Week 3 Names and Cultures

Level II:

VISUAL RESOURCES:

See the Oxford Picture Dictionary

See pp. 2-4 Meeting and Greeting and Personal Information

QUESTIONS:

See http://iteslj.org/questions/

· What’s your name?

· What’s the most beautiful girl’s name you’ve heard?

· What’s the best boy’s name you’ve heard?

· How did your parents choose your name?

· Are you happy with your name?

• If not, why not?

· What are some of the most common names for boys and girls in your country?

· What are some really unusual names you’ve heard?

· Are there any names you absolutely hate?

• If so, what are they?
• Why do you hate them?

· What are some titles you can think of? (e.g. Mr., Mrs., Professor, Duke etc.)

· Do you think it is okay to give pets human names?

• What is the most popular name for a dog in your country?
• How about cats?

· Do you have a middle name?

• What is it?
• If you have multiple middle names, what are they?

· In your culture, when you introduce yourself, does the last name come first or the first name?

· Do you have a nickname?

• If so, what is it?
• How did you get it?
• Do you like it?
• What are some interesting nicknames that you have heard?

· How many letters are in your name?

• How many syllables are in your name?
• Does your first name have the same number of syllables as your last name?
• How many duplicate letters are in your name?

• What’s the name of your favorite movie?

· Do you know the meaning of your name? If yes, what does it mean?

LISTENING ACTIVITES:

See Randall’s ESL Cyber Listening Lab http://www.esl-lab.com/

http://www.esl-lab.com/childintro/childintrord1.htm “Nice to Meet You”

USEFUL EXPRESSIONS:

See Phrases for Conversation http://www.eslgold.com/speaking/phrases.html

Paul, this is John.

John, this is Paul.

Anne, this is Marie.

Marie, Anne.

1. Have you met Paul? No, I haven’t.

2. Have you two met each other? No, we haven’t.

3. 3. Have you two met each other? Yes, we have.

VOCABULARY:

See Longman Dictionary of English Online http://www.ldoceonline.com and http://www.learnersdictionary.com/

See Oxford Collocations: Dictionary for Students of English

IDIOMS:

See In the Know: Understanding and Using Idioms by Cindy Leaney (Cambridge Press)

See Cambridge Dictionary of American Idioms (Cambridge Press)

http://idioms.thefreedictionary.com/

salt of the earth

Fig. the most worthy of people; a very good or worthy person. (A biblical reference, Matthew 5:13.) Ex: Mrs. Jones is the salt of the earth. She is the first to help anyone in trouble. Frank’s mother is the salt of the earth. She has five children of her own and yet fosters three others.

at peace with something/yourself

feeling calm and relaxed about something or yourself EX: He appears to be at peace with the world these days. These are good times for Randy, a man at peace with himself and his career.

blessed with something

lucky to have a special quality or character Ex: She’s been blessed with the sort of slim figure and very good looks everyone else wishes they had.

OTHER RESOURCES/IDEAS:

See The ESL Miscellany: A Treasury of Cultural and Linguistic Information (Pro Lingua Press)

http://www.esltutors.org/resources/index.html

http://ctleslpeertutor.project.mnscu.edu/index.asp?Type=B_BASIC&SEC={F25FF5CA-EE8C-43D6-AF61-928CE0B2FBB6}

http://iteslj.org/Lessons/Clark-Gareca-Names.html Discussing your Name to Develop Presentation Skills

Level III:

VISUAL RESOURCES:

See the Visual Merriam Webster Dictionary OR The Visual Dictionary Online http://visual.merriam-webster.com/

See Human Being, Clothing, and Arts and Architecture

QUESTIONS:

See http://iteslj.org/questions/

What do you think of people who name their children after months, seasons or days of the week?

• What do you think of parents who make up unique names for their children?

· Some parents give their children names in alphabetical order. Do you think this is a good idea?

· What was the name of your first girlfriend or boyfriend?

• Have you ever dated two different people with the same first name?

Do you think names shape our personality? To what degree?

· Does your name have a meaning?

• If so, what does it mean?

· Have ever changed your name?

· Do you have names in two different languages? (ex. a Chinese name and an English name )? If not, would you like to?

· Do women change their name after marriage in your country or keep their maiden name?

· Can you name some notorious people or criminals ?

· Is it ever appropriate to “call someone names”? When?

· Can you name the seven continents?

• How many U.S. state names do you know?
• How many Canadian province names do you know?

· Can you name some famous world leaders?

• Can you name some famous composers?
• Can you name some famous artists?
• Can you name some Western foods?
• Can you name some Eastern foods?
• Can you name some Middle-Eastern foods?
• Can you name some cars?
• What are some names of famous companies you know?

· What’s the name of your favorite singer?

• What’s the name of your favorite character from a story you’ve read
• What’s the name of your favorite writer?
• What’s the name of your favorite novel?
• What’s the name of your favorite restaurant?
• What’s the name of your favorite television show?

