(1) News by Tara for Class 2 on Monday, 19 May. We won't have time for the news at the second class this week as we will be engaged in the role plays and time is of the essence. There won't be a new news item out on Monday (only from Tuesday); so, you can choose your own news item from the list which we haven't done this semester.
(2) Learning English in Brazil: We'll continue Acitivities 6 and 7 about questions and discussions regarding the video we watched during the last class. In particular am I interested about your answer to question 11 from Activity 6.
(3) Discussion: Deforestation
We'll read a passage about the topic, learn some vocab, and enter into discussion through answering questions in small groups. What is deforestation about? Why should we be concerned about it?
"To be without trees would, in the most literal way, to be without our roots". - Richard Mabey
Replies
That is exactly where the problem lies that people are destroying our forests - money! Because they can get big money for the timber, they don't care to destroy the forests. They can be stopped, but countries don't want to do that as they want to pacify the rich and middle classes that use the timber for their houses. They only think 'short term'. One day the children will ask the parents ... "what did you do to protect our earth ..?
And for the problem of deforestation.We can't stop it.It's a question of environment protection and economy developing,I think the best way to solve it is to make a plan for reasonable cutting.See you tomorrow,teacher
Yes, the news you chose sound interesting ... I hope your name would be drawn tomorrow to hear the news from you! Hope you wouldn't be too shy to tell the news with all the girls in your class ..!
About deforestation ... What do you mean we can't stop it?! If people want to make a change, there is always a way. When people don't want to change something, they always have excuses or they lie to the world. Don't you know that?! Of course we can do something about deforestation ... What you clearly don't know, is that your own country is indirectly one of the biggest destroyers of natural forests by buying illegally felled trees which enter Chinese harbours through illegal shipments. How does it get past customs, you may ask ...? Simple answer - the custom officers just 'turn a blind eye' and pretend they don't know (and of course, many of them get paid to pretend they don't see anything). And where do those shipments go? The unsaturated housing sector and the preference of the rich and upcoming middle class to install wooden floors in their houses. You probably didn't know this (like many things about China students don't know). And don't try to find any information about this on Chinese websites; you won't! Do yourself the favour and start reading world news on English websites!
Di Xin, you surprise me again! Why are you so diligent and give the first comment; and last night you have even attended English Corner too?! I hope these efforts of you would one day pay off and your English would improve much ..! If that is your intention, I think you may surprise yourself too! Well done, my good and faithful student!
I agree about what you said about preserving our forests! Those trees are essential for keeping the balance between CO2 (in) and O2 (out). However, did you know that the world's biggest rain forest in Brazil is rapidly disappearing ..? That is quite alarming, but when people are poor (many Brazilians) they don't care (but neither do the buyers care - the rich from other countries).
About the video, As you know by now, I do not care whether some students find the videos boring! I know those video lessons are some of the best lessons one can get and I also know that many students benefit through them. So, I will not stop using those lessons! It is good for you, whether you believe it or not! Or maybe you should believe me! ;-)
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