The First Period
Teaching Aims:
1.Learn and master the following
(1) Words and phrases:
Merchant, duke, masterpiece, mercy, enemy, pay back, as well as, after all
(2) Everyday English:
Correct me if I’m wrong, but …
One of the most important facts is …
As far as I know,…
2.Train the students’ listening and speaking abilities
Teaching Important Points
1. Improve the students’ listening ability
2. Improve the students’ speaking ability and learn some useful phrases as well as everyday English.
Teaching Difficult Points:
1.How to help the students get the general idea of the listening material and find the answers to the listening exercises.
2.How to get the students to finish the task of speaking.
Teaching Procedures:
Step I Greeting and Lead-in
T: Good morning, everyone.
Ss: Good morning, Ms Wei.
T: Sit down, please. Class begin. First, please tell me if you are interested in plays, especially some of the world-famous plays.
SS: Yes. (May be NO.)
T: There was a great British playwright and poet in the world’s history of literature. He wrote about 37 plays and a large number of poems in his life. Here’s a picture of him. Do you know who he is ? (Teacher shows the picture)
Ss: William Shakespeare
T: Quite right. He lived from 1564 to 1616. He is considered to be the greatest playwright and poet of the Renaissance in Europe. As a playwright, he wrote tragedies, comedies, historical plays. As a poet, he wrote narrative poems and sonnets. Can you follow me?
Ss: Yes.
T: Today, we are going to learn Unit 19.The Merchant of Venice . In the first period of this unit, we’ll learn something more about his plays as well as The Merchant of Venice. First, Let’s learn some new words and phrases.
(Teacher shows the screen and deals with them as usual.)
merchant Venice Bassanio Portia Antonio Shylock pay back ducat masterpiece mercy revenge enemy as far as after all
Step II Warming-up
T: Well. Now please open your books at page 65. Look at Warming up . Look at the pictures and read each quotation one by one. Try to understand each one of them. Then tell from which plays, of which the titles are below the pictures, they come. Work in pairs to prepare for a few minutes.
(a few minutes later)
T: Are you ready?
Ss: Yes.
T: Who’d like to have a try? Any volunteer?
S1.The first one and the third one are from Hamlet; the second one from King Henry IV; the fourth one Romeo and Juliet; the last one Troilus and Cressida.
T: You did a good job. Sit down, please. Then what do you think these famous words mean? Can you explain them in English?
Ss: Yes. But not clearly and exactly.
T: So, let me explain them to you. Listen carefully and tell which one I am referring to . Do you see my point?
Ss: A little.
T: No. 1: Why must you be the son of my family’s greatest enemy? Refuse your family for my love.
Ss: “ Romeo, Romeo, why are you Romeo? Deny your father, and refuse your name…”
T: No. 2: That is a question whether to live on in this world or to die, that is, to take action or to do nothing.
Ss: To be or not to be; that is a question.
T: No. 3: It is best not to lend (money) to others and not to borrow from others. When we lend something. We risk losing both the thing we lend and the friendship with that other person.
Ss: Neither a borrower nor a lender be.
T: No. 4: A person who has great responsibilities, such as a king, is constantly worried and therefore doesn’t sleep soundly.
Ss: Uneasy lies the lead that wears a crown.
T: NO.5: Empty words, not real thoughts or ideas from the heart.
Ss: Words, words, only words, no matter from heart.
T: Great. However, I still want to suggest you find these plays, from which the quotations come from, to read or watch them if you haven’t before. Do you think so?
Ss: Yes.
T: What other plays of Shakespeare do you know?
Ss: Twelfth Night; King Lear; Othello…
(Teacher writes them as well as those talked about just now.)
T: Can you explain what they are about ? Choose one of them and have a try. Any volunteer?
S2; I’d like to talk about Othello. Othello, a dark-faced Moor, serves as a capable general in Venice and wins the love of a beautiful , strong-minded girl Desdemona, daughter of a senator. Her father objects to her secret marriage with the Moor, but Othello is just then much needed as commander to lead troops to a war with the Turks, and so the senator’s protest is overruled by the duke and Othello goes to war on the island of Cyprus, accompanied by his new bride. After their arrival there, the Turks have already met with destruction in a sea storm and the war is over, but one of the officers under Othello hates the general for placing another man above him and therefore tries to destroy the Moor’s happiness by convincing him of Desdemona’s illicit relations with the man above him. ….
T: Anybody else?