LISTENING ACTIVITES:

See Randall’s ESL Cyber Listening Lab http://www.esl-lab.com/

http://www.esl-lab.com/small/smallrd1.htm “Haven’t We Met Before?”

USEFUL EXPRESSIONS:

See Longman Essential Activator (Pearson Longman) OR Communicating on Campus by Amy Hemmert and Ged O’Connell (Alta)

General greetings and inquiries

VOCABULARY:

See Longman Dictionary of English Online http://www.ldoceonline.com and http://www.learnersdictionary.com/

See Oxford Collocations: Dictionary for Students of English

IDIOMS:

See In the Know: Understanding and Using Idioms by Cindy Leaney (Cambridge Press)

See Cambridge Dictionary of American Idioms (Cambridge Press)

http://idioms.thefreedictionary.com/

come across like someone or something (to someone) and come across as someone or something (to someone)

to appear or seem like someone or something to other people. EX: You always come across like a madman to people. She comes across like the Queen of the Nile to most people who meet her.

(just) between you and me

without telling anyone else EX: Between you and me, I think she made up the whole story about being robbed.

clam up

to refuse to talk or answer EX: Every time I think he’s going to tell me what’s bothering him, he just clams up.

Etymology: based on the behavior of a clam (a sea creature), which quickly closes its shell when something touches it

open up

to talk in a free and honest way EX: I felt I couldn’t open up to anybody, not even to my best friend.

Usage notes: usually said about discussing your thoughts or feelings

OTHER RESOURCES/IDEAS:

See The ESL Miscellany: A Treasury of Cultural and Linguistic Information (Pro Lingua Press)

http://www.esltutors.org/resources/index.html

http://ctleslpeertutor.project.mnscu.edu/index.asp?

http://www.breakingnewsenglish.com/1002/100228-peoples_names.html The Most Unfortunate Names in Britain

Level IV:

VISUAL RESOURCES:

See the Visual Merriam Webster Dictionary OR The Visual Dictionary Online http://visual.merriam-webster.com/

See Human Being, Clothing, and Arts and Architecture

QUESTIONS:

See http://iteslj.org/questions/

Do you believe some names or words have magical qualities?

· Do people in your country predict the future according to names?

· If you could change your name would you? What would it be? Why this name?

· Do you remember any kids whose names other kids in school made fun of? Why? What were their names?

· Are you named after anyone in your family?

· Do you ever feel pressure to live up to your name?

· Can your name mean anything funny in your language?

· Have you ever known a boy that has a “girl’s name” or a boy that had a “girl’s name”?

· Do you wish your name was less common, or more unusual?

· If you could change your name would you? What would it be? Why that name?

· How did you choose your children`s names?

· Are you named after ancestors that are already dead?

· Are you named after a famous person?

· Can your name mean anything funny in your language? Did you ever get teased in school because of this?

· Have you ever known a boy that has a “girl’s name” or a boy that had a “girl’s name”? What was it like for them?

· Is it common in your country to name a person after a person in the Bible?

· Do you know some names that can be a boy’s or a girl’s name?

· Does your husband or wife call you a “pet” name.

• Pet name is a special endearment such as honey, sugar, sweetie, etc.

LISTENING ACTIVITES:

See Randall’s ESL Cyber Listening Lab http://www.esl-lab.com/

http://www.esl-lab.com/checkin/checkinrd1.htm “Hotel Check-In”

USEFUL EXPRESSIONS:

See Longman Essential Activator (Pearson Longman) OR Communicating on Campus by Amy Hemmert and Ged O’Connell (Alta)

VOCABULARY:

See Longman Dictionary of English Online http://www.ldoceonline.com and http://www.learnersdictionary.com/

See Oxford Collocations: Dictionary for Students of English

IDIOMS:

See In the Know: Understanding and Using Idioms by Cindy Leaney (Cambridge Press)

See Cambridge Dictionary of American Idioms (Cambridge Press)

http://idioms.thefreedictionary.com/

compare notes

if two people compare notes, they tell each other what they think about something that they have both done EX: We’d had the same boyfriend at different times in our life so it was quite interesting to compare notes.

pick up on something

to become alert to something; to take notice of something; to learn or catch on to something. EX: She’s really sharp. She picks up on everything. The cop picked up on the car with the expired license plates.

draw somebody/something out also draw out somebody/something

to persuade someone to express their thoughts and feelings EX: She was good at drawing out young people and getting them to talk about their dreams. She worked hard to draw out all the different opinions people had.

OTHER RESOURCES/IDEAS:

See The ESL Miscellany: A Treasury of Cultural and Linguistic Information (Pro Lingua Press)

http://www.esltutors.org/resources/index.html

http://ctleslpeertutor.project.mnscu.edu/index.asp?Type=B_BASIC&SEC={F25FF5CA-EE8C-43D6-AF61-928CE0B2FBB6}

http://www.breakingnewsenglish.com/0905/090507-family_names.html Germany Says Two Names is Enough