embracing college life

UNIT 1 11

Embracing College Life

The way of the great learning involves manifesting virtue, loving the people, and abiding by the highest good.

— Confucius (551–479 BC, Chinese educator, politician, and philosopher)

Unit GoalsIn this unit you will● learn useful words and expressions related to college life;

● develop your own thinking about college life;

● learn to anticipate what you will hear in listening;

● learn to use outlines in note-taking;

● raise awareness of word stress in listening and speaking;

● learn how to start a conversation.

Unit 1

UNIT 1 2

Lead-inTask 1Look at the pictures below. What do they show? Write a brief description for

each picture.

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1 2

3 4

5 6

UNIT 1 3

Are you ready for the start of

something new?

Task 2Here is a song for you. Listen and enjoy the song. Then sing together with the

help of the lyrics below.

Start of Something New

Living in my own world

Didn't understand

That anything can happen

When you take a chance

I never believed in

What I couldn't see

I never opened my heart

To all the possibilities

I know that something has changed

Never felt this way

And right here tonight

This could be the start

Of something new

It feels so right

To be here with you

And now looking in your eyes

I feel in my heart

The start of something new

Now who'd ever thought that

We'd both be here tonight

And the world looks so much brighter

With you by my side

I know that something has changed

Never felt this way

I know it for real

This could be the start

Of something new

It feels so right

To be here with you


I feel in my heart


I never knew that it could happen

Till it happened to me

I didn't know it before

But now it's easy to see

It's a start

Of something new

It feels so right

To be here with you


I feel in my heart

That it's the start

Of something new

It feels so right

To be here with you


I feel in my heart


Start of something new

UNIT 1 4

Active Listening & Speaking I

Word Banktempting /5/ adj. 吸引人的 priority /5/ n. 优先处理的事

dedicate /5/ v. 致力于，奉献 fraternity /5/ n. 大学男生联谊会

sorority /5/ n. 大学女生联谊会

Listening as Comprehension

Listening Skill: Anticipating What You Will HearGood listeners anticipate or guess what they will hear. When you anticipate, you think about the topic and activate the relevant information you have already learned about the topic. Then as you listen you can check your anticipations. So it helps you stay focused and understand what you hear.

Task 1You will listen to a program on college life hosted by Donna Bones, a life and

relationship coach in New York City. Before listening, anticipate what she will

talk about. Then listen to the program and check your anticipations.

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Taking Notes: OutlinesOutlining, a way to visually represent the relationships between ideas, is good for organizing notes. When outlining your notes, space and indentation are used to show which ideas are main points and which are supporting points. Doing this can help you easily differentiate main points from supporting details so that you can study more effectively. You can also mark your notes with numbers and let-ters. Usually Roman numerals (I, II, III, …) will be used as the most important, followed by the capital letters (A, B, C, …), Arabic numbers (1, 2, 3, …), and low-er-case letters (a, b, c, …).

UNIT 1 5

Task 2Listen to the program again and take notes in the outline style.

Topic: ...................................................................................................................................................... ......................................................................................................................................................Tip 1: .......................................................................................................................................................Reason: ................................................................................................................................................. ...................................................................................................................................................Tip 2: .......................................................................................................................................................Reason: ................................................................................................................................................. ...................................................................................................................................................Tip 3: .......................................................................................................................................................Reason: ................................................................................................................................................. ...................................................................................................................................................Tip 4: .......................................................................................................................................................Reason: ................................................................................................................................................. ...................................................................................................................................................

Listening as Acquisition

Pronunciation Tip: Word StressAll words of more than one syllable have what is called word stress. This

means that at least one of the syllables is longer and louder than the other syllables. The syllables that are not stressed are weak or small or quiet. Native speakers of English listen for the stressed syllables, not the weak syllables. If you use word stress in your speech, you will instantly and automatically improve your pronunciation and your comprehension.

There are two very important rules about word stress:● One word, one stress. (One word cannot have two stresses. If you hear two stresses, you hear two words. It is true that there can be a “secondary” stress in some words. But a secondary stress is much smaller than the primary stress, and is only used in long words.)● The stress is always on a vowel.There are also some more, rather complicated, rules that can help you understand where to put the stress. But do not rely on them too much, because there are many exceptions. It is better to try to “feel” the music of the language and to add the stress naturally.

UNIT 1 6

Task 1Listen to the program again, pay attention to the stress of each of the

following words, and repeat them after the speaker.

impression sweat casual respect participate priority

dedicate education fraternity sorority involve confident

Task 2 The following sentences are taken from the program. Complete each

sentence by translating the Chinese in the brackets into English. Then listen

to the program again and compare your translations with the original.

