Unit 4 grade 9: Life In The Past – Skills 1

1. Reading

1.1. Task 1 Unit 4 grade 9

think (Think)

Translated:

first. How is entertainment for young people today different than in the past?

2. What is the biggest difference according to you?

Guide to answer

first. In the past, teenagers preferred physical activities and used to play with handmade toys; there were not high technology devices like computer, video game or smartphone for entertainment. Nowadays, teenagers have more choices for entertainment than in the past; they enjoy many kinds of sport or spending time watching television, listening to music, playing online games or using social network.

2. I think the biggest difference is that teenagers used to take part in more physical activities than today.

Translated:

first. In the past, teenagers enjoyed physical activities and often played with handmade toys; There are also no high-tech devices such as computers, video games or smartphones for entertainment.

Today, teenagers have more choices for entertainment than in the past; they enjoy many sports or spend time watching television, listening to music, playing online games or using social networks.

2. I think the biggest difference is that teenagers are already participating in more physical activity these days.

1.2. Task 2 Unit 4 Grade 9

Read the conversation between Phong and his mother, and answer the questions. Read the dialogue between Phong and his mother, and answer the questions.

Wind: Mum, How did you use to entertain yourself when you were a teenager?

Mother: Well, kids in my days did a lot of physical activities in the fresh air: playing football, riding bikes, flying kites… We used nature as our playground. We also spent a lot of time with each other, playing and talking face to face, not on a screen like today.

Wind: It sounds nice, actually.

Mother: Yes. And this lifestyle kept us healthy and in shape. We didn’t know about obesity. Girls didn’t worry about getting fat and going on a diet.

Wind: Didn’t you eat out with your friends?

Mother: No, we mostly ate at home. Sometimes we just had a snack from a street vendor.

Wind: I like street food. And did you watch much TV?

Mother: Only wealthy households had a TV. Instead, we read a lot. Unlike watching television, you had to use your imagination when you read. Ah! Now I remember – I used to keep a diary.

Wind: A diary? What did you write in it?

Mother: Lots of things: events, feelings, my private thoughts… you know.

Wind: Nowadays we just post them on Facebook.

Mother: I know. Life has changed so much, my darling.

Translated:

Wind: Mom, how did you entertain yourself when you were young?

Mommy: Oh, the children of my mother’s time had a lot of physical activities in the fresh air: playing football, riding bicycles, flying kites… We used to use nature as a playground. We also spend a lot of time together, playing and talking face-to-face, not on a computer screen as we are today.

Wind: Oh that’s great.

Mommy: Right. And this lifestyle keeps us healthy and not overweight. We don’t know about obesity. Girls don’t worry about obesity and dieting.

Wind: Don’t you go out to eat with your friends?

Mommy: No, we mostly ate at home. Sometimes it’s just a little curbside snack.

Wind: I love street food. And do you watch a lot of TV?

Mommy: Only rich families have TVs. Instead, I read a lot. Unlike watching television, children must use their imagination when reading. Ah! Only now do I remember – I used to keep a diary.

Wind: A diary? What did you write in it?

Mommy: Lots of things: events, feelings, my private thoughts… you know.

Wind: Today we just post them on Facebook.

Mommy: Mom knows. Life has changed a lot, baby.

Guide to answer

first. Where did teenagers in the past use to play? (Where did teenagers play in the past?)

=>They used to play outdoors, in the fresh air. (They often play in the open air and in the fresh air.)

2. How did they communicate with each other? (How did they communicate with each other?)

=> They met and talked face-to-face. (They meet and talk face to face.)

3. What was the advantage of this lifestyle? (What are the advantages of this lifestyle?)

=> It kept them healthy and in shape. (It helps them stay healthy and physically fit.)

4. Where did they mostly eat? (Where do they eat?)

=> At home. (At home.)

5. What did Phong’s mother say about reading? (What does Phong’s mother say about reading?)

=> You had to use your own imagination. (You must often use your imagination.)

6. Did teenagers in the past publicize their emotions? (Did teenagers in the past publicize their feelings?)

=> No, they didn’t. (No, they’re not public.)

2. Speaking

2.1. Task 3 Unit 4 Grade 9

Discuss in groups: What do you think at teenagers’ pastimes in 2? (Discuss in groups and then say: What do you think about past youth pastimes according to lesson 2? )

Example

Pastime: riding a bicycle

Response A: I love it. I wish I could do it more often.

Response B: I think it’s inconvenient, especially when it rains. I prefer a fitness center.

Translated:

Free time: cycling

A: I like it. I wish I could do that more often.

B: I think it’s very convenient, especially when it’s raining. I love going to the fitness center.

Guide to answer

first. doing physical activities in the fresh air

A: I like it because it’s good for our health

B: I can’t get up early to do exercise.

Translated:

Exercise in the fresh air

A: I like it because it’s good for health

B: I can’t get up early to exercise

2. keep a diary:

A: I don’t like writing a diary because it can be easily read and someone can find out your secrets.

