This unit is divided into two sections: “Presentation on a Sport” and “Presentation on a Sports Event”.
Teachers can choose to do either one with the students, or both if students show interest and if time allows.
In groups, students are going to make a presentation. It is suggested that each group be allocated six to eight minutes, but the teacher should adjust according to students’ ability and experience. Teachers may discuss with students if they need to use any visual aids and if so, how it can be done efficiently.
Time should be allowed for the changeover of groups and some peer or self-assessment activity.
Suggested methods of forming groups:
• random grouping – if used regularly, it is probably the soundest method of integrating the class as it enforces mixing and distributes talent (for efficiency, students can number off into groups of 4).
• teacher-controlled grouping – can avoid known personality clashes and ensure balance between the sexes and among different abilities (for efficiency, the teacher can strategically number off students into groups of 4).
Presentation on a Sport Learning Activity
Listening and Speaking Part A
Brainstorming
To begin with, each student should first choose one favourite sport, then write the name of all four team members’ sports in the four mind maps. In their group, they should brainstorm and note some W5+H information about each sport.
Note: The teacher can consider asking students to avoid basketball as they will be listening to a presentation about it.
Favourite Sport?
When/Where?
Who (famous players)?
How (skills needed/rules)?
What
(aim/dangers/equipment)?
Why?
T17 Part B
Listening
To help students with the presentation, they are going to listen to the recording of a similar group presentation which is on basketball. Teachers should go over the plan with them to familiarise them with the structure of the presentation as they listen to it for the first time. Students should try to fill out the blanks only when the recording is played for the second time.
Tape script for listening exercise CD Track 3: Presentation on basketball Speaker 1
Basketball is the best game in the world. It is played by two teams. Each team has five players. To score, a player must throw a ball through a basket high above the ground. Players cannot kick or carry the ball.
The first game of basketball was played in the United States in 1892.
Speaker 2
Basketball can be played by men and women. It is fun to play and great to watch. Lots of people in Hong Kong play it. You can see games at every playground. I think every school has a basketball team.
The American NBA games are shown on television. There are many famous teams and players for you to support, like the LA Lakers, Houston Rockets and Chicago Bulls, Yao Ming, Kobe Bryant and Dwayne Wade.
Speaker 3
Like any sport, basketball has many rules. Breaking a rule is called a foul. Players must always keep the ball moving. They cannot take a long time to make a throw. They cannot stop the ball going into the basket when it is just going in. They cannot use their bodies to stop other players. They must not say bad things to other players. If they break the rules, the other team gets a free throw.
Speaker 4
I would now like to teach you some new words about basketball. Please listen carefully.
A Cinderella team is a team no one thinks is good, but it wins some games.
A time-out is a short break when the players stop playing and talk to their coach about the best plan.
The coach can also change some of the players during the time-out.
The point guard is the fastest player who follows the ball all the time.
Zone defence is when players watch different parts of the basketball court and try to stop players from the other team using it.
I hope these new words are useful for you: a Cinderella team, a time-out, the point guard and zone defence.
T18 Answers for listening exercise:
Speaker Plan Details
Introduce the topic • Basketball is the best game in the world Describe how the
game is played • It is played by two teams of five players
• Players throw a ball through a basket to score
• Players cannot kick or carry the ball 1
Give a brief history
of the game • The first game of basketball was played in the United States in 1892
Give places to
watch the game • You can watch the games at every playground or on television 2
List famous teams
and players • Famous teams: Houston Rockets, LA Lakers and Chicago Bulls
• Famous players: Dwayne Wade, Yao Ming and Kobe Bryant 3 Describe fouls Players cannot:
• take a long time to make a throw
• stop the ball going into the basket when it is just going in
• use their body to stop other players 4 Introduce
new vocabulary • A Cinderella team means a team that no one thinks is good but wins some games
• A time-out is a short break when the players stop playing and talk to their coach
• The point guard is the fastest player who follows the ball all the time
• Zone defence is when players watch different parts of the court and try to stop the other team using it
Catering for Learner Diversity
Depending on students’ interest and ability, you might like to use the sample presentation on table-tennis (pages T73-T74, Supplementary Materials 6) as a replacement or an additional activity.
There are some technical terms in the presentation (e.g. speed stroke, loop drive) and you might like to go over some of them before students listen to the recording. The tape script and answers for the activity are on the next two pages.
T19
Tape script for listening exercise (Supplementary Materials 6) CD Track 4: Presentation on table-tennis
Speaker 1
Yes, the topic of our presentation is table-tennis, or ping-pong. For this game you need small bats, a table-tennis table with a net and a hollow ball. Games can be played by two or four players. The players hit the ball across the table to one another, scoring points according to the detailed rules.
The winner is usually the best out of five or seven games.
Speaker 2
The game is very pleasurable to play because of the skill needed to make good shots. A keen player is very fussy about his bat and the way he holds it. Then you must learn the different strokes. There are speed strokes that keep the game moving fast and loop drives which give the ball spin.
