Конспект урока "Сладкий запах успеха"
план-конспект урока по английскому языку (10 класс) по теме

Урок английского языка. Заключительный по теме «Сладкий запах успеха», 8 кл. УМК под ред. О. В. Афанасьевой  и И. В. Михеевой.

Формируемые общеучебные умения:

-учебно-управленческие умения- научиться работать в команде над решением единой проблемы;

-учебно-информационные  –  умение мыслить работать со словарем, уметь извлекать необходимую информацию;

-учебно-логические –  умение мыслить критически, делать выводы, выражать свою точку зрения.

Отличительные черты урока- применение компьютерных технологий.

Проблема: все люди - разные, а что значит успех для самих учащихся,

Как они будут добиваться успеха в жизни.

Дидактические цели:

1. Создать благоприятные условия, стимулирующие учащихся на свои собственные суждения и высказывания о значимости успеха в жизни людей и самих учащихся;
2. Продолжить работу над развитием у учащихся навыков и умений самовыражения на английском языке на основе адекватного  лексико-грамматического оформления речевого высказывания ;
3. Поощрять умение пользоваться компьютером для решения проблемной ситуацииl; давать аргументированные ответы по проблемным ситуациям, определить для себя свое видение успеха и способы его реализации ( выработать свою формулу успеха через творческий мини-проект).

Методические задачи: научить учащихся давать аргументированные ответы по данной проблемной ситуации.

Материалы и оборудование: компьютер, мультимедийный проектор.

                                   Ход урока.

1. Приветствие, постановка целей, введение в тему (5 минут).                  Teacher: Good morning, boys and girls! How are you?                                   Pupils: Good morning, teacher! Fine, thanks, and you?

Teacher: Me, too, thank you.

The topic of our discussion is “A sweet smell of success” (слайд № 1). We are going to have an unusual lesson today. We’ll try to look into our future, I’ll try to help you to define what real success is.  I wonder what is your idea of success is, what it means for you. Each of you will also work out your own formula of success. But wait a bit, please. I wouldn’t like to reveal all my secrets at once. All in good time.

Look at the screen, please. There is a Chinese proverb. Let’s read it. …, read please. What do you think the problems of today’s discussion are? What is meant here under the words “the top of the mountain” and “the view?” As you know the Chinese are considered to be hard-working, persistent and hardy.

Pupil 1: There are many paths to the top of the mountain, but the view is always the same.

Pupil 2:I think as for the top it is “an aim” and the view means “ the result”.

Pupil 3: I agree with P2, but judging by the topic of our lesson the top may be also “success” because I believe success is some aim in gaining something. People can choose different things and means to get it and as a result they have what they want to.

Teacher: Right you are.

II. Основная часть.

Teacher: But what makes success? What do we need for it? How to achieve success? These are the things we are going to discuss and to check if success really smells sweet.

We’ve use the word “success” in our speech several times already. In my opinion we should define this word. What is “success”? How do you understand it? P2 has already tried to interpret the word. I think computer will help us to find the best solution in this situation. I believe you know what part computers take in our life. They are very helpful and necessary everywhere, especially in education. Besides,

some people believe that knowledge of computer is also a so-called ticket to success. Let’s take this advantage. You are good computer users, aren’t you?

Please, take your seats in front of the computers. Your task is to make use of the computer dictionaries and find definitions of the word ”success”. You have access to such dictionaries as Lingva, Oxford Advanced Learner’s Dictionary, Oxford Student’s Dictionary of Current English, etc.

What definitions have you found? Which definition is closer to your understanding of the word “success”? Choose the most appropriate explanation or you can try to give your own one on their base.

Pupil 1: Success is the fact that you have achieved sth that you want or have been trying to do or to get.

Pupil 2: Success is the fact of becoming rich or famous or of getting a high social position.

Pupil3: Success is gaining of what is aimed at; prosperity.

Pupil 4: Success is achievement of sth intended or desired.

Pupil 5: Success is attaining wealth or fame.

Pupil 6: Success can be sb or sth that does well. It is referred both to people and things.

Pupil 7…

Teacher: What do all these definitions have in common?

Pupil 1: The common thing is that you get what you want, perhaps either in a fair or in an unfair way.

Pupil2: in some definitions success is associated with fame, prosperity, wealth, triumph, money, power, respect, a high social position.

Teacher: In certain meanings they are synonyms. Such things as fame, wealth, money and power are the main motivators of success. Do you agree with me?

Pupil 3: It’s not surprising we live in a materialistic world where possessions (material goods) are a so-called reward for working hard. People need a country which can offer them opportunities for a good and successful life.

