New Horizon College English

Book 1 Unit 1

1. Pre-reading Activity

2. While-reading Activity

3. Post-reading Activity

1. Pre-reading Activity

Background

Lead-in Activity

Background Information

  Online learningOnline learning, a form of distance education, refers to learning and other supportive resources that are available through a networked computer. With the development of the Internet, online learning often takes place on the Internet. In an online lesson, the computer displays material (often in web browsers) in response to a learner's request. The computer asks the learner for more information and presents appropriate material based on the learner's input. The material can be as simple as traditional lessons and their tests that are transcribed into a computer program. The material can also be a complex system that tracks users' input and suggests learning material as a result.

Or the material can be a work session that occurs through a real time chat; learning occurs through the interaction. The material can be presented as text, graphics, animated graphics, audio, video, or a combination of these that are displayed in web browsers or other multimedia players such as Windows Media Player. New Horizon College English http://www.nhce.edu.cn is a good example of a complex online EFL learning system. For a brief introduction to online learning, check out the web page at http://illinois.online.uillinois.edu/IONresources/onlineoverview/index.html

2. Junior middle school

Junior middle school refers to the stage in the Chinese education system which follows primary school and includes years six through nine in the school time sequence. Normally, students are 12 or 13 years of age when they begin the sixth or transition year of junior middle school. In the American system, junior middle school most closely approximates middle school or junior high school in which the beginning or ending years of this period may vary slightly from region to region. The beginning age is about the same as that of junior middle school students in China.

3. Senior middle school

Senior middle school, the stage in the Chinese education system which follows junior middle school, includes years ten through twelve in the school sequence. Normally, students are 16 or 17 years of age when they begin senior middle school. Senior middle school most closely parallels high school in the American system which may sometimes include year nine as a transition year. Students who graduate at this level in both systems may choose to write a university entrance examination: The National University Entrance Exam in China and the SAT or Scholastic Aptitude Test in America. More detailed information about SAT can be found from http://www.collegeboard.com

Lead-in Activity

1. What problems do you have in trying to learn English in your middle school? (10 minutes’ group work or pair work)

2. While-reading Activity

Words and Phrases

vt. give sth. in return for good and valuable doings报 答 ， 酬 谢 ， 奖 励The father rewarded the little boy for cleaning the room. 小男孩因为打扫了房间而受到父亲的奖励。

n. 1.sth. as a return for good and valuable doings报答，奖赏As a reward for passing the exams, she got a new bike from her parents.她因为通过了考试，父母给她买了一辆新自行车作为奖励。2.some money given to someone for his good doings 报酬，酬金I hear there is a big reward for the seizing of the thief.我听说为捉拿那小偷设立了重奖。

1. Reward

vt. 1. cause sb. to have feelings of disappointment使沮丧，使灰心The lack of evidence in this case is frustrating the police.警方因缺乏证据而感到很伤脑筋。2. cause the failure of sth. 使挫败，使受挫折The bad weather frustrated our hopes of going out. 坏天气使我们打消了外出的念头。

2. Frustrate

a. 1. leading to a practical action 积极的，肯定的positive advice 积极的建议；positive thinking 积极的想法2. sure, having no doubt 确实的，明确的It seems unlikely to me, but she seemed very positive. 这在我看来似乎是不可能的，但她却非常肯定。

3. Positive

n. a good moment or chance for doing sth.机会，时机He loved music, but because his family was poor, he had no opportunity to take lessons. 他喜爱音乐，但因家里太穷，他没有机会去学。

4. Opportunity

n. 1. [U] means or right of using, reaching 接近，进入The people in the school have access to that computer lab for free. 在这个学校里的人可以免费使用那间电脑室。2. means of entering or a way in通道，入口That is the only means of access to the building. 这是通向大楼的惟一通道。

5. Access

6. insight

the power of using one's mind to see or understand the true nature of sth.洞 察 力 ， 洞 悉 ， 深 刻 的 见 解a man of great insight富有洞察力的人

7. be well worth + sth./ doing sth.

be something that is rewarding enough to do for the time or effort值得 ... ... 的The watch is worth more than the price. 这表的价值超出标价。Doing morning exercises is worth the time. 花点时间做早操是值得的。

8. keep up with

not to fall behind in; to keep the same speed as跟上，不落后The small child had to run in order to keep up with his big brother. 这小孩为了赶上他哥哥只好跑了起来。

9. Come across: meet with偶 然 遇 上While I was cleaning the house, I came across some old baby pictures of my father that I had never seen before. 在打扫房间时，我偶然发现了几张过去从来未见过的，我父亲还是婴儿时的老照片。

10. participate in: take part in 参 加We are expected to participate actively in English class. 要 求 我 们 积 极 参 与 英 语 课 的 活 动 。In high school she participated in several sports. 在高中时，她参加过好几项运动项目。

Language Point 1

Learning a foreign language was one of the most difficult yet most rewarding experiences of my life. (Para.1)

Meaning: Learning a foreign language was one of the most difficult things to do but it was most worth doing in my life.