Speaker 3
For defence we use a different set of strokes. I only have time to mention three now. The slice comes in under the ball; the block just knocks the ball back; and a lob sends the ball high into the air.
You have to be very fit to play fast moving good table-tennis, but it is also a good game for relaxation. I don’t know of any game more people play. Many youth clubs or entertainment places have table-tennis facilities. They are cheap and the game does not depend on the weather. I cannot think of any drawbacks. You would be very unlucky to hurt yourself playing ping-pong.
Speaker 4
Table-tennis is especially popular in East Asia and almost all the great players come from China, South Korea and Japan. My favourite is the great Ma Lin. Ma Lin was born in Liaoning, China, in 1980. He has invented some of his own strokes. His serves are fantastic. He has won lots of tournaments and has heaps of gold medals, even Olympic ones. Some people prefer Wang Ho’s game, but Ma Lin is my idol and the player I dream of being when I play. Anyway, if any of you have become more interested in ping-pong after our presentation, please come and join us in the Table-tennis Club after school every Wednesday. Thank you.
T20 Answers for Supplementary Materials 6
A recording of a table-tennis game, diagrams of various holds and a picture of Ma Lin are all possible graphic aids for the talk. Gestures while talking about holds and strokes would be a good idea if handled carefully and non-dramatically.
Speaker Plan Details
1 Introduce the topic
Give basic information on the equipment required to play table-tennis
Describe how the game is played
• Equipment needed: some bats, a table with a net and a hollow ball
• Number of players: two or four
• To win a match you need to win the best of five or seven games
2 Give some technical
information on special skills used to play table-tennis
• There are different ways to hold the bat
• There are also different strokes (e.g. speed strokes keep the ball moving fast; loop drive gives the ball spin)
3 Give more information on the skills required to play
table-tennis
Describe the advantages and disadvantages of the game
• The strokes for defence include the slice, the block and the lob
• Advantages:
1. good for relaxation 2. very popular
3. facilities easily available and cheap 4. does not depend on the weather
• Disadvantages: None 4 Discuss the popularity of
table-tennis
Give examples of some famous players
• The game is very popular in East Asia
• Chinese player, Ma Lin, has won lots of tournaments and medals; he has invented his own strokes and has fantastic serves
Part C Planning
Now, students in their groups are going to prepare an oral presentation on a sport. To help students to prepare their group presentation, teachers should go over the steps in the student’s handout. Students should be allowed some time to research and organise information before they present their sport in class. The feedback form on the next page should also be given to students and explained to them at this stage so that they know what they should aim to achieve.
T21
*This is a general list of feedback criteria. Teachers might like to adapt it for use in their own classroom.
Group Presentation Feedback Form
Give feedback to your own and/or your classmate’s performance by circling the appropriate number under "Needs improvement", "Satisfactory" or "Good", and by completing the “Overall comments”
section.
Needs
improvement Satisfactory Good Content
z The information is suitable 1 2 3
z The information is interesting 1 2 3
Organisation
z The ideas are well-connected 1 2 3
Language
z Words are pronounced correctly 1 2 3
z Sentences are well-formed (e.g. with suitable
tenses) 1 2 3
Delivery strategies
z The speech is given in a natural way and
without much hesitation 1 2 3
z Words can be heard clearly 1 2 3
z There is enough eye contact 1 2 3
z Suitable body movements are used 1 2 3
z Visual aid is well-used (optional) 1 2 3
Collaboration with group members
z Members cooperate well in presenting the
message 1 2 3
Overall comments:
What did you enjoy most about the presentation?
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
Which areas could be improved on?
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
T22 Part D
Practice and Presentation
Students should be given time to rehearse for their presentation in class so that they can seek help from the teacher with regard to the pronunciation of words. Teachers should go over the “Notes on Practice and Presentation” with students before they rehearse in groups. Copies of the “Group Presentation Feedback Form” can be used by students for reflecting on their own performance and giving feedback to other groups.
Catering for Learner Diversity For less advanced students:
Before students practise on their own, you may go over with students the pronunciation reminders regarding past tense endings on the last page of the teacher’s notes of this focus or unit.
Presentation on a Sports Event Learning Activity
Listening and Speaking Part A
“Think, Pair, Share”
The aim of this activity is to stimulate the students to start thinking about major sports events. Some prior talk in English about Wimbledon will make listening to the recording easier. Implement a “Think, Pair, Share” structure for students to follow.
“Think, Pair, Share”
Students must first think quietly about the question. Then, they should turn to one classmate and the pair should orally exchange their responses. Finally, the teacher can ask pairs to share their ideas with the class.
Teachers should elicit answers from the students after they have shared their responses in groups.
Students should be encouraged to give their answers in complete sentences. To better motivate them, teachers can play a video clip of the most recent Wimbledon Game on the Internet.
Part B Listening
Students will listen to a presentation about a major sports event – the Wimbledon Tennis Championships. Before the students attempt the activity, the teacher should explain that it serves two purposes: to act as listening practice and to model an oral presentation plan. The teacher may have to go over the table and key vocabulary (e.g. tournament, Martina Navratilova, Ladies’ Singles, Mixed Doubles) with students. S/he may also need to play the audio track a few times to allow students to complete the plan.
