Unit 14 Our Lingua Franca

An Integrated English Course (5)

PART I: CLASS PLANNING

1. Teaching Materials 1) Textbook: An Integrated English Book

5; Teacher’s Book 2) Dictionaries: Oxford Advanced Learner’

s English-Chinese Dictionary (Fourth edition); A New English-Chinese Dictionary .

2. Teaching Objectives 1) To know some basic features of exposit

ive writing; 2) To grasp the new words and expressio

ns;

3. Time Allocation Periods 1-2: Analysis of Text I and Rhetori

cal Notes; Part I of the text (Paras 1) Periods 3-4 : Part II of the text (Paras 2-4) Periods 5-6: Part III of the text (Para. 5); C

omprehension questions; Exercises; Oral activities; Text II

4. Teaching Methods 1) Interactive teaching 2) Communicative teaching 5. Teaching Aids Lecture notes prepared by the teacher

PART II: TEACHING LECTURESPeriods 1-2 ( 80 min )

Aid: Lecture notes prepared by the teacher

◆Warm-up Questions: How much do you know about the World

Cup and the top professional league champions on Europe and Latin America?

Contents:

About the Lesson This text is a highly compact and well-ill

ustrated essay of exposition, brings forth and argues for the great significance of football.

Structural Analysis of Text I: Para. 1 is the introductory part, provide

s a vivid account a most unusual but rarely known football match in history

Para.2-4 is the main part of the essay. It clear states, illustrate, and convincingly argues for the major points or particular functions of football.

Para.5 is the last part. In this part, the writer points out that football is mostly about dreams and that the football pitch is the place where we can live in harmony

Detailed Study of Para. 1 of Text I:

Analysis This paragraph vividly presents the most

rarely known football match in history. Also, it serves as the most typical example that embodies the identical meaning of football and peace.

The following two questions may be raised and discussed.

What is the main idea of the first paragraph? The author provides a little-known but emotional

ly moving example to prove that football and peace are synonymous, at least temporarily.

Is football a symbol of peace? Yes, it is. There is no doubt that football symboli

zes peace. Football and peace are associated with each other.

Language work 1) Lingua franca refers to a language which is u

sed for communication between groups of people who speak different languages or among groups of people with diverse linguistic backgrounds.

The term lingua franca refers to a language which is used for communication between groups of people who speaks different languages but which is not used between members of the same group.

The term lingua franca can be generalized to refer to any language used as a trade or communication medium.

2) allied soldiers: soldiers dispatched by the Allies, those countries that fought with Britain in the First World War.

Alliance countries with Britain during the First World War

Britain, France, Russia/ Germany, Austria, Italy Axis and allies WWII Axis powers (Germany, Italy, Japan, Hungary, R

omania, Bulgaria) versus Allies (U.S., Britain, France, USSR, Australia, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, China, Denmark, Greece, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Poland, South Africa, Yugoslavia).

3) trench: a ditch dug in the ground for drainage or to give troops shelter from enemy fire.

There are irrigation trenches in the rural areas.

The workmen dug a chest-high trench for the new water pipe.

The soldiers mounted the trenches and fought in them

4) mortar: a short cannon that fires shells at a high angle.

The soldiers are under mortar fire. We returned fire with mortars and machine-g

uns.

5) German reportedly won, 3-2. : It was reported that German won the football match with a score of 3-2.

6) The next day, the shelling resumed.: The next day, the shelling started again.

resume: be begin again or continue sth. after stopping for a time; take or occupy again

Hostilities resumed after the ceasefire. Please resume reading where you left off. She resumed her maiden name after her divorc

e. 7) But football and peace had become synonym

ous, at least temporarily: But football had become a symbol of peace, at least for the time being.

Periods 3-4 ( 80 min )

Aid: Lecture notes prepared by the teacher

Gist Questions: Point our some typical sentences that sh

ow the writer's opinions

Contents: Detailed study of Paras 2-4 of Text I

Analysis In these paragraphs, the body of the essay, the

writer mentions, exemplifies and argues for some key points of major functions of football. First, the author points out that football is something we all share despite differences. Next, he proves that we attribute much about human morality and obligations to football. Then, he raises and argues for the point that football is often a form of politics.

The following question is worth discussing.

What is the main idea of each of these three paragraphs”

Para. 2 illustrates an important point that football is something we all share, despite our many differences. In other words, football tears down the barriers of race, age, class, culture and nationality that so often keep us apart. Para. 3 argues for the point that we ascribe to football many things that we know about human morality and obligation. Para. 4 illustrates, with Holland as an example, another major point that football is often a form of politics.

Language Work 1) Though it was a stretch, he had a point:

Though he had exaggerated the role of football a bit too much with his nomination, he certainly had a sound argument.

stretch: to make sth. beyond a reasonable or acceptable limit

You can't stretch the rules to suit yourself. He stretched the truth. We can’t take on any more work, for we ar

e stretched to the limits.

