Active Skills for Reading 1 (Unit 8: Language and Communication)


CHAPTER 2 - Sign Language

Real Life Skill - Distinguishing American and British Words

There can be many differences in language even between two English-speaking countries like the U.S. and England. Aside from differences in spelling, certain terms are used in England, and countries u5,_lng British English, which may be foreign to Americans and countries that use American English, although they may refer to the same thing.

A. Do you know the following words? Match the words from the box to their American or British counterparts.

petrol
elevator
toilet
rubbish		 cookies
queue
truck
soccer		 flat
pants

American British
line
football
biscuits
gas
lorry
restroom
apartment
trousers
trash
lift

B. Discuss your answers with a partner. Then answer the following questions.

  1. Which of these words are more commonly used in your country?

    Answer

    Answers will vary.

  2. Can you think of any more British and American English words which refer to the same thing?

    Answer

    Possible answers include: candy/sweets; automobile/car; yard/garden; purse/handbag; eggplant/aubergine, etc.

Create realistic learner beliefs.

Do you have certain beliefs about what it takes to be a good reader? Some of them may be unrealistic or even incorrect. Write down two beliefs you have about reading, and discuss them as a class. How can you adjust some of these beliefs to fit your learning needs?

What do you think?

  1. Do you think technology has changed the way we communicate? How?

    Answer

    Technology has damaged the quality of communication because we are now more inclined to send rushed emails and abbreviated text messages rather than think more carefully about how we want to express ourselves.

  2. Do you think there will be more or less languages in the future? Why?

    Answer

    Probably less because the world is becoming more and more centralized.

  3. Does English make a good or a bad international language? Why?

    Answer

    Students should discuss the pros and cons of the written language of English as an international language. Point out that the writing system of English is very different from some other writing systems, such as Arabic or Chinese.

Because deaf people cannot hear, they have special ways of communicating For example, they can learn to understand what someone is saying by looking at the mouth of the speaker. This is called lipreading. Also, speaking is very difficult for the deaf, because they cannot hear their own voices. However, it is possible with special training. According to many deaf people all around the world, the most practical and popular way of communicating is with sign language.

In many ways, sign language is similar to spoken language. The words of sign language are made with signs, which are formed with movements of the hands, face, and body. As with words, each sign has a different meaning and can be combined to form sentences. Signed languages also have their own grammar. The alphabet of sign language is special hand signs that stand for letters; they make spelling possible. The signs combine to form a rich language that can express the same thoughts, feelings, and ideas as any spoken language. And just as people from different countries speak different languages, most countries have their own variety of sign language.

In addition to knowing sign language, it is also helpful to know something about how deaf people communicate. Since they rely so much on actions, deaf people are generally not very formal when they "talk," and may touch your arm or shoulder a lot to make sure you know what they're saying. It is not seen as rude in among deaf people to lightly touch someone you do not know to get their attention. It's also okay to wave your hands or hit the table or floor. Also, lots of eye contact1 is necessary.

There are many ways to learn a few signs. Community colleges often teach introductory classes. For self-learners, bookstores and libraries have books for learning sign language. There are also instructional2 videos on the Internet, with actors demonstrating signs and performing interesting stories and conversations for you to see. With practice, you'll soon get the hang of this useful method of communicating!

1 If you make eye contact with someone, you look into their eyes.
2 Something instructional is full of information, or for learning.

Chapter - 2: Vocabulary Skill - Word Families

Bình luận


Các task khác trong bài học