B: You can meet your friends and talk face -to – face when you want to share something.

Translated:

Write diary

A: I don’t like journaling because it can be easy to read and someone can find out your secret.

B: You can meet your friends and talk face to face when you want to share something.

3. flying kites:

A: I think it’s interesting. I wish I could try it once.

B: Great. But we must find an open place for kites in order not to be stuck in electricity lines.

Translation

Fly a kite

A: I think it’s very interesting. I wish I could try it once.

B: Great. But we have to find an open space for the kite to not get stuck in the power lines.

4. reading

A: I really like reading books. It’s good that children spend more time reading than watching television or using computer.

B: I find it boring to read.

Translation

Reading books

A: I really like reading books. It’s better for kids than watching TV or using the computer.

B: I find reading very boring

2.2. Task 4 Unit 4 Grade 9

Work in groups.

What do you think about these habits which have been long practised by children in Vietnam? Would you like to preserve the” Why/Why not?

(Work in groups. What do you think of the following habits of children in Vietnam? Would you like to keep them? Why yes/Why not?)

first. hand-written homework

(Handwritten homework.)

2. playing traditional games like hide and seek, elastic-band jumping, skipping, and catch the chickens

(playing traditional games such as hide and seek, jump rope, chase)

3. obey your parents/teachers without talking back

(listen to parents/teachers without arguing)

Guide to answer

first. It can prevent students from copying the answer from the internet but it is also inconvenient and time-consuming. Especially, students that have bad hand-writing can get bad marks just because teachers cannot understand what they wrote. Therefore, I don’t want to preserve it.

2. I want to preserve it because it’s also a good physical activity for children that helps them to be healthier and develop better.

3. I don’t want it to be preserved. Sometimes, children should be allowed to speak up and give their opinions so that parents can understand their children more.

Translation:

1. It can prevent students from copying answers online, but it is also inconvenient and time consuming. In particular, students with bad handwriting may get bad grades just because the teacher cannot understand what they write. Therefore, I do not want to continue this opinion.

2. I want to preserve it because it is also a good physical activity for children that helps them to be healthier and develop better.

3. I don’t want to keep this habit. Sometimes, children should be allowed to speak up and give opinions so that parents can understand their children better.

3. Practice Task 1

Read the text, and identify whether the statements are true (T), false (F), or not given (NG).

On September 2, 1945, Vietnam gained independence from France. President Ho Chi Minh decided that the three key priorities of the new, independent government would be: fighting against poverty, illiteacy, and invaders. His new driving philosophy for education was “an illiterate nation is a powerless one”, and in October 1945 he issued a “Call for anti-illiteracy”. The President’s call was a success. Within one year, 75 thousand literacy classes were established with about 96 thousand teachers to help 2.5 million people learn to read and write.

During the years of French resistance (1946 -1954), schools operated in demilitarized areas. They stopped teaching in French and created curriculum in Vietnamese. The government passed an education reform in 1950 with the goal of reducing the years of general education and diligently on reading, writing, and calculating skills.

Question 1: One of the priorities was to make sure that people could read and write.

A. True B. False C. Not given

Question 2: President Ho Chi Minh thought that an illiterate nation did not have power to gain independence.

A. True B. False C. Not given

Question 3: Right before gaining the independence, President Ho Chi Minh called for a struggle against illiteacy.

A. True B. False C. Not given

Question 4: The majority of the population could read and write after the campaign of anti-illiteracy.

A. True B. False C. Not given

Question 5: The education reform reduced the number of subjects.

A. True B. False C. Not given

Question 6: It also reduced the years of general education to ten years.

A. True B. False C. Not given

Question 7: According to the education reform, general education paid much attention to basic skills.

A. True B. False C. Not given

4. Practice Task 2

Choose the best answer

Either boys or girls, usually aged from seven to ten, play the two-person game of”Mandarin’s Box”. They draw a rectangle on the ground and (1)………….. it into ten smallsquares called “rice fields” or “fish ponds”.

They also draw two additional semi-circular boxesat the two (2)…………. of the rectangle, which are called”mandarin’s boxes” – the game’s name. Each person has 25 small pebbles and a bigger stone.

Each player places the stone in one of the mandarin’s boxes and five small pebbles in each of the other squares. Then the game begins. The first player takes up the contents of one square on his or her side of the board, but not a mandarin’s box and distributes the pebbles one by one, (3)………….. with the next square in (4)………… . direction. Since each square contains five pebbles at the beginning, the first move will distribute five pebbles to the left or right.

Question 1: A.share B.divide C.separate D.leave

Question 2: A.ends B.aims C.small points D.stops

Question 3: A.start B.to start C.starting D. having started

Question 4: A.no B.all C.both D.either

5. Conclusion

At the end of the lesson, students need to practice reading, speaking and remembering the following words:

• obesity /əʊˈbiːsəti/ obesity
• publicise /ˈpʌblɪsaɪz/ publicly