2) Breed fanaticism: to lead to or cause obsessive enthusiasm.

breed: to produce young; cause, lead to; train, educated

How often do lions breed? She is a well-bred girl. Unemployment breeds social unrest. Spartan youths were bred as warriors.

3) tumultuous: noisily vehement, uproarious; He made a speech at a tumultuous reception His speech was interrupted by tumultuous appla

use. The ten years of the Cultural Revolution in Chin

a was a most tumultuous decade. 4) swanky: fashionable and expensive in a show

ing way; tending to swank or swagger The man stays in the swankiest hotel. Jill has a number of swanky friends.

5) HIV: human immunodeficiency virus, a retrovirus which causes AIDS

The patient died of HIV. If a person is HIV-positive, he is inflected wit

h HIV although he my not have AIDS or develop it for a long time.

6) Football had bridged the divide between journalist and politician.

Bridge is a noun used as a verb hear to create vivid effect

E.g. He wolfed down his supper. Our fighters stormed the enemy's stronghold. The case snowballed into one of the most fa

mous trials in American history. The boy swallowed the food. Bridge: to build or from a bridge over sth; redu

ce the distance between We can bridge a river, canal, ravine, etc. How can we bridge the gap between rich an

d poor? Divide: a dividing or boundary line; line of high l

and separating tow river systems. The divide between the rich and poor can be

easily see. The event became the divide between two e

ras of Chinese history.

7) avid: eager for, enthusiastic about sth. synonym keen

She was an avid proponent of compulsory education.

an avid collector of old jazz records 8) I would not profess as much: I would no

t go so far as to say that I credit football with everything that I know about morality and the obligation of man.

9) But from football I have learned much about the dreams and goals of mankind, and the metaphorical and stereotypical images we hold of each other.

From football, however, I have discovered a great deal about the ambition and objectives of man, and the abstract, vivid, and standardized mental pictures we have of each other.

10) endorse: to write one’s name on the back of ( esp. one’s cheque); record details of a motoring offence in a driving license; give one’s official approval of;

We don’t accept cheques which are not endorsed.

He has had his license endorsed for dangerous driving.

I am afraid I can’t endorse your opinion of the government’s record.

11) Africa’s footballers are some of the best, yet they always fail to live up to their potential --- they drown under the structures imposed by European culture.:

Africa’s footballers are among the best, yet they never succeed in matches in accordance with their potential, for they are restrained by the structures inflicted by European cultures.

flair: natural ability to do sth. well He doesn't show much flair for the piano. foul: to make sth. become dirty; commit a foul if a sports player fouls another player, they do

something that is not allowed by the rules He fouled the same player again in the second

half.. The factories are responsible for fouling up the

air for miles around.

12) Not all that different from post-colonial African politics, really.:

Such tragic endings are quite similar to post-colonial African politics, indeed.

Disaffected: discontented, disloyal The disaffected members have left to for

m a new party. The disaffected soldiers revolted against

the military dictator.

13) the Dutch: the people of the Netherlands/Holland

affirmative: expressing agreement; indicating “yes”

She gave an affirmative reaction. The tone of he paper is affirmative. Quota: a fixed share that must be done or con

tributed or received; maximum number of people or things allowed, e.g. to enter a country.

I have my full quota of rations. I have done my quota of work for the day. Textile imports are restricted by quotas.

14) So while the Holland is ranked ninth in the world, it didn't qualify because the other continents must be represented to.

Therefore, although Holland is rated as the ninth strongest team in the world, it was not entitled to participate in the World Cup because the other continents must have a quota of their representative teams for the World Cup.

15) short shrift: unfairly quick treatment; little attention

It's absurd of some parents to give short shrift to daughters.

affirmative action: the policy of giving jobs and other opportunities to members of groups such as racial minorities or women who might not otherwise have them

Periods 5-6( 80 min ):

Gist Questions: （ 1） How do you understand the topic s

entence of the last paragraph? The topic sentence But mostly football is a

bout dreams. May be interpreted as follows: But football is mainly concerned with human ambitions or ideals. In other words, football often reflects or embodies human ambitions or ideals.

（ 2）What does the last sentence imply?

The last sentence implies that although the world is plagued or tormented by various evils, there is still one place where human beings enjoy a harmonious life. That place is none other than the football pitch. The sentence emphasizes that the football pitch is the most ideal or harmonious place in the world.

Detailed Study of Para. 5 of Text I:

Analysis Of this paragraph, the concluding par, the

first sentence is the topic sentence, followed by examples and explanations. The writer winds up the essay by stating that although the world is seized by various evils, “ there is still one place we can all live in harmony: on the football pitch.”

1) woe [plural] (fml) the problems and troubles affecti

ng someone the country's economic woes [uncountable] literary great sadness woe betide somebody (British English) used to warn someone that th

ere will be trouble if they do something - especially used humorously

Woe betide anyone who smokes in our house!

2) sub-Saharan Africa: countries in the African regions south of the Sahara desert.

