consists of two chambers: the House of Representatives and the Senate.
5) The Parliament consists of one House only, the House of Representatives. The Prime Minister is the head of the government.

3. PLACES OF INTEREST

(Учитель показывает картинки достопримечательностей по каждой стране. Далее идет их описание из 3–5 предложений. Учащимся необходимо показать соответствующую описанию картинку и назвать достопримечательность).

Great Britian

London Piccadilly Circus

 1) It was founded in 1753. It has many departments. One of its most interesting sections is the National Library.

2) It is a historic building. It was founded in 1050 as a monastery. The present building dates from about 1480. As the scene of coronation of English kings, it continues a tradition established by William the Conqueror who was crowned on Christmas Day 1066. Many great Englishmen are buried there.

3) It is the heart of the richest part of the city – London’s West End. This is London’s theatre area and at night it is bright with electric signs. In the centre of this place stands the bronze statue of Eros on a high pedestal above the fountain.

(The British Museum; Westminster Abbey; London Piccadilly Circus)

The USA

Washington D.C. – The Lincoln Memorial

1) It is built in the calm style of a classic Greek temple. The design of this classic temple symbolises the Union. The splendidly carved marble figure of the murdered president inside the building, reminds people of the drama of the Civil War and the horror of the shooting in Ford’s Theatre. This Memorial was dedicated on Memorial Day May 30, 1922.

2) It is a building where the headquarters of the Department of Defence, the Army, the Navy and the Air Force are located. It was built between 1941–1943. It is the largest office building in the world. Inside the yard there is a subway station and two helicopter pads. It has a special 5-point shape.

3) It is the seat of the government of the USA. The corner stone of this building was laid by George Washington on September 18, 1793. It is in the centre of Washington and it’s the highest point in the city. It is the seat of Congress.

4) It is the centre of the theatres and night life. It is a city that never sleeps. There are many restaurants which never close. There are cinemas with films that start at midnight. It is known as “The Great White Way”.

(Washington D.C. – The Lincoln Memorial; The Pentagon; The Capitol; New York City – Broadway)

Canada

Vancouver, the Lions Gate Bridge

1) It is a newly erected building where Winter Olympic competitions in figure-skating and ice-hockey took place. The closing ceremony of the 1988 Olympic Games was held in this building. Here 17,000 spectators were able to watch the competitions.

2) It is a splendid suspension structure. It links the city of Vancouver to North and West Vancouver at the First Narrows of Burrard Inlet and two bridges cross the Second Narrows. The figures of the bronze lions standing on both side of the entrance to it seem to be guarding it.

3) It is the second largest manufacturing centre of Canada. There are some places of interest in it such as the City Hall, the Royal Ontario Museum, the Royal York Hotel, and Exhibition Park. It is an important centre of air transportation.

(Calgary, Olympic Saddle Dome; Vancouver, the Lions Gate Bridge; Toronto, the capital of the Province of Ontario)

The Commonwealth of Ausralia

The Captain Cook Monument

1) It is the heart of Australia and the seat of the Federal Government. It is situated in the southeast of the State of New South Wales, on grassy uplands about 2,000 feet above sea-level with groups of eucalyptus trees in favourable positions. It gives the city an air of quiet, rich beauty. The building of the city was started in 1913.

2) It is situated on the territory of the Australian National University. It promotes scientific knowledge and research, holds symposia, and arranges visits of scientists from other countries.

3) It is a monument to the man whose name is truly associated with the discovery and exploration of the Pacific islands, Australia and New Zealand.

(Canberra, the Capital of Australia; the building of the Australian Academy of Sciences; The Captain Cook Monument)

New Zeland

1) The modern eight-storeyed building which houses government offices contrasts strikingly with the old government building constructed in 1876 entirely of wood. It is still in use. The buildings include the Parliament House and the General Assembly Library.

2) It is a large urban centre and leading port of the Dominion. The population of the city is about 750,000 people. It is beautifully situated on a northern isthmus of North Island, at the head of Waitemata Harbour in the north east and Manuken Harbour in the south and west. There are some places of interest such as the University, the City Art Gallery, the Museum of Transport and Technology.

(The Parliament Buildings; Auckland)

4. QUESTIONS TO THE AUDIENCE

Great Britain

1) On which rivers do the following towns stand?

a) Newcastle
b) Glasgow
c) Stratford
d) Oxford
e) Bristol

2) Give the name of the following:

a) the longest river
b) the largest county
c) the largest lake
d) the second largest city
e) the busiest port

3) What cities in Britain have the following nicknames?

a) “Auld Reekie”
b) “the Granite City”
c) “the Smoke”

4) What kinds of hard fruits grow well in many parts of Britain?
5) Are all the people in Britain English?
6) What is the name of the Scottish lake in which there is supposed to be a monster?
7) What is the name of the English town where William Shakespeare was born?
8) Who wrote the following books?

a) Oliver Twist
b) Alice Through the Looking-Glass

9) Which is the most popular British sport?