Tape script for listening exercise
CD Track 5: Presentation on the Wimbledon Tennis Championships
The event I want to talk about is the annual Wimbledon Tennis Championships. Wimbledon is a suburb to the south of London. The event is held six weeks before the first Monday in August and attracts all the big names in tennis. To win at Wimbledon really makes you a star.
The championships last two weeks and are extra special for two reasons. These championships are among the oldest since the first was held in 1877 and, unlike most of the other big tennis tournaments, they are played on grass.
There are nineteen courts and the most important games take place on Centre Court and Number One Court. When the championship is underway, Wimbledon is at the centre of the world as nearly half a million people attend the games and hundreds of millions watch on television.
T23
I want to tell you about one great Wimbledon star: Martina Navratilova. She is always remembered at Wimbledon because she won the Ladies’ Singles title nine times. She also won the Ladies’
Doubles seven times and the Mixed Doubles four times. She was a true champion too as she was well-behaved on the court and humble, unlike some other major players.
If you ever have a trip to England, I recommend you go visit Wimbledon and enjoy the guided tour and museum, with a walk-in historical changing room and many interesting exhibits. You will never forget the experience.
Answers for listening exercise:
1. The name of the event Wimbledon Tennis Championships 2. Where, when and how long • Where: Wimbledon
• When: every year, six weeks before the first Monday in August
• How long: two weeks 3. Why it is important; what
makes it special
Attracts all the big names in tennis; winning it makes one a star
4. A little history Among the world’s oldest championships – the first was held in 1877
5. Any useful details There are nineteen courts at Wimbledon, with nearly half a million people attending the games every year
6. A great champion of the event Martina Navratilova – winner of nine ladies’ singles titles, seven ladies’ doubles titles and four mixed doubles titles;
well-behaved on the court
7. Closing words of interest If you have a trip to England, visit Wimbledon and enjoy the guided tour and museum
Part C Planning
The teacher should conduct a Lucky Draw to determine which sports event on the list of “Some Major Sports Events” each group of students will research and present to the class.
After students have received their topic, they should be given time to conduct research and collect information regarding the sports event. They should then organise their ideas and decide which part each member will present on. The feedback form on the next page should be given and explained to students at this stage so that they know what they should aim to achieve.
Part D
Practice and Presentation
Students should be given time to rehearse for their presentation in class so that they can seek help from the teacher with regard to the pronunciation of words. Teachers should go over the “Notes on Practice and Presentation” on page S14 with students before they rehearse in groups. Copies of the
“Group Presentation Feedback Form” should be given to students before they rehearse so that they know what to aim for. During the presentations, they can use the form as a tool for reflecting on their own performance and giving feedback to other groups.
Catering for Learner Diversity For less advanced students:
Before students practise on their own, you may go over with students the pronunciation reminders regarding past tense endings on the last page of the teacher’s notes of this focus or unit.
T24
*This is a general list of feedback criteria. Teachers might like to adapt it for use in their own classroom.
Group Presentation Feedback Form
Give feedback to your own and/or your classmate’s performance by circling the appropriate number under "Needs improvement", "Satisfactory" or "Good", and by completing the “Overall comments”
section.
Needs
improvement Satisfactory Good Content
z The information is suitable 1 2 3
z The information is interesting 1 2 3
Organisation
z The ideas are well-connected 1 2 3
Language
z Words are pronounced correctly 1 2 3
z Sentences are well-formed (e.g. with suitable
tenses) 1 2 3
Delivery strategies
z The speech is given in a natural way and
without much hesitation 1 2 3
z Words can be heard clearly 1 2 3
z There is enough eye contact 1 2 3
z Suitable body movements are used 1 2 3
z Visual aid is well-used (optional) 1 2 3
Collaboration with group members
z Members cooperate well in presenting the
message 1 2 3
Overall comments:
What did you enjoy most about the presentation?
_______________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________
Which areas could be improved on?
_______________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________
T25
While students rehearse for their presentation, the following notes on pronunciation problems related to past tense endings can be covered if considered helpful.
Pronunciation reminders – past tense endings Group A: the past tense ending sounds like a (t)
z ch – reached
z f – photographed
z k – dunked
z p – hopped
z s – missed
z sh – fished
Group B: the past tense ending sounds like a (d) (NOT (ed))
z vowels – played
z b – dribbled
z g – hugged
z j – judged
z l – fouled
z m – rammed
z n – trained
z r – scored
z v – dived
z z – advertised
Group C: the past tense sounds like (id)
z d – headed
z t – sprinted Web Help
Students will find Wikipedia helpful when doing their research. Most major sports events also have websites dedicated to them and can be referred to for ideas. Here are some examples:
http://www.formula1.com http://www.hksevens.com http://www.premierleague.com http://www.nba.com
http://www.nfl.com
http://www.australianopen.org http://www.rolandgarros.org http://www.usopen.org http://www.wimbledon.org http://www.americascup.com/en/
T26