1. ..................................................................................... (真正穿着随意) when you go to class. Original: ..........................................................................................................................................2. You can sit near the front where you ............................................................ (参与并提问). Original: ..........................................................................................................................................3. You can really ......................................................................................... (优先考虑你的学业). Original: ..........................................................................................................................................4. ... show up on time, and really .............................................................. (全身心地投入学习). Original: ..........................................................................................................................................5. And join a club, or something else to .............................................. (使你与其他人联系在一起). Original: ..........................................................................................................................................6. ... as long as you’re true to yourself, and ............................................... (对你自己有信心). Original: ..........................................................................................................................................

Task 3 Work with a partner and practice using the following words and expressions

in sentences. Pay attention to their collocations.

1. casual....................................................................................................................................................................2. priority....................................................................................................................................................................3. dedicate....................................................................................................................................................................4. involve....................................................................................................................................................................5. confident....................................................................................................................................................................6. participate....................................................................................................................................................................

UNIT 1 7

Further Development: Speaking

Speaking Skill: Starting a ConversationStarting a conversation usually means coming up with an opening line or icebreaker. The best kind of icebreaker is one that’s positive. The last thing people want to hear is complaints. A compliment is always a good icebreaker and any news event can be good, too. Always remember that the best way to entice a person to have a conversation with you is by being sincere and respectful, and letting them know that you are interested in talking to them.Potential Conversation Starters:

● What an amazing buffet! Which is your favorite dish? ● Do you have any plans for Winter Break?● What sort of books do you like? ● What do you like to do with friends in your spare time?● What did you think of our math test last Friday?

TaskPractice how you can start a conversation with your new classmates.

HUMAN BINGO

Here is a bingo card. You should get a different person to sign each square to win the game. Remember that you can’t have the same signature twice, nor sign this sheet yourself. Good luck!

Step 1

Students move around the classroom, say hello to anyone and start a conversation with him or her to figure out whether he or she has any of the traits listed on the bingo card. If yes, ask them to sign the corresponding square. If no, move on to another student and begin a new conversation.Step 2

Yell out “BINGO!” as soon as you cover 5 squares in a winning pattern — usually a straight line going horizontally, vertically or diagonally.Step 3

The winner introduces some of the people who have signed the bingo card to the whole class.

UNIT 1 8

Someone who prefers the outdoors

Someone who has a

grandmother

Someone who doesn’t like to

dance

Someone who enjoys tea

Someone who enjoys sports

Someone who rides a blue bike

Someone who likes to go shopping

Someone who tells a good joke

Someone who likes spicy food

Someone who is disorganized

Someone who had a part-time

job

Someone who was born in

October

FREE SPACESomeone who likes chocolate

Someone who is wearing blue

Someone who likes singing

Someone who is over 1.80 meters tall

Someone who likes action

movies

Someone who has long hair

Someone you just met

Someone who is about 1.74

meters tall

Someone who has no English

name

Someone who comes from

northern China

Someone who has family in this

city

Someone who wears glasses

Active Listening & Speaking II

Word Bankoverflow /5/ n. 溢出 mushy /5/ adj. 过于感伤多情的

stuff // n. 东西 grab // v. 抓住

ultimate /5/ adj. 最终的 democracy /5/ n. 民主，民主政体

snore /()/ v. 打鼾 monarchy /5/ n. 君主政体

elite /5/ n. 精英 oligarchy /5/ n. 寡头政治

underestimate /5/ v. 低估 overestimate /5/ v. 高估

apartheid /5/ n. 种族隔离

UNIT 1 9


Task 1 Watch two clips from the movie Sydney White and answer the following question.

What are the two clips mainly about?Clip 1: ......................................................................................................................................................Clip 2: .......................................................................................................................................................

Task 2Watch the two clips again and answer the following questions.

1. Where is Sydney White going according to the first clip?........................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................2. What suggestions did Sydney’s mother give her about college life in the first clip?........................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................3. What question did the professor ask in the second clip?........................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................4. How did Sydney respond to the professor’s question in the second clip?........................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................


Task 1The following phrases and sentences are taken from the video clips and have

been translated into Chinese. Translate them back into English. Then watch

the clips again and compare them with the original.

1. 适应大学

2. 不要伤感

3. 为你送行

4. 过好每一刻

5. 抓住每个机会

6. 大学里的朋友将是你一生的伙伴

7. 终极典范

8. 并不一定正确

9. 低估民众

UNIT 1 10

Task 2Work with a partner and practice using the following words and expressions

in sentences. Pay attention to their collocations.