3) Once again, it will likely slip back into isolationism after the first round.

Once more, it will probably be unable to go on with further matches after the first round.

Isolationism: a government policy based on the belief that national interests are best served by avoiding political and economic alliance with other countries.

In this context, the word isolationism is used in its figurative meaning, jokingly implying that the United States team is not yet strong enough to go beyond the first round in the World Cup.

4) China will try to prove that if it maintains its present growth rate, it will be a football powerhouse within the next two decades, by which time it also may be the world’s foremost economy:

China will make efforts to conform that if it keeps up its present growth rate, it will become a powerful football country in less than 20 years, by which time it is also likely to be the world’s most important economy.

Powerhouse: a very powerful group, organizations, etc.; a very strong or energetic person

The university is no longer the academic powerhouse that it once was.

Physically week as he is, Tom is a powerhouse of smart ideas and solutions to difficulties.

5) inherent: existing as a natural or permanent feature or quality of sb. or sth.

Parents should be awakened to the inherent nature of their children.

We were deeply impressed by their inherent nature of their children.

6) They’ll prove that despite ongoing bloodshed in the Middle East, terror on all fronts, poverty, disease and inequality throughout the world, there is still one place we can all live in harmony: on the football pitch.:

they’ll demonstrate that though a bloody are is going on in the Middle East, terrorism is running amuck everywhere and there exists poverty, disease and inequality all over the world, we still have one place free from the above-mentioned, i.e. the football pitch where harmony prevails.

taint: to affect sth. with a taint or trace of some bad quality or decay or infection

Greed tainted his mind. His reputation was tainted by the scandal. Bloodshed: killing or wounding of many people The two sides called for a truce to avoid furth

er bloodshed. Bloodshed is unavoidable when a war is goin

g on.

Pitch: an area marked for playing particular sports, esp. football.

The two teams are playing the first round on the football pitch.

The fan was fines $200 for invading the pitch during the game.

2. Comprehension Questions: 1) How does the author convince his readers by

stating, " Football is something we all share in spite of differences?

Refer to paragraph 2. The author does so by comparing football with politics and religions, which almost always cause fanaticism and conflict. Moreover, he offers various examples from his own experiences, on such different occasions as playing with some kids in the tumultuous streets or talking to a gardener in a slightly swankier section of Haiti, a chat with a ten-year-old boy from Jamaica and an interview with Ion Iliesu, the president of Romania, to elucidate the fact that football is a topic of common interest to bridge the gap between different races, ages, classes, cultures and nationallites.

2) What does the view of " football is a form of politics" signify?

This can be exemplified by the Holland’s disqualification for the 2002’s World Cup finals. If it hadn’t been for the quota restriction, the Dutch should have been far better qualified than any other team from Asia or Africa. FIFA restricts the number of qualifiers from each continent with the aim of globalizing and equalizing world football ultimately to create a level playing field.

3 . Oral Activities

In what sense can football, or any other sports, be regarded as a 'lingua franca"?

Football, or other sports, can be regarded as “ lingua franc” in the senses below:

a) When football becomes a cohesive force to bring together people from different part of the world

b) when football is used not only as a competition, but as a game to promote love and mutual understanding among different nations in the world.

C) when football practice fair play and regard friendship and humanity s more important than results of games.

4. Text II: Questions for discussion:

（ 1） In what way does the English climate affect English athletes?

The English climate has a significant effect on English athletes an their choices of sports. The mild, wet climate throughout the year makes possible the full and varied development of outdoor games. Winter and summer alike, any man, whatever his metal or physical capacity, finds suitable exercise that is also recreation.

（ 2）What is the effect of the differences in training on the temperament of the athlete?

In all contests that test athletes’ endurance, the American athletes are in general far behind their English counterparts; while in all contest that require explosive bursts of energy the American athletes have shown superior form.

（ 3）What is the main difference between English and American sportsmanship?

A sport is a sport to an Englishman, and whatever tends to make it anything else is not encouraged; as far as possible it is made pleasant, socially and physically. Recreation is more important than whether a team has won or lost. The unifying motive underlying American athletes’ interest in sports is competition, which inevitably leads to excesses in training. And the contest is to be resolved in only one way: brute strength.

（ 4）Who takes his sports more seriously? Is that good or bad, according to Corbin?

The American athlete. Good sportsmanship entails emphasizing the joy and excitement of participating. Rather than the final outcome. However, the American athletes combine dreary intensive daily practice with the study of particular techniques to raise their performance level. The traditional value of sportsmanship has become a lost art in the collegiate level. Winning has instead taken over as the number one value.

（ 5）What benefits result from the greater diversity and number of athletic contests in the English universities?

Most students engage in sports. The multiplication of contest has a striking effect in lessening the importance of winning or losing, keeping English sports free from excesses. And non-athletes are brought directly under the influence of all those strong and fine traditions of undergraduate life which centre on the spirit of sportsmanship.