Teacher: Well, materialism is another serious and rather complicated problem for discussion. We will talk on this topic in more details later. So let’s leave it for a wile.

As for the word “successful” it is our active one now. It’s derived from “success”. Look through the dictionary entries once again to study more examples of the same kind and fill in the table. Click the mouse to find it (слайд 2).

Ready? Let’s read them up.

Pupil1: success is a noun, successful is an adjective, to succeed in sth/doing sth is a verb.

Pupil 2: The phrases are: The sweet smell of success (the name of our discussion),

                                             To be drunk/flushed with success,

                                             To be one’s ticket to success,

                                              To make a success of sth,

                                              To have some success,

                                              To be a success in sth/as, etc.  

Teacher: Do you have any difficulty in understanding them?

Pupil3:

Everything is clear.

Teacher: OK. All these words and phrases will be very beneficial to you to speak on the topic “success” and make you speech more colourful. Try to use them in your discussion.

We are going further. Look at the gallery of these people. (Учащимся демонстрируются фотографии людей,  являющихся представителями разных профессий, успешных в ней). What are they?

P 1: He is a tennis-player.

P2:  This man is a builder.

P3: She is a businesswoman.

P4: His profession is a fire-fighter.

P5: This woman is a Rescuer.

P6: He is a doctor by profession.

Teacher:  nobody has mentioned this very man as a successful person. Was it by chance? What is strange about him? How does a successful person look like?

P1: He looks pleasant but untidy. He is free in his manners.

P2: he doesn’t care about appearance. He may have some problems with money, work, however the man seems optimistic.

Teacher: Do you think all of them are successful? Which of them looks most ambitious and strong-willed?

P1: It’s difficult to say that they are not successful. In my opinion…is/ are most ambitious and strong-willed.

P2: Perhaps they have some success in their career.

P3: There is nothing in their personal appearance that can prevent thinking otherwise. They seem ambitious. As for that man he might be successful too. Why not? Everything depends on a personality, his/her personal qualities. Nothing is impossible to a willing heart.

Teacher: Yes, I am of the same opinion. But at first you were at loss, weren’t you? I’ll tell you a small secret: He is a millionaire from Switzerland.

P1: is he?

P2: Really?

Teacher: Of course, good and positive appearance is also one of the main elements in the image of successful people, it can contribute to success. However, have you ever heard such an English proverb: It is not the gay coat that makes the gentleman? Appearances are very often deceptive.

Indeed, each of them may be successful, why not? Everyone can succeed in sth. And it doesn’t matter much what profession you have, how you look like.

But do you think that personal qualities are still more important in achieving success?

P1: Yes, I do. They make our character. And the latter can influence our life; it also plays a big role in achieving success.

Teacher: What personal qualities are required to achieve success in life On your computer screens there is a list of traits of character. Make pairs by joining each other and choose 5 most important and 5 unimportant personal qualities which can contribute to success from your point of view. You have 3 minutes to fulfill this task. … Your time is up. It’s time to listen to your ideas. Who would like to start?

P1: Strong-willed, persistent, ambitious, confident, enthusiastic.

P2: Hard-working, persistent, ambitious, quick-minded, determined.

P3: Sociable, tolerant, energetic, hard-working, independent.

Teacher: While checking the task I’ll askP4 to sum up all the ideas and make a general conclusion in the form of the table at you computer what the most popular answers are (слайд3).

P4:..

Teacher: P4 thank you for the summary table. You see the ideas are different but …(persistent, ambitious, hard-working) is/are beyond any doubt.

And what about unimportant ones?

P1: Shy, selfish, doubtful, nervous, rank.

P2: Doubtful, sensitive, absent-minded, honest, indifferent.

P3: Timid, narrow-minded, shy, absent-minded, indifferent.

P4: …

Teacher: Were they worth mentioning at all?

P1: Yes, they were. I find it very useful to have a look at my personality from different sides.

T: What does our summary table say again? You haven’t chosen these traits of character as the most important qualities. It means that they are of little significance. Some of them are even harmful. Nevertheless a negative result is also of some importance, you know: it’s better to avoid them on way to your success, especially…(shyness, doubtfulness, absent-mindedness, indifference).

There is no doubt that in our days work takes the most part of our life. However, people can meet with success not only regarding their jobs.

Where else can people succeed? In which spheres of our life? What else do they need for success besides their personal qualities? These questions are our next steps to the secret of our success. We are going to find the answers to them while studying question by question.

Have a look at these photos. (демонстрация фотографий успешных людей).

