Giáo án Getting Started

Ss activate prior knowledge about rural life and get ready for the topic of the unit.

Ss look at a picture of a rural village and answer the questions: What can you see in the picture? Do you live in the countryside or in a city? What is one good thing and one difficult thing about rural life?

Ss give at least two words or ideas about rural life, such as 'peaceful', 'fields', 'fresh air', 'far from shops', 'fewer buses'. The class writes the ideas on the board to use later in the lesson.

Ss identify the speakers, the topic, the supporting details and the purpose of the follow-up question in the conversation.

Ss listen to the conversation between Mai and Nam, then answer the questions: Who is speaking? What is the topic? Why does Mai ask 'Can you give a reason for your opinion?' Ss underline the words that support Nam's opinion and classify the details into two groups: benefits and difficulties.

• Speakers: Mai and Nam (classmates).
• Topic: life in the countryside, especially Nam's grandparents' village.
• The follow-up question asks Nam to give a reason, so he must support his opinion with details.
• Benefits: people use small machines during the harvest and finish tasks faster; children can borrow books from a new library; quiet lanes; friendly neighbours; space and strong community ties.
• Difficulties: fewer buses than in the city; some journeys take longer; rural life is not always easy.
• Visitors should ask permission before entering a field and should never leave rubbish behind.

Ss pronounce and understand six key words of the unit and use them in simple sentences.

Ss look at the six words: harvest (mùa thu hoạch), herd (chăn dắt), paddy field (cánh đồng lúa), load (chất hàng), peaceful (yên bình), vast (rộng lớn). Ss repeat the words after T, match each word with its meaning and read the example sentences: 'Farmers are busy at harvest time.' 'Mai helps herd buffaloes.' 'The paddy field turns golden.' 'They load rice onto a truck.' 'The lane is peaceful at dawn.' 'We saw vast green fields.' Ss complete the matching task in Worksheet 1.

• harvest – mùa thu hoạch: Farmers are busy at harvest time.
• herd – chăn dắt: Mai helps herd buffaloes.
• paddy field – cánh đồng lúa: The paddy field turns golden.
• load – chất hàng: They load rice onto a truck.
• peaceful – yên bình: The lane is peaceful at dawn.
• vast – rộng lớn: We saw vast green fields.
  Ss make one sentence about their own village or town using at least two of the words.

Ss form and use comparatives of adverbs with 'than' to compare rural life with city life.

Ss look at the sentences from the text: 'they finish some tasks faster than before', 'some journeys take longer', 'there are fewer buses than in my city'. T models the rules: one-syllable adverbs add -er (fast – faster); longer adverbs use more (more carefully, more slowly); irregular forms: well – better, badly – worse. Ss avoid the mistake 'more faster'. Ss complete the grammar task on Worksheet 1.

• fast → faster (e.g. The machine works faster than the old one.)
• carefully → more carefully (e.g. Visitors should walk more carefully in the field.)
• slowly → more slowly (e.g. The bus moves more slowly on the country road.)
• well → better; badly → worse.
• Rule: comparatives of adverbs are followed by 'than'. Wrong form: 'more faster'.

Ss practise the vocabulary, the question forms for supporting details and the comparatives of adverbs.

Exercise 3: Match words with meanings in this unit (harvest, herd, paddy field, load). Exercise 4: Which question asks for supporting detail? A. What is your opinion? B. Can you give a specific example? C. Which topic shall we discuss next? D. Do you agree with the conclusion? Exercise 7: This machine works {{1}} (fast) than that one. Ss complete the tasks individually, then check with a partner.

Exercise 3 answers: harvest – mùa thu hoạch; herd – chăn dắt; paddy field – cánh đồng lúa; load – chất hàng.
Exercise 4 answer: B. Can you give a specific example? (A specific example supplies concrete support. The other questions ask for an opinion, a topic or agreement, not supporting detail.)
Exercise 7 answer: faster (Adverbs of one syllable such as fast add -er. Do not use 'more faster'.)

Ss use the vocabulary, comparatives and question forms to give a personal response and write a four-turn conversation about life in their own village or town.

Ss work in pairs. Step 1: Ss write a four-turn conversation introducing the topic of rural life, including one follow-up question (for example: 'Can you give a reason for your opinion?'). Step 2: Ss replace the sample experience with a truthful example from their own life and use at least two unit words (for example: harvest, peaceful, vast) and one comparative with 'than'. Ss present their conversation to the class. Homework: Ss write their conversation in full at home.

A four-turn conversation with:

• one clear opinion about life in the countryside;
• one follow-up question;
• at least two unit words (harvest, paddy field, peaceful, vast, herd, load);
• one comparative of an adverb with 'than' (e.g. 'Life here is more peaceful than in the city.');
• a truthful personal example.
  Good answer example: Mai: What do you think about life in your village? Nam: It is very peaceful. Farmers finish the harvest faster than before. Mai: Can you give a reason for your opinion? Nam: Yes. The lanes are quiet, and the neighbours are friendly.