Unit 3

Further reading:

Personality test: know more about yourself

Do you have good global manners? Test your manners around the world

Speaking: Debate

Project1

A debate in class.

We are going to have some minutes to choose a controversial topic. Are celebrities good role models? We are going to give our opinion on the topic and ask our partners about their opinion.


Other topics

  • Smartphones should be banned in school.

  • Children should be able to watch television more than two hours a day.

  • Wearing a bike helmet for all outdoor sports (bikes, hoverboards, skateboards, etc.) is mandatory.

  • Homework should be banned in all schools.

  • School uniforms should be required.


Prepare for the debate:

  • In your group decide who will speak first, second, third... (every person should speak for at least 3 minutes)

  • In your group brainstorm all the arguments (for or against)

  • Try to think on the counterarguments of the other grup and try to refute them


Structure of the class debate:

  • Introduction – who are you and what do you stand for?

  • Preview – What is the brought sutopic you are going to cover?

  • Rebuttal – unless you are the first speaker, you’d say “first lets take a look at what we heard from the previous speaker” and disagree with their points.

  • Point One – “Now onto my points”

      • Name

      • Explanation (the reasoning – why is your point true and why does it mean your overall position is right?

      • Evidence (facts, analogies, examples, imagery or authority to support your reasoning)

  • Point Two – Name, Explanation, Evidence

  • Point Three – Name, Explanation, Evidence

  • Reminder – remind the audience of the three points you have covered


What do teachers evaluate:

A – Previous research

B – Showed comprehension of topic, makes a good argument

C – Participates actively

D – Does not participate in discussion, and shows minimum attentiveness

F - Shows unwillingness to participate in class debate

Project2

Choose a well-known song in Catalan or Spanish and create the lyrics in English. Sing the song and record yourselves singing the song.

Writing

Write a formal e-mail. You can read about how to write a formal e-mail here.