Where can success be achieved? What spheres of our life do they illustrate? Try to guess. Don’t forget to explain your choice.

P1: The first picture illustrates ”love”, the feeling without which nobody can go in the world. It is one of our essential spheres of life. There is a newly-married couple there. They seem to be happy and love each other. At last their loving hearts have united.

P2: The next photo represent a businesswoman. She is looking at her watch. She may have an appointment with her business partners. This sphere is “job/business”.

P1: …..education.

P2: ….relations with friends/other people.

P3:…family.

T: Do you really think that a good family is an aim in life?

P1: Good family relations, children around you…It sounds supportive in life. You have sb to rely on and give you advice. It seems to me that one of the main family values is when you in your own family find a shelter from the storm, feel comfortable, secure, protected. As for me it’s more important than success in business.

T: For some people it goes without saying. They don’t believe that it is possible to achieve success in family relations. That’s why such people treat to making a family in a careful way.

According to this diagram you’ve named all 5 spheres: Job/career, family, education, love, relations with friends/other people (слайд4).

What would you put at the first (second, third,…) place? What is more important for you? Put them in order of importance. (1=most important..5=least important). I’ll give you a minute to think of it.

P1: Education, career, love, family, relations with friends/other people.

P2: Love, family, relations with friends, education, career.

P3: Relations with friends, love, education, family, career.

P4: Education, relations with friends, career love, family.

T: Let’s listen to the girls first, then the boys. The teacher follows the pupils’ answers without their help and sums up the general idea on the blackboard (слайд5).

Why do the boys think in a different way?

P1: In our world community men and women don’t have the same opportunities to be successful in their life. Besides the nature both of men and women also influences their choice. According to the statistics women prefer family to career and men pay more attention to their gob and business.

T: Yet it’s true that everyone has his/her own priorities and chooses their aim to gain. But in spite of various spheres where can be achieved there are the same ways to gain the aim. As you have noticed we’ve come back to the Chinese proverb again: “There are many oaths to the top of the mountain but the view is always the same”. How clever and far-sighted the Chinese are!

P1: I think “The American dream” is the dream to become rich, happy and successful

P2: When you work hard, you want to have sth for it.

T: And what is the idea of success for Americans? I suppose you’ve heard such a phrase as “the American dream” many times in films and literature. Have you got any idea of it?

P3: People come to America to find a better life, to achieve sth in their life. They dream about a good profession, their own house. They would also like to get freedom and equal rights.

P4: America is considered to be the country of numerous opportunities.

T: Good. Let’s see if your guesses were right. There is a very short text for you that is called “Proof of American dream” (ss the “Supplementary Material” section). ( The teacher gives out the texts to the pupils). The title speaks for itself, you see. While reading you should find the answers to the following questions: (Вопросы вынести на слайд).

1. Where did Ashley Judd achieve her success? In which sphere of life?
2. What was her way to success? Was it easy?
3.  What do you think what personal qualities helped her to succeed in life?

You have 3 minutes to look through this text and be ready to answer the questions.

Enough. Let’s check your answers.

P1: She achieved her success in the profession of a movie star.

P2: Money was unlikely to help her become successful as she comes from a dirt-poor family. Perhaps it was a great motivator for her: by that time her mother and sister had already been a success as country and western singers.

P3: I think it was her youth, beauty, probably talent and her hope for a better life that contribute to her success.  

P4: I believe it was impossible to achieve anything without hard work. Working hard is the only way to succeed in life. It’s rather difficult.

P5: I’m sure she was just lucky.

P6: To my mind Ashley’s personal qualities also played a certain role in making her career.

P7: She is determined, persistent,  stubborn.

P8: She looks straightforward, ambitious and optimistic. She seems not to be afraid of difficulties.

T: you were very close to the right answers. Nothing is left for me but add only some words to the notion of the ‘American dream”. Having  material goods proves that a person is hard-working; so many people try to have everything their neighbours have. They expect their children to live better life than they do.

For example, Liza Care< a 15-year-old girl from America, believes, “We’re all born equal. But after that we are on our own. Nobody is going to hand you success on a plate. If you want to succeed, you’ll have to make it on your own: your energy, your own head,, and your own ambitions. If at first you don’t succeed, try, try and try again”

What do you think is necessary to be successful? What are these ways to the top of the mountain? (слайд6).

P1: Health.

P2: Someone’s support.

P3: Money.

P4: Good luck.

P5; Personal qualities such as persistence, ambition, industry.

P6: Talent.
P7: Education.

P8: Risk.

P9: Hard work.

P10: Experience.

P11: Hope.

P12: Personal appearance.