Step III Listening
T: Well done. We’ve talked much about Shakespeare and his plays. Next, let’s listen to the introduction to The Merchant of Venice, the most outstanding romantic comedy. It will tell us how the story takes place and helps us learn about the main characters in it. Can you follow me?
Ss: Yes.
T: OK. Now, please look at the listening part at page 66. First, read through the questions in Exercise 1. Then listen to the tape to find the answers.
(Teacher allows the students a few minutes to prepare, and then plays the tape. After that, teacher checks the answers.)
Step IV Speaking
T: Up to now, we’ve learnt much about Shakespeare and his plays. Can you tell me what makes his play a masterpiece, Xiao A?
A: Sorry, I don’t know.
T: It doesn’t matter. The idea behind the play are about problems which are still important to people of different ages in modern times.
T: Can you give some examples shown in The Merchant of Venice?
Ss: Mercy versus revenge and love versus money.
T: Quite right. Now, please read the two situations in Speaking first. Then find examples for each one in modern life and work in pairs to discuss whether it is right or wrong. Are you clear about that? And behind the situation , there are some useful expressions. Study them first, then use them in your dialogue if possible. Do you remember?
(The students begin to work. Teacher goes among them to see how they are going on with the work. A few minutes later, teacher asks some pairs to act out before class.)
Step V. Summary and Homework
T: In this class, we’ve mainly talked about Shakespeare and his plays. While we were doing each task, we’ve learnt some useful expressions, such as pay back, as far as, after all. After class, I hope you can practise using them again. Besides, remember to preview the Reading part in this unit. So much for today. Goodbye.
The Second Period
Teaching Aims:
1. Learn and master the following
(1) Words: weakness, greatness, judgement, gentleman, troublesome, gentle, bless, surgeon, declare, court
(2) Phrases: tear up, have mercy on, offer up, be seated
2. Train the students’ reading ability
3. learn to recount detail in conversation
Teaching Important Points:
1. Useful words and phrases
2. 2. Improve the students’ reading ability.
Teaching Difficult Points:
Help the students understand the play exactly, especially the following sentences.
1. You might as well go stand upon the beach and argue with the sea.
2. I offer you ten times the money that Antonio has borrowed.
Teaching Procedures:
Step I Greetings
Step II Revision and Pre-reading
T: Yesterday, we learned a lot about Eilliam Shakespeare and his plays. Who’d like to tell the titles of his four great tragedies?
Ss: Hamlet, Othello, King Lear, Macbeth.
T: And he also wrote some romantic comedies. Which is the most outstanding one?
Ss: The Merchant of Venice.
T: Tell the names of the main characters in the play.
Ss: Shylock, Antonio, Bassanio, Duke, Portia.
T: Well. Now look at the screen and match the people in column A with the instructions in Column B.
1. Antonio A. the Magnifico
2. Shylock B. a merchant
3.Bassanio C. Antonio’s friend
4. Portia D. a moneylender
5.Duke E. Bassanio’s wife
T: After Portia knows that Antonio has to give Shylock a pound of his flesh, she thinks up a plan to save Antonio. What do you think Portia will do to save Antonio?
S: I think she will give Shylock much more money than what Antonio borrowed from him.
T: Will Shylock accept her money?
S: Maybe. He is greedy.
T: It sounds reasonable. Is there anyone who has a different opinion?
S: I think she will try to persuade Shylock to show mercy to Antonio.
T: Will she succeed? Don’t forget he is cruel and he hated Antonio. Who has read this play？ Tell us what Portia does to save Antonio?
S: She pretends to be a judge and arrives at the court of the Duke.
T: Thank you. Sit down, please. Today, we’re going to read this play, The Merchant of Venice. After reading it, we’ll know what happened in the court. First, let’s learn some new words and expressions. Read the new words on page 176.
Step III Reading
T: Well. Now please turn to page 67.Read the play quickly and find out what she does when she arrives at the court. You can begin to read it now.
(After a few minutes, teacher checks the answer.)
T: OK. Everyone, I think you must have found the answer. Who’d like to tell me?
S: She tries to persuade Shylock to show mercy to Antonio and accept the money offered by Bassanio.
T: Does she succeed?
S: She has to allow Shylock to take his pound of flesh from Antonio’s breast.
T: Thank you. Sit down, please. Do you agree with him her?
Ss: Yes.