1. fit into....................................................................................................................................................................2. grab every opportunity....................................................................................................................................................................3. ultimate....................................................................................................................................................................4. underestimate....................................................................................................................................................................5. advocate....................................................................................................................................................................6. necessarily....................................................................................................................................................................


TaskWork with a partner and discuss the following questions.

1. Reflecting on your previous life experiences and the brief experience at college over the last few weeks, what do you think will be most challenging for you in college life?

2. How are you going to use your time in college life? List some guidelines that you may follow.

Supplementary Listening & Speaking

Word Bankconsecutive /5/ adj. 连续的 skim // v. 略读，浏览

draft // n. 草稿 extend /5/ v. 延长

UNIT 1 11


Task 1You will hear a lecture given by Professor Jody, a student study consultant.

Before listening, anticipate what he will talk about. Then listen to the talk

and check your anticipations.

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Task 2 Listen to the lecture again and take notes in the outline style. Pay attention to the

questions raised by students and the answers given by the professor.

Topic: ......................................................................................................................................................Question 1: ..........................................................................................................................................Answer: .................................................................................................................................................Question 2: ..........................................................................................................................................Answer: .................................................................................................................................................Question 3: ..........................................................................................................................................Answer: .................................................................................................................................................Question 4: ..........................................................................................................................................Answer: .................................................................................................................................................Question 5: ..........................................................................................................................................Answer: .................................................................................................................................................Question 6: ..........................................................................................................................................Answer: .................................................................................................................................................Question 7: ..........................................................................................................................................Answer: .................................................................................................................................................Question 8: ..........................................................................................................................................Answer: .................................................................................................................................................

Task 3Use your notes to answer the following questions.

Choose one correct answer from A, B and C.1. The lecture may take place in a ................... A. university B. bookstore C. library

UNIT 1 12

2. The topic of the lecture is ................... A. local snacks B. study strategies C. social life

Choose TWO correct answers from A to E.3. Choose TWO main factors which are important for students’ successful study:

................... A. using time effectively B. doing research C. attending more lectures D. working independently E. coping well with stress

Complete the table below.

Problems in How to Solve the Problems

Listening to lectures

4) ........................................... lecture

Prepare for lecture ahead of time

Check notes after lecture

5) ................................... PowerPoint

Reading online materialsNeed a 6) ..........................................

Approach: 7) ....................................

Writing essays8) A good ..........................................

9) Do.................before handing in


Task 1Listen to the lecture again and complete the summary below.

Professor Jody is a 1) ................................................................ He tells students there are three 2) ..........................................: study strategies on today, and social life and local snacks on next Monday and Tuesday. First of all, he tells students that 3) ................................................................................................................................................................................ is the first important factor of being a successful university student. The second factor is to 4) ..............................................................., such as 5) ...................... Afterwards, Professor Jody introduces some 6) ........................................... The first one

UNIT 1 13

is about listening to a lecture. Students can prepare a 7) ..................... to 8) ..................... the lecture, and prepare lecture materials 9) ............................................ and then 10) .................................................................. with other students after the lecture. The second strategy is using PowerPoint to 11) .......................................... on nearly all subject lectures. The third approach is 12) ..................... the text first to see how important it is. The last one is the strategy of writing essays. That is, 13) ......................................................................................................... for writing, and pay attention to the deadline; 14) .......................................... before handing in essays.

Task 2Work with a partner and use the words and expressions in the box below to

talk about what you think of the learning strategies recommended in the

lecture. You may share with each other useful learning strategies that you

have used during your high school days, and discuss whether they would still

be helpful for your study at college.

homesickness independently skimming presentation

proofreading overcome one’s stress in contact with on one’s own

in advance take up keep up with notes


TaskWork with a partner and discuss your hopes and aspirations for campus life.

Putting into Practice: ProjectAs freshmen who have been at college for a short time, what changes have you sensed or experienced in the transition from college life to secondary school life? List as many changes as you can in the following table by writing down only the key words. Then make a presentation to the whole class about the changes as well as your reflection on them.

UNIT 1 14

When at Secondary School When at College

My Reflection:

Goal Checking

Performance No → Yes

1 2 3 4

I have learned useful words and expressions related to college life.I have developed my own thinking about college life.I am able to anticipate what I may hear in listening.I am able to use outlines in note-taking.I am more aware of word stress in listening and speaking.I can start a conversation appropriately.

What have I learned so far in this unit? ..............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

What can I do to improve? ..............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

embracing college life

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