T: What opportunities do we, Russians, have to do well in life? How do we see our future?

 What is the Russian dream? I hope you’ll help me to answer these questions and explain your choice in the form of a mini-project.

To make the project you are to divide into groups. How shall we make them?

I offer you to do it in the following way: I’ve got cards with the same names of the ways how to achieve success as you saw on the blackboard. Which way would you prefer? It is the ways that helps us to make groups. Who wants to dispute the point of view that hard work is the most necessary to succeed in life? ( .. money,. .education , and so on)

Take your seats over there. We have got 4(5,…) groups. Here are the paper and the set of felt-tip pens for each group. On each sheet of paper there is a vertical line in form of a path to the top of the mountain. Starting with this initial point that is at the bottom “November,2009” you should show your own ways to the top of the mountain symbolizing your future success “November, 2009”. Remember to say:

*what and where you will be in 20 years;

*what was you will choose, what you need for it (слайд7).

In the groups there are like-minded friends. That is why I hope you will manage to come to an agreement.

In 5-7 minutes we’ll find out how these paths have led you to success and if these very ways are really reliable.

I you need it on the screen you can see the questions of our project.

Who would like to represent the project? (One group).

P1, 2, 3, .. We think to achieve sth in life is very important for everybody. Everyone would like to find himself in life, to get satisfaction from what he/she is doing. It can be expressed in different things as each person has his/her own aim in life.

As for us our aim is to achieve success in education. We need courses in computing, foreign languages, perhaps two or even three higher educations. It would be also not bad to go abroad to practice English ( or other foreign Languages)  and get some experience in our professions. The corresponding signs show all these things on our path. We believe good education can lead to another top, career, and help to succeed in this sphere of our life too. We’ve drawn another top here to emphasize that education is an essential part of career. That’s why we find them to be connected with each other. However, Good education doesn’t always mean that you will be successful in your job. You have to be rather persistent, ambitious, decisive and believe in yourself.

This figure of a man symbolizes these very personal qualities. We suppose without them it’s impossible to win. In this case some programs in character-building may be beneficial too. This sign proves it. The way to the top is often a certain struggle. We shouldn’t forget about our health either.

P1: If we manage to fulfill all these tasks and our dreams come true in2029 I see myself as an interpreter.

P2: I’ll be a lawyer.

P3: And my profession will be an international economist. In our opinion it’s a good start for making a family.

T: As for the others I ask you to leave your posters at our class exhibition. It would be very interesting to learn the idea of success of each group. I’ll keep them till 2029.

Заключительная часть. Подведение итогов. (!0 минут).

T: So many opinions. Each person prefers his/her way to achieve a goal. But there is no doubt that none of them is short, as there are no short cuts to success. As the English proverb says, :”Real success comes in small portions every day.”

Do you remember the topic of our discussion? A sweet smell of success. Though we are short of time I am still wondering if success really smells sweet, for you personally, P1 … .And you?

P1: I’ve come to the conclusion that when everything goes well you feel happy. It is very pleasant to realize that you can cope with all troubles and problems and the most important things are still waiting for you.

P2: It’s great when fortune favours you. You are full of hopes and expectations.

P3: For me success can smell sweet if I succeed in family relations and career. Nowadays these are very difficult to combine.

P4: There is a Russian proverb, “Money doesn’t smell.”

But I think only money and someone’s support can make people experience this pleasant feeling of being successful.

T; Each of you has your own plans for the future and your own paths, of course. Unfortunately we can’t say for sure what expects us there. There can be both success and failure. So depending on them our feelings and emotions will be different too. But I hope today this smell of success has been sweet for everyone, as you have worked really hard and achieved in the meantime your little aim: you have been able to express yourselves in fluent English. I’m sure this discussion won’t be in vain and it’ll be of great benefit to you to find yourselves in the future. I’d like to believe that you have found your priorities and realized that success can be achieved not only in business but also in other spheres of our life, in interpersonal relations.

In your life there may be several tops which you will have to reach. “Nothing succeeds like success”, that says another English proverb. That’s why you should make a careful choice.

During our lesson there have been a lot of proverbs and sayings. As you know they have been collected for ages and they are the mine of information of the nations in the world. Which saying or proverb would you choose as a motto for your life (слайд9).  

P1: Nothing is impossible to a willing heart.

P2: Working hard is the only way to succeed in life.

T: To finish our discussion I’ve chosen the words of Albert Einstein: “Try not to become a man of success, but rather try to become a man of value” (слайд8).

Please keep them in your mind and let success attend you in your kind undertakings. Thank you very much for your work.