T: Well done. You’ve understood it well. Now please read it carefully again and further understand it. At the same time, find out all the useful phrases. A few minutes later, I’ll collect them from you.
(After a few minutes, teacher collects and writes them on the blackboard. After that, teacher deals with some language problems.)
T: Look at the blackboard, please. All these phrases are important and useful. You must remember them and try to use them. Do you remember?
Ss: Yes.
T: Besides, there are some other language points which are useful but difficult to understand . I’ll explain them to you. Look at the screen.
(Teacher shows the screen and explains to the students.)
1. may/might as well do sth.
Eg. Since nobody else wants the job, we might as well let him have it.
All the pubs are closing. We may as well go home.
2. If you offered me, …, I would still take ….
(note: if=even if)
Eg.If she is poor, she’s honest at least.
If the sun were to rise in the west, I would not break my word.
3. be seated
eg. He then asked me to be seated.
She seated herself on the sofa.
She saw a few people seated on the bench at the back of the sofa.
4. …how can you hope for mercy yourself when you show none/
5. (Note: when=if)
eg. I’ll come when I’m needed.
She’ll be able to give you help when necessary.
6. I offer ten times the money that Antonio has borrow.
EG. The new building is four times the size of the old one.
The street is three times the length of that one.
The room is twice the size of that one.
(=The room is as twice large as that one.)
7. pay back
EG. Have you paid (me) back the money you owe me yet?
I’ll pay him back for the trick he played on me.
Rose doesn’t know how to pay him back for his help.
Step IV. Listening and Reading Aloud
T: OK. Now I’ll play the tape of the text. First, listen and follow. Then, listen and repeat. Meanwhile, pay attention to your pronunciation and intonation. Is everything clear?
Ss: Yes.
(Teacher begins to play the tape. A few minutes later, teacher deals with the next part.)
Step V Post-reading
T: Now, you must have understood the play more exactly. Let’s have a discussion about it Please turn to Page 69. Look at the questions in Post-reading and work in groups of four to discuss them. After a while, I’ll ask some of you to report to the rest of the class. Begin to work now.
Suggested answers:
1. She is clever and learned.
2. He is cruel.
3. Shylock hated Antonio because Antonio had many times scolded him publicly for being greedy and cruel.
4. (A) Literally, with the heart which he shall cut out of my body; (B) metaphorically, whole-heartedly, willingly.
① Usually, things are weighed with a balance.
Weighs go into the left scale and things go into the right scale.
②She wants to remind Shylock that he must cut exactly a pound of flesh from Antonio, no more, no less.
③The deeper meaning of the balance is justice.
In Portia’s court of law, morals are weighed.
5. Duke speaks to Antonio.
Shylock speaks to Duke.
Bassanio speaks to Antonio
Portia speaks to Bassanio
Step VI Summary and Homework
T: In this class, we have mainly read the first part of The Merchant of Venice. While reading it, we’ve also learned some useful words and expressions and sentences. After class, read the text again and revise what we’ve learnt in this class. That’s all for today. See you.
Ss: See you.
The Third Period
Teaching Aims:
1. Learn and master the following words and phrases:
Justice, murder, go down on knees, punishment, immediately, order, sword, conflict, complex
2. Train the students’ reading ability.
Teaching Important Points:
Help the students understand the text exactly and master the following words and phrases: shall , at the mercy of , go down on one’s knees
Teaching Difficult Point:
How to help the students write a play.
Teaching Procedures:
Step I Greetings
Greet the students as usual.
Step II Revision and Lead-in
T: Yesterday, we read the first part of The Merchant of Venice. Antonio’s trial was taking place at the court. Do you still remember what happened at the court? XiaoA , could you please retell the story in the first part?
Sa: Yes. At the court, the Duke tried hard to persuade Shylock to have mercy on Antonio, but Shylock insisted on having a pound of his flesh. Even if Bassanio would pay him double the money Antonio had borrowed, Shylock would not change his mind. While the Duke was wondering what to do, Portia arrived , pretending to be a famous lawyer. At first, Portia also tried to persuade Shylock to have mercy on Antonio and take more than three times his money. But Shylock still refused to give up his demand for a pound of flesh from Antonio , so Portia said he might take his knife to prepare to do the deed.
T: Well done. Sit down, please. Will Shylock get his pound of flesh? Let’s go back to the court. First, listen to the tape of the second part of the play. Try to find out the second part of the play. Try to find out what will happen to Antonio and Shylock a last. Begin to listen.
