Step 1 Revision
1 Check the homework.
2 Revise words about music: rock band, pop, concert, singer, Beatles, piano, violin, etc.
Step 2 Pre-read
SB Page 32, Part 1. In small groups have the students discuss the questions. Students may get some information from Notes to the texts at the back of the Students‘ Book. Then ask What kinds of music do you like? If you have tapes of different music, play some and discuss what kinds of music they are, and what the students like and dislike about the different types of music. Some examples of music that can be found in China are pop music, both Chinese and Western, classical, rap (吟快板, a type of rhythmic talking, which is accompanied by music), rock’n roll, folk music, both Chinese and Western, jazz and blues, etc. If you know someone, or you yourself can sing well, invite them to sing some songs that are of different kinds of music.
Step 3 Presentation
1 Play a tape or CD of some music by Beethoven. When playing the tape, have the students close their eyes and feel the music. Then discuss what they felt, i.e. happy, sad, comforting, etc.
2 Talk a little about Beethoven. He was born on Dec. 16, 1770 in Bonn, Germany. He was a child prodigy who became a great composer and musician. His father died when he was only eighteen years old. From that time on he had to provide for himself and his two younger brothers. To do this, he played the viola in an orchestra. In 1792 Haydn, a famous composer at the time, saw Beethoven perform and realized he was a very talented musician. He asked him to come to Vienna, Austria with him and study under him. Beethoven did, and became a great composer. His music was filled with his own emotions which created a new style of music at the time. His Moonlight Sonata was actually written for his love of Countess Giulietta who refused to marry him. Later on in his life, Beethoven became deaf and had to compose his music entirely in his head without ever hearing a note of it himself. He died on March 26, 1827.
Step 4 Reading
SB Page 32, Part 2, Speech Cassette Lesson 82. If available, play a song from Beethoven quietly while the students read the text silently to themselves (It has been proven that playing classical music while studying helps one to take in more information). Then say Tell me something about the girl in the story. (She could play the piano well, she was blind and taught herself to play, etc. ) Give the students a few minutes to scan for the information about the girl. Then play the Speech Cassette and have the students listen and repeat. Teach the new vocabulary through context: poor, knock, knock at, pardon, shine, bright, brightly and through. Do Wb Lesson 82, Ex. 1.
Step 5 Workbook
Wb Lesson 82, Ex. 2. Students individually write a letter. Then give the letter to their partner to look over and get feedback from them.
Homework
Make the changes in the letter from Wb Lesson 82, Ex. 2 that the partners suggested. Revise the new vocabulary from this unit.