Unit 4 Seeking Steady Arm to Lean On
Ⅰ Objectives 1. Understanding the text 2. Mastery of some language points
3. Realizing something about old people’s lives in America and China 4. Knowing ways aged patients living alone try to get help Ⅱ Key points 1. Better understanding of the text 2. Mastery of some difficult language points
3. Learning the differences and similarities of old people’s lives in America and China
Ⅲ Difficult points
1. Students may have never bee aware that old people especially the aged patients badly need help.
2. Because of cultural differences, students may have difficulty in understanding different attitudes toward being old in America and Chain
3. .Students might have difficulty in learning some of the words and phrases IV Time Arrangement Total class hours: three periods V Teaching procedures ? About two periods of class will be used for the analysis and discussion of the passage itself.
1. Title:
(1) What does “Steady Arm” mean?
(2) Who seek “Steady Arm to Lean On”?
2, Related Information (1) Old People in America
In the old days, American families were bigger. People had more children, and grandparents and great-grandparents lived with their families. But now, families are smaller, and many old people live alone. At the same time, Americans are living longer and longer. The number of old people is always growing.
Some old people like to stay in their old homes. They do not want to move from their old homes. They do not want to move from their hometown. They are near their .friends and family. But some do not have a lot of friends. They want to meet new people. They want to live in a quiet place with otherpeople of their age.
A large number of old people are moving to the South. It is warm there. You do not have to walk through the snow in winter, or pay a lot of money for heating.
A large number of old people are moving to the South only for old people. One of these is Sun City, near Phoenix, Arizona. All the families in Sun City must have one person over the age of
50 ,and children under 18 years old can't live there.
(2)Old Chinese live a younger life_
Chinanews, Hong Kong, Nov. 23 – When one walks on a street in any city in China, it is easy to see that every day, many old people are in high spirits and eager to compete with younger generation. People in a harmonious society in China tend to become younger now, the Hong Kong-based Takungpao reported.
In some analysts' point of view, the phenomenon that old people in disregard of their age are not solely promoted by their life aspirations, as the old Chinese saying goes, “An aged steed in the stable still aspires to gallop one thousand miles”. Rather, the old traditions have, to some extent, become outdated today. It is an undisputed fact that nowadays, many “old” people, or people who are regarded as old by tradition, do not feel old at all.
Firstly, people's average life expectancy has greatly increased compared to the past. According to a World Health Report issued in 2006, by the end of last year Chinese people's average life expectancy was 72, with the average life expectancy for males being 70 and females being 74. People's average life expectancy is now double that of 1949, which stood at 35. In Beijing, the life expectancy of people living in urban areas already reached 79.6 two years ago, 26.8 years more than the figure in 1949, which was 52.8.
Secondly, many senior citizens refuse to succumb to old age for the very reason that people around them regard them as being old. Days ago, some people in their fifties felt upset about a piece of news posted on the Internet with a headline that reads “an old man aged 50 such and such…”. In fact, most people at this age group might still feel as young as in their 20s or 30s.
Lastly, the liberal political environment in society makes people feel relaxed mentally. Since China carried out the opening policy 28 years ago, people's living standard has been greatly improved, medical services have become much better, and great changes have taken place for people, especially those living in cities. These might all contribute to a prolonged life expectancy. But most important of all, Chinese people live in a more politically liberal society. Things like political taboos or rights and wrongs become fewer and fewer. People can talk freely and choose the lifestyle they like. They enjoy a society that embraces all kinds of life values. This mental liberation might be the biggest reason for people to enjoy a long life. 3.Text Analysis
3.Text analysis
(1) People living alone: widow(er ),divorced people, single (2) Two major killers to old people: cancer, heart attack
(3) The old people: get help from: themselves Society (government)
Relatives, friends, colleagues Their How Attitude own Helpers’ Helpers’ Patient’s Disease Their and age toward ways name Age own name illness worry when help to help problem to help themselves (4) Ask the students to find the information to fill in the banks.
4. Key words and phrases
(1) hypothetical (7) scald (2) put a premium on (8) convulse (3) demographer (9) undeterred (4) primal (10)perforate (5) nascent (11) unflappable (6) prognosis (12) incur
5. Questions for discussion
(1)James Bentley says that they need a good mechanism to help those living
alone in need of help. Can you imagine some mechanism that can address the problem? Explain.
(2) Have you ever lived alone and tell the need for steady arms to lean on? If yes, share your experience with your classmates.
6. Exercises about text A
7. Reading skills: Newspaper Lead 8.. Fast Reading & Exercises
VI Homework.
1. Home reading: Helping Save the World from Bird Flue 2. Preview Unit 5