Sb answer: Shylock will not get Antonio’s flesh. He has to give half of his money to the city of Venice and promise to leave the other half of his money upon his death to his daughter and her husband.
T: Is that right?
Ss: Yes.
T: OK. Now let’s learn the new words. Then read the play.
Justice, murder, go down on one’s knees, punishment, immediately, order, sword, conflict, complex, tragedy.
Step III Reading
T: Now, please open your books at page 71. Read the second part of the play carefully and find out the answers to the questions on the screen.
1. How does Portia stop Shylock from cutting Antonio’s flesh?
2. What does Portia say when Shylock finally agrees to take three times more than Antonio borrowed from him?
3. What is the result of the trial? Does the story have a happy ending?
Suggested answers:
1. Portia allows Shylock to take exactly one pound of flesh from Antonio, no more, no less. She also tells Shylock that he must not let one drop of his blood fall. So Shylock gives in.
2. She says that Shylock must give half of his money to Antonio and the other half to the city of Venice according to the law.
3. Antonio is saved. Shylock gets punished. The story has a happy ending.
Step IV. Language points.
1. at the mercy of
2. go down on one’s knees
3. beg…for
Step V Writing
T: Well, we’ve read The Merchant of Venice. It has a happy ending. Can you tell me whether it is a tragedy or a comedy?
Ss: Comedy.
T: Why do you think it is a comedy?
Ss: Because the Good wins, and the Bad loses.
T: You are right. Now, please turn to page 72 and look at the tips of getting the main point of a play.
(Teacher and the students read through the tips and writes some key words on the blackboard. After that, teacher says the following.)
T: Today, another trial took place between two women. They are arguing about a baby. How did the story occur? And what would they do? Please read the passage in Writing at page 71 and find out who wins the trial, the Good or the Bad? You can begin now.
(After the students finish reading the passage. Teacher checks the answer.)
T: OK. Everyone, have you found out the answer? Who wins?
Ss: Yes. The Good wins.
T: Quite right. Now, please work in groups of four or five to write a short play based on this story. Give names to the King, the two mothers and the children. There is also a character to play the role of the soldier. If you like, you can also have a few other characters who are friends of the two mothers. Can you follow me?
Ss: Yes.
T: Besides, find a good title for your play. Do you remember?
Ss: Yes.
T: OK. Begin to prepare now. Five minutes later, I’ll ask one group to act out your play before the class.
A sample play:
Clever King Charles
Characters:
Sarah (Sa): the woman whose baby is living
Deborah (D): the woman whose baby is dead
Charles(C): the King
Emma (E): a friend of the two women
Simon (S): a soldier of the King
(Inside King Charles’ palace)
C: What is your quarrel?
Sa: O King! I have a baby. And Deborah has a baby. One baby is dead. The dead baby looks like Deborah’s baby. I think Deborah took my baby when her baby died.
D: O King! Sarah is angry because her baby is dead. She came to see my baby. When she saw my baby she wanted it because her baby is dead.
E: O King! I saw the two babies. I think the dead baby is Deborah’s baby. I think Deborah took Sarah’s baby in the night, when Sarah was asleep.
C: Call the swordsman. Tell him to bring his sword.
(A man comes in. He has a big sword in his hand.)
S: O King! Here is the swordsman.
C: Bring the baby here. (A servant takes Deborah’s baby and brings it to the King.) I am a just King. I do not know whose baby this is, I do not know if this is Deborah’s baby. But I must be just to each of you. I will take this baby and cut it into two halves. Then Sarah can have half of the baby, and Deborah can have half.
D: Yes, yes, the King is a good King. Cut the baby in halves.
Sa: But the baby will die!
C: Yes, the baby will die. But you shall each have one half of the baby. So you will not quarrel any more.
Sa: O King! Save my baby. Do not cut the baby. Give the baby to Deborah. Let the baby live.
C: Give the baby to Sarah. Sarah wants the baby to live. So I know that Sarah is the mother. Deborah is a bad woman. She took Deborah away.
(Two men took Deborah away.)
E: The King is a just King. O good King Charles! Clever King Charles!
Step VI Summary and Homework
T: In this class, we read the second part of The Merchant of Venice and learned to write a play. By doing this, we’ve learned some useful words and phrases, and our skill in using language has be well developed. After class, practise more and revise what we’ve learnt in class. That’s all for today. See you next time.
Ss: See you next time.