Language Point 2

 Because of the positive method, I eagerly answered all the questions I could, never worrying about making mistakes. (Para.2)

Meaning: Because of the effective and helpful method, I was very willing to answer all the questions I could, and I never worried about making mistakes.positive: a. 1) effective; helpful Don't just watch me; give me some positive advice. 别只是看着我，给我提些积极的建议吧。2) definite, allowing no room for doubt We still don't have a positive answer as to how he died. 他究竟如何死的 , 我们还没有得出明确的答案。He was expected to make a positive decision about whether these workers were to be fired. 他应对是否解雇这些工人做出明确的决定。trouble. 她相信约翰会帮她摆脱困境的。

2) definite, allowing no room for doubt We still don't have a positive answer as to how he died. 他究竟如何死的 , 我们还没有得出明确的答案。He was expected to make a positive decision about whether these workers were to be fired. 他应对是否解雇这些工人做出明确的决定。trouble. 她相信约翰会帮她摆脱困境的。

3) sure, having no doubt about sth. Are you positive that he's the man you saw yesterday? 你能确定他就是你昨天看到的那个人吗 ?She was positive that John would help her out of

Language Point 3

it requires much time, commitment and discipline to keep up with the flow of the course. (Para. 6)

Meaning: ... and online learning requires that we give much time and attention to it and learn or work in a controlled way, so that we can keep up with the progress of the course.commitment: n. a promise to follow certain beliefs or certain course of actions He felt he didn't have to make such a commitment to Mary. 他觉得自己没必要对玛丽作出这样的许诺。I don't want to get married because I don't want any commitments. 我不想结婚，因为我不想承担任何责任。

discipline: n. the practice of making people obey rules; the quality of behaving in a controlled way Discipline is very important for any kind of scientific research. 自 制 对 于 任 何 科 研 工 作 而 言 都 很 重 要 。When the fire broke out, the students showed good discipline. 火灾发生时，这些学生表现出良好的纪律性。

Language Point 4

Not only did learning another language teach me the value of hard work, but it also gave me insights into another culture, and my mind was opened to new ways of seeing things. (Para. 8)

Meaning: Learning another language not only made me understand the benefit of hard work, but it also made me understand another culture, and I was willing to accept new ways of seeing things. insight: n. the act of seeing or understanding something very clearly Visiting the city gave me insight into the lives of the people who live there. 参观这座城市使我了解了那里的居民的生活情况。

The teacher had unusual insight into children's emotions. 这位老师对儿童的情感有不同寻常的了解。

Language Point 5

Now that I speak a foreign language, instead of staring into space when English is being spoken, I can participate and make friends. (Para. 8)

Meaning: As I can speak a foreign language, I can take part in the conversation and make friends, and I no longer look into the distance when someone is speaking English.now that conj. because (something has happened) ... Now that John has arrived, we can begin our English class. 既然约翰来了，我们可以开始上英语课了。

Language Point 6

I am able to reach out to others and bridge the gap between my language and culture and theirs. (Para. 8)

Meaning: I am able to communicate with others and make smaller the differences between my language and culture and theirs.reach out to: communicate with; contact With the introduction of the Internet, we can reach out to our friends by e-mail. 由于因特网的使用，我们可以通过电子邮件与朋友联系。reach out for: try to get You must reach out for any opportunity that comes your way. 你必须抓住所遇到的任何机遇。

reach for: hold out one's hand to get sth. He reached for the phone and dialed the number. 他伸手 拿 起 电 话 ， 拨 了 号 码 。bridge: vt. make up for the difference between ...; join or connect things together; build a bridge across The decision is an attempt to bridge the distance between the rich and poor. 这个决定旨在缩短贫富之间的差距。

bridge the gap: close the distance between .....; join or bring closer together Learning a foreign language helps us bridge the gap between two different cultures. 学习外语有助于缩小不同文化间的差距。

3. Post-reading Activity

Fill in the blanks with the words given below. Change the form where necessary.

Positive frustrate intimidate access commitment minimum discipline embarrass reap insight Participat

e assignment

1. John was going to __________Mary by telling his friends how much weight she had gained.

2. ________is essential to a successful scientist; he cannot hope to make any progress if he cannot work in a controlled way.

3. With the coming of the Internet, young people have ________to the most recent events that happen in the world.

4. It's no use just telling me to do it; suggest some _______ways to do it

5. He made a ________to let all children learn English, but he soon found it impossible without an online course.

6. Don't give students problems they can't understand as this will only___________them.

7. The boss tried to ________his men about striking by telling them he would fire them.

8. He wished to have the opportunity of participating________ preparing for the sports meet.

Writing:

A Paragraph of a General Point Supported by Examples

for example, for instance, to illustrate, as an illustration, such as, a case in point, in other words, that is to say, namely, in particular, particularly, specifically

Sentence Pattern:

1). A good illustration of this is…

2). A good example of that is…

3). By… we mean…

4). … is a case in point.

Example:

Dictionary

Of all reference books, the dictionary is perhaps the most useful and important. When we come across new words in our reading, we turn to it for help. When we are not sure of the meaning, or spelling, or the usage of the word, we often look it up in the dictionary

Homework

Write down 2 or 3 supporting sentences.

Automobiles

Automobiles play a vital part in the daily activities of our society. ______________________________