Giáo án A Closer Look 2

Ss activate prior knowledge about family customs and recall the six new words custom, ancestor, offering, reunion, preserve and respect.

T shows a picture or slide of a Tet family reunion and asks Ss to say what they see. T then writes the six key words on the board and asks Ss to match each word with a short phrase from the slide: custom (phong tục), ancestor (tổ tiên), offering (lễ vật), reunion (cuộc đoàn tụ), preserve (gìn giữ), respect (tôn trọng). Ss then answer the guiding question: 'What family custom do you know?'

Ss match the six words with their meanings and give one example sentence, for instance: 'Tet is a time for family reunions.' Ss state a family custom from their own experience, for example 'We clean the house before Tet.' Ss are introduced to the lesson topic: the use of articles in sentences about customs.

Ss understand when to use a/an and the, and the sound-based rule for choosing an or a.

T presents the language model on the slide: 'We prepared a meal. The meal brought our family together. Traditions can change.' T asks Ss to find the words a, the and the noun in each sentence. Then Ss work in pairs with Worksheet 1 to complete the rules and to decide whether each article is used for a new or an identified noun. T shows the examples an umbrella and a uniform and asks Ss to say the first sound of each word.

Ss complete Worksheet 1 with these rules:

• a/an + singular countable noun when the noun is first mentioned or not specific (a meal)
• the + noun when the noun is already identified or unique in context (the meal)
• an is used before a vowel sound (an umbrella), and a is used before a consonant sound (a uniform, because uniform starts with the sound /j/)
• Ss write the key sentence: 'We prepared a meal. The meal brought our family together.'

Ss recognise when no article is used, especially with plural and uncountable nouns used in general sense, and apply the three-step method to analyse a sentence.

T explains that no article is used before plural nouns or uncountable nouns in a general sense. T shows the example 'Traditions can change.' and asks Ss to explain why no article is used. T then introduces the three-step method: Step 1: identify the communicative meaning. Step 2: choose the structure above. Step 3: check the subject, the verb form and any time or place reference. Ss read the whole sentence, not only the blank.

Ss can state the rule: 'No article is used with a plural noun in a general sense (Traditions can change; Families remember their ancestors).' Ss can apply the three-step method to the example 'We prepared a meal. The meal brought our family together.' and explain the choice of a and the.

Ss practise choosing a, an, the or zero article in sentences.

Ss complete exercises 1 to 5 in Worksheet 2 individually, then compare answers in pairs. Ss then check the answers with the key and explain the reason for each choice.
Exercises:

1. She carried {{1}} umbrella. (a/an)
2. We saw a dance. {{1}} dance was beautiful. (a/the)
3. He is {{1}} honest person. (a/an)
4. They gave me {{1}} useful book. (a/an)
5. Talking about customs in general, choose zero article: {{1}} customs can change.

Answer key:

1. an (umbrella begins with a vowel sound)
2. The (the dance is already identified after the first mention)
3. an (honest begins with a vowel sound; the h is silent)
4. a (useful begins with the sound /j/)
5. zero article (no article; plural customs used in general)

Ss arrange chunks of text in the correct order and choose the correct explanation for the article choice in an umbrella and a uniform.

Ss complete exercises 6 and 7 in Worksheet 2 in pairs.
Exercise 6: Order the chunks. The second mention refers to the same meal. Chunks: 'We prepared' / 'a meal.' / 'The meal' / 'was delicious.'
Exercise 7: Which explanation of an umbrella and a uniform is correct?
A. Umbrella begins with a vowel sound; uniform begins with the sound /j/.
B. Every word beginning with u takes an.
C. Article choice depends only on the first written letter.

Answer key:
Exercise 6: We prepared a meal. The meal was delicious. (The first mention uses a; the second mention uses the because the meal is now identified.)
Exercise 7: A. Use an before the vowel sound in umbrella, and a before the consonant sound /j/ in uniform.

Ss use a/an, the and zero article correctly in a short paragraph about a family custom.

Ss write a paragraph of 40–50 words about a family custom. The paragraph must include one singular countable object introduced with a/an, the same object referred to again with the, and one general plural noun without an article. Ss then write one sentence to explain their article choices. Example: 'At Tet, we make a decoration from reused paper. The decoration hangs beside our window. Children help fold the paper, and adults prepare the glue. This small custom gives us time to talk.'

Each S writes a paragraph of 40–50 words with three correct article uses and an explanation of the choices. Sample product: 'At Tet, we make a decoration from reused paper. The decoration hangs beside our window. Children help fold the paper. This custom helps us preserve our tradition. First mention uses a; the identifies the same object; children is a general plural with no article.' Assessment: three article uses 5 points; meaningful custom description 2 points; explanation tied to the text 2 points; mechanics 1 point.