Unit 2 The Virtues of Growing Older
Teaching objectives
1) To help the students to get to know the process of growing old;
2) To help the students know more about the advantages of different period in our life;
3) To help students to learn to analyze the text;
4) To help the students to learn the language in this text;
5) To help students to develop oral English ability and communication competence.
Teaching Procedures
1) lead-in activities
2) cultural background
3) Text analysis
4) structural analysis
5) language study
6) Exercis
Lead-in activities
1) What, in your opinion, are the advantages and disadvantages of growing old?
2) 孝康章皇后What do you think are the virtues of being young?
3) How should the whole society take care of the old people?
4) Describe some of the occasions that people show their concern to the old.
Cultural background
AoA
1) AoA is the Federal focal point and advocate agency for older persons and their concerns. In this role, AoA works to heighten awareness among other Federal agencies, organizations, groups, and the public about the valuable contributions that older Americans make to the Nation and alerts them to the needs of vulnerable older people. Through information and referral and outreach efforts at the community level, AoA eks to educate older people and their caregivers about the benefits and rvices available to help them.
2) For over 35 years, the AoA has provided home and community-bad rvices to millions of older persons through the programs funded under the Older Americans Act, such as the home-delivered meals programs, nutrition rvices in congregate ttings, transportation, adult day care, legal assistance, and health promotion programs, etc. AoA’s National Family Caregiver Support Program provides a variety of rvices to help people who are caring for family members who are chronically ill or who have disabilities.
3) AoA’s goal is to make sure that all older Americans and their families have the informati
on and assistance they need to make informed decisions about their life choices now and in the future, choices that help people maintain and improve their health as they age.
Text I
The Virtues of Growing Older
Carol Siskin
Global Reading
I. Main idea
This piece of writing is an attempt to subvert the “traditional” view and convince the reader that growing older is not necessarily that dreadful. The author points out a number of advantages
of growing older. The advantages are enumerated on the basis of the experiences of her brother and her own. By means of contrast (being young and being old) the author re
veals true happiness and contentment in old age, which have often been overlooked.
II. Structural analysis
1. Divide the text into parts by completing the table.
Paragraphs | Main ideas |
1-2 | The writer airs her view about growing older. |
3-5 | The writer discuss three distinct advantages of growing older. |
6 脏的英文 | The writer winds up her discussion with reference to her parents’ life to reaffirm that growing older would be “a better pha” of her life. |
| |
2. What techniques does the author adopt to prent the advantages of growing older?
The author illustrates them with examples and by contrast (being young and being old).
Detailed Reading
乡间小路Paragraphs 1-2
Questions
1. Why do people want to hide their gray hair and delay the effects of aging? (Para. 1)
They worship youth and are afraid of growing older, so they try every means to look young.红豆泡多久
2. What does the writer mean when she says “it is un-American to say so” in Para. 2? (Para. 2)
She means the questions em contrary to the values commonly held by most Americans. And the American people would do anything possible to delay aging.
女人微信名3. Does the writer deny the virtues of being young? (Para. 2)
世界上的另一个我
No, she does not. The writer admits the virtues of being young, but what she really wants to talk about is the advantages of growing older, which will be discusd in the subquent paragraphs. So the last ntence is both thematic and transitional.
临界问题Paragraph 3
Questions
1. According to the writer, what is the first advantage of growing older? (Paragraph 3)
Not being obsd with one’s appearance.
2. Why are adolescents apt to be obsd with their appearances? (Paragraph 3)一树梨花
Becau they feel anxious about what others will think.
Paragraph 4
Questions
1. Is it accurate to say that older people are totally free from uncertainty? (Paragraph 4)