Key:

1. a) the Tyne; b) the Clyde; c) the Avon; d) the Thames; e) the Avon
2. a) the Severn; b) Yorkshire; c) Windermere; d) Birmingham; e) London
3. a) Edinburgh; b) Aberdeen; c) London
4. Apples and pears
5. Only the people of England call themselves English. The others are the Welsh, Scottish Irish.
6. Loch Ness
7. Stratford-on-Avon
8. a) Charles Dickens; b) Lewis Carroll
9. Football

The USA

1. Who were the Pilgrim Fathers?
2. Who was the first American President? When did he become President of the USA?
3. What is the name given to the official residence of the President of the USA in Washington?
4. What is the national flag of the USA called?
5. What is the longest river in the USA?
6. What university is the oldest in the USA?
7. Who were the first men to fly over the North Pole?

Key:

1. The Pilgrim Fathers were a group of English religious people who founded a colony which they called Plymouth Colony, Massachusetts, in 1620.
2. George Washington became President in 1789.
3. The White House
4. The Stars and Stripes, “Old Glory”
5. The Mississippi together with the Missouri
6. Harvard, in Cambridge, Massachusetts founded in 1636
7. Richard Byrd and Floyd Bennet – 1926

Canada. Australia. New Zealand

1. How many Canadians speak English (French)?
2. What was the name of the Australian continent when Cook explored its eastern coast?
3. What are the aboriginal people of New Zealand called?

Key:

1. About one-third of the Canadians speak French, and a little over two-thirds speak English.
2. New Holland
3. Maoris

5. MINI PROJECTS

Заранее подготовить карточки на которых:

1) страна
2) столица
3) языки страны
4) национальность
5) символ (можно нарисовать).

Карточки красиво оформляются на английском языке. На альбомном листе рисуется и вырезается флаг страны.

Задание:

1) правильно сгруппировать информацию
2) подготовить небольшое сообщение

1. Great Britain. The capital of Great Britain is London. British people live in Great Britain. The flag of Great Britain is blue, red and white. It is called the Union Jack. There are four countries in the UK.
England. The capital of England is London. English people live in England. They speak English. The national symbol of England is a red rose. The flag of England is white and red.
Scotland. The capital of Scotland is Edinburgh. Scottish people live in Scotland. They speak Scottish and English. The national symbol of Scotland is a thistle. The national flag of Scotland is blue and white.
Wales. The capital of Wales is Cardiff. Welsh people live in Wales. They speak Welsh and English. The national symbol of Wales is a daffodil. The national flag of Wales is green and white. You can see a red dragon on the Welsh flag.
Northern Ireland. The capital of Northern Ireland is Belfast. Irish people live in Northern Ireland. They speak Irish and English. The symbol of Northern Ireland is a shamrock and a red hand. The Irish flag is red and white.

2. The USA. The capital of the USA is Washington. American people live in the USA. They speak American English. The bald eagle is the symbol of the USA. The flag is red, blue and white. It is called “Stars and Stripes”. You can see 50 stars and 13 stripes on it.

3. Canada. The capital of Canada is Ottawa. Canadian people live in Canada. They speak Canadian English and French. The symbol of Canada is the maple leaf. The flag of Canada is red and white.

4. Australia. The capital of Australia is Canberra. Australian people live in Australia. They speak Australian English. The national symbol of Australia is the kangaroo and the emu. The flag of Australia is blue, red and white.

5. New Zealand. The capital of New Zealand is Wellington. New Zealanders live in New Zealand. They speak New Zealand English. The national symbol of New Zealand is the kiwi. The flag of New Zealand is red, white and blue.

6. CITIES AND RIVERS

Участникам вечера выдаются карточки с названиями городов и рек. Необходимо правильно распределить их по странам. Затем учащиеся зачитывают полученные списки.

the USA

the Columbia, the Colorado, the Mississippi, New York, Boston, Chicago, Philadelphia, Detroit, San Francisco, Los Angeles

the UK

of Great Britain and Northern Ireland the Severn, the Avon, the Thames, London, Birmingham, Manchester, Belfast, Glasgow

Canada

the Mackenzie, the Yukon, the St. Lawrence River  Montreal, Toronto, Vancouver, Edmonton, Winnipeg, Quebec

Australia

the Murray, the Darling, Sydney, Melbourne, Adelaide, Perth, Brisbane

New Zaaland

the Waikato, the Rangitata, the Clutha Wellington, Auckland, Christchurch, Dunidin

7. LITERATURE CONTEST

Пока участники заняты распределением карточек, болельщикам дается следующее задание. Соединить стрелками фамилию писателя и его произведение.

Вечер завершается небольшим театрализованным представлением. Также вручаются призы за первые места и сувениры активным участникам.

Праздник можно продолжить еще двумя встречами. Они могут быть посвящены следующим темам: Education, Sport, Leisure and Hobbies, Holidays and Festivals, Traditions and Customs, Meals, Pets, Culture.

Галина Козлова,
школа № 31, г. Среднеуральск Свердловской обл.