1、Unit 5 Languages Around the WorldListening and Talking Answer the following questions before listening.1.Which language has the most native speakers in the world?English Spanish Chinese2.How does English?Does it have the second largest number of native speakers in the world?No,it comes the third,aft
2、er Spanish.Listen to the first part of the talk.What are the different kinds of English mentioned?British EnglishAmerican EnglishAustralian English(Tapescripts)As many countries speak English as a first language,there are many different kinds of English around the world:British English,American Engl
3、ish,Australian English,and many others.Some English learners might ask,“Can English speakers from different countries all understand each other?”The answer is yes.People in these countries can usually understand each other with very few problems.There are differences in vocabulary,pronunciation,and
4、grammar,but those are usually not big problems.However,those differences can cause confusion for non-native English speakers.For example,a student who has learnt British English might not be familiar with the different vocabulary that an American might use.Listen to this conversation between a forei
5、gn language student and her American classmate.Listen to the second part of the talk.What are the two pairs of words that the student is confused by?Tick them in the boxes.semester/term restroom/toilet gas/petrol subway/undergroundCultural Note“Semester”literally means“six months”,so a school year h
6、as two semesters(usually“spring”and“fall”in the US).However,a“term”does not have the same meaning as“semester”,and its meaning can vary between countries and different types of schools.In the UK,schools usually have three terms in a school year:Spring,Summer,and Autumn Terms.Their lengths can vary d
7、epending on the type of school.So,this is technically a“trimester”.In Australia,schools commonly have four terms,including a Winter Term.In the UK,semester is sometimes used in describing the school year,but not as commonly as in the US.TapesciptsAmy:Thank you very much for helping me with my Englis
8、h.Betty:Youre welcome!When are you free to meet?This semester,Im free on Tuesday and Thursday after lunch.Amy:Im sorry?What does“semester”mean?Betty:You know,semesterhalf of a school year.Amy:Oh,you mean like a term?Betty:Yes,like a term.The British say“term”.We usually say“semester”here in America.
9、Amy:Got it!My first English lesson with you,haha?OK,lets meet on Tuesday.Where shall we meet?Betty:Lets meet at a coffee shop near my home.Its very convenient to get there by subway.Amy:Subway?Do you mean the Underground?Betty:Yes,the train that goes under the ground!Amy:Ah,got it!Haha,my second Eng
10、lish lessonthank you!Look at the pairs of words below.Which words are British English and which are American English?Try to think of more pairs of words like these.petrolgassweetcandytoiletrestroomhonourhonormummomflatapartmentBritish EnglishAmerican Englishpetrolgassweetcandytoiletrestroomhonourhon
11、ormummomflatapartmentautumnfallcertainlysurefilmmoviefootballsoccerpractise(v.)practice(v.)British EnglishAmerican Englishlorrytruckcar parkparking lotgardenyardholidayvacationmobile phonecell phoneBritish EnglishAmerican EnglishBritish EnglishAmerican Englishmotorwayexpresswaypostmailpavementsidewa
12、lkliftelevatorground floorfirstfloorRead and role-play the conversation.What misunderstanding has happened?Martin:Hey,Zhou Wei,do you want to go shopping?Theres a sale at my favourite store.Zhou Wei:Oh,yes!I really need to buy some pants.Martin:Pants?Thats funny.I dont usually go shopping with my fr
13、iends for pants.Zhou Wei:You dont?Dont you like to have somebody tell you if the pants look good or not?Martin:Er.Not really.Hey,wait,do you mean trouserswhat you and I are wearing on our legs right now?Zhou Wei:Oh,yes.Thats what I mean by pants!Thats American English,isnt it?Martin:Yes,it is!I knew
14、 what you meant,by the way.I was just joking with you.Did you know that in British English,“pants”means something very different?Zhou Wei:Really?So what does it mean?Martin:In British English,the word“pants”means underwear.Zhou Wei refers to pants,American English for trousers.Martin explains that p
15、ants refers to underwear in British English.Choose one or two pairs of words in Activity 3 and make a conversation.The expressions below may help you.Asking for clarificationDo you mean.?Does that mean.?Im sorry.What does.mean?Im sorry.Would you mind repeating.?I beg your pardon.So am I right in say
16、ing.?So what youre really saying is.Words and Phrasessemester n._gas n._ petrol n._subway n._ undergroundn._ pantsn._ beg vt._apartment n._学期地铁(BrE)内裤；短裤；(AmE)裤子恳求；祈求；哀求汽油(AmE)公寓套房地铁汽油；气体；燃气Language pointsbeg(begging,begged,begged)1.v.If you beg someone to do something,you ask them very anxiously or
17、 eagerly to do it.恳求恳求 I begged him to come back to New York with me.我请求他和我一起回纽约。We are not going to beg for help anymore.我们将不再请求帮助。2.v.If someone who is poor is begging,they are asking people to give them food or money.行乞行乞 She was living alone,begging food from neighbours.她一个人生活，从邻居那儿讨些吃的。【拓展】Lang
18、uage points1.beg leave to do sth(formal)请求准许做某事2.be going begging(BrE informal)无人问津；没人要3.beg sbs pardon(formal especially BrE)请人原谅；向人道歉4.beg the question (1)令人置疑；引起疑问 All of which begs the question as to who will fund the project.所有这一切都令人想到究竟由谁来投资该工程的问题。(2)想当然 These assumptions beg the question that
19、 children learn languages more easily than adults.这些假设想当然地认为儿童比成年人学习语言容易。【拓展】Language points5.I beg to differ 很抱歉，我不敢苟同6.I beg your pardon (1)(formal)请原谅；对不起 I beg your pardon,I thought that was my coat.对不起，我还以为那是我的外衣呢。(2)（未听清楚）请再说一遍 (3)(especially BrE)（感到被冒犯时说）“Just go away.”“I beg your pardon!”“走开。”“你再说一遍！”Thank You!
