Debate - Adjusting to change

This week's debate topic is "adjusting to change". The two situations are:

A - Have you lived in another culture? Studies have discovered a U-curve of cultural adjustment with four phases:

1. the honeymoon
2. hostility
3. humor
4. feeling at home

Do these phases of cultural adjustment match your experience? Why or why not?

B - What is your daily routine? Could you change it easily? Why or why not?

Debate - Tipping

How do you feel about tipping? Share your opinion about this "touchy" subject.

In my experience, my Spanish friends are generally against tipping unless the waiter or waitress does something out of the ordinary. The reason they give is that "this is not the U.S. and here waiters and waitresses get paid a salary, so you don't have to tip." But to me, that is not the point. If the service is good, I like to leave a tip, even if it is just 20 or 50 cents. I know that waiters here don't live on tips, but their salaries aren't normally that great either.

Answers to Homework

Answers to Workbook exercises for Unit 5

page 26 A

1. unusual
2. polite
3. disrespectful
4. inappropriate
5. offensive
6. unusual
7. polite

B - Post your answers on the blog and see who agrees or disagrees with you!

page 27 A

• You should call and ask the family.
• No, we usually sit on the floor.
• That's not polite. Try to eat just a little bit.
• No problem. We use forks too.

Workbook page 28 C

1. It's dangerous to drive very fast in bad weather.
2. Learning new words every day is important.
3. It's expensive to eat in a restaurant every night.
4. Studying in a foreign country is not easy.

Workbook page 29 A

1. f
2. b
3. h
4. e
5. a
6. d
7. g
8. c

B

1. 1, 2 - After she gives the product presentation, she'll attend the company dinner. She'll give the product presentation before she attends the company dinner.
2. s, s - As soon as she arrives in Toronto, she'll take a taxi to the meeting. She'll take a taxi to the meeting as soon as she arrives in Toronto.
3. 1, 2 - After she has lunch with Mr. Carter, she'll write her report. She'll have lunch with Mr. Carter before she writes her report.
4. s, s - As soon as she has free time, she'll go shopping. She'll go shopping as soon as she has free time.

page 30 A

2, 1, 5, 3, 4

B

1. culture shock
2. honeymoon
3. mental isolation
4. integration
5. initial adjustment

page 31 C

1. Before
2. As soon as
3. After
4. While
5. As soon as
6. While

Syllabus Winter 2010

Program of North American Language and Culture
Winter 2009

Course: Intermediate (I-5)
Instructor: Brian George (teacher.iie.brian@gmail.com)
Days & Time: Tuesdays and Thursdays, 7:00 – 8:30 p.m.

Textbook: World Link 3: Student Book & World Link 3: Workbook (Heinle 2005)
Class blog: http://teacher-iie-brian.blogspot.com

English Department Office: tel. 91 319 8184 email: engdept@iie.es
Office Hours: Monday –Thursday, 10:00 to 14:30 & 15:30 to 19:00; Friday 10:00 to 14:00
Library Hours: Monday - Friday 9:00 to 21:00; Saturday 11:00 to 13:45

All students in the English Department are encouraged to take advantage of the library’s ample selection of English language materials, including books, films (in both DVD and video cassette formats), magazines, and newspapers. You must take two photos and your current class receipt to the librarian to get a library card. Use of the library will be encouraged as part of this course; students should solicit a library card before the second meeting of class.

Course Statement
This course is a multi-skills approach to language learning at the intermediate level through use of World Link 3. Additional course materials will incorporate the use of pronunciation practice, vocabulary acquisition, listening comprehension, and conversation.

Course Objectives
At the end of the trimester, students successfully completing this course will be able to:
-Use vocabulary related to: behavior; adjusting to a new place; business; advertising; health and medicine and sports and hobbies
-Ask and talk about customs and rules using [it + be + adjective + infinitive] and [gerund as subject]
-Use future time clauses with before, after, as soon as, when, and while
-Use the simple present and the simple past of the passive voice
-Use the connecting words because, so, and although
-Use reported speech for commands with say and tell
-Use the present perfect continuous

Course Requirements and Evaluation
Language courses can only be effective if students are diligent regarding their attendance and participation in all assigned activities, both inside and outside of the classroom. These activities include, but are not limited to, the following:
-Attendance, in-class participation, and homework: Regular attendance in class is essential to learning English and is expected of all students. Note: Successful completion of the course requires an attendance rate of at least 70%.
-Vocabulary notebook: Students will keep individual records of the vocabulary acquired through independent study. These notebooks will be evaluated periodically.
-Class diary: Students are encouraged to write a diary that keeps track of what they learn in every class. These diaries will be evaluated periodically.
-Special projects: In order to (a) encourage students to make use of library resources and (b) promote students’ individual English-related interests, reports and presentations will be assigned on a regular basis.
-Quizzes: A quiz will be given at the end of each of the first three units, providing students with the opportunity to evaluate their on-going progress in an individual manner.
-Final: A final exam (involving material from all 4 units)

Tentative Course Outline:

Jan. 14 First day of class: Back to the books!!

Jan. 19 Begin Unit 5: Being Different, Lesson A

Jan. 21 Unit 5, Lesson A

Jan. 26 Unit 5, Lesson B

Jan. 28 Complete Unit 5, Lesson B

Feb. 2 Quiz: Unit 5
Begin Unit 6: Big Business, Lesson A

Feb. 4 Unit 6, Lesson A

Feb. 9 Unit 6, Lesson B

Feb. 11 Complete Unit 6, Lesson B

Feb. 16 Quiz: Unit 6
Begin Unit 7: Health, Lesson A

Feb. 18 Unit 7, Lesson A

Feb. 23 Unit 7, Lesson B

Feb. 25 Complete Unit 7, Lesson B

Mar. 2 Quiz: Unit 7
Begin Unit 8: Sports and Hobbies, Lesson A

Mar. 4 Unit 8, Lesson A

Mar. 9 Unit 8, Lesson B

Mar. 11 Complete Unit 8, Lesson B

Mar. 16 Review Units 5-8

Mar. 18 Final Exam

Mar. 23 Last day of class