Unit 3 Finding the correct perspectve Reading CHALLENGING STUDENT MYTHS Everybody wants to be happy, live in harmony with their parents and make them proud, but in reality you may find yourself worried or even upset. Following a trend without thinking carefully can make you stressed and depressed. However, it may surprise you to know that research can help you become a more efficient and well-balanced student. Let,s examine some student myths that may be interfering with your progress The most successful students have no worries in exams This is a common assessment made of students with high scores in school. In fact, these students do sufler stress-just like those with average or below average scores. In the UK, a database in 2004 showed that doctors provided more calming prescriptions for students aged between sixteen and eighteen than they had ever done before. In 1995, 46,000 such prescriptions were given, but by 2004 this number had risen to 110,000. Many of these drugs were for very able students to help them cope with stress and exam pressure. Sometimes even medicine was not enough and some of these students killed themselves From notes left behind, it seems clear that fear of failure combined with pressure from their family and school was just too great. These excellent students really didn 't want to let their parents or teachers down. If they had only been more confident, and followed some good advice, these deaths might have been avoided. So remember, be realistic about your abilities and be content to do your best. Keep your life in proportion, so that things don t get you down. Set your own goals and don't try to fulfil other people's expectations Only students who work day and night will succeed. It is just this kind of remark that produces pressure in anybody who is already anxious. Research shows that the most effective learning takes place if you use a quite different approach. So make an agenda. First, divide your week into 21 units or a day into three parts. Second, you will do better if you only study for 15 of those units, and keep the last 6 units for other things Why is giving yourself this interval between work sessions so useful? Well, although it sounds contradictory, a pause helps you to work more effectively. The spare time can be used to plan what you need to revise in the school curriculum, so you avoid overlooking part of it: e hold informal seminars with your friends to evaluate what you have already covered e set realistic goals to complete your deadlines, e watch some TV news or science programmes to widen your knowledge of the world e do some physical exercise which helps relax your brain and is good for your health So, adjust your study plan and take time to relax. In fact, an eflicient learner knows how to strike a balance between work and rest. Above all, don' t become rigid in your approach work hard but also work smart! 22
Unit 3 Fnding the correct perspective I wont be successful in the future if I don't go to a key university. This worry does affect many Chinese students and their parents. They subscribe to the view that if they do not go to a key university,. they will not get a good job. But how true is this point of view? Lets look at the evidence. First, clearly not everyone can go to a famous or key university. Second, even if you don t go to a key university for undergraduate study, there is still the opportunity of going to one for post-graduate study. Third, if you take a course you like and do well at an institute or academy, your motivation, training and hard work will stand you in good stead with any future employer. Remember, it is never too late to learn more I'll never get a good job if I don't have a university diploma. Not everybody can go to university. There are just too many candidates for the available places, so if you don' t get in, dont give up! All is not lost. Here is a format to succeed. First, prepare and make a plan for your future. L earn a trade or apply for a variety of jobs. Second, when you get employment, work hard. Think how you can do better than the others. They may have better qualifications, but you can show how committed you are to your career. Make sure whatever job you are offered is done well and efficiently. Third, as you work, learn all you can about professional attitudes and behaviour, and good interpersonal skills. In this way you can improve your chances of promotion without a university diploma. Even when you work, you can still have many chances of receiving further education. Above all, do be positive. Life is what you make it Comprehending 1 This reading offers advice to students. Sort out the advice for each section Statement Is it true? Advice The most successful students have no worries in exams Only students who work day and night will succeed I wont be successful in the future if I don't go to a key university I'Il never get a good job if i don' t have a university diploma 23
Unit 3 Finding the correct perspectve 2 Discuss these questions in pairs and then have a class discussion I Do you agree or disagree with the four myths? Give a reason 2 Which advice are you most likely to follow? Why? 3 What other worries do you have about your schoolwork or your future? 3 You have started a school newspaper which has a problem page for students. It is your job to answer the letters. Discuss in groups of four what advice you would offer to these students who have written for help. then report to the class. Letter 1 Letter 2 I am a high school student living at My parents are very proud of me and home. My parents want to organize my glory in my progress in school. They te life for me as they did when i was a all their friends and members of my small child. They insist I do a lot of family that they are expecting me to go homework every night and at weekends. to a key university. I am not so confident. I understand their concern but I feel I How can I persuade them to relax the am old enough to plan my own free pressure on me? time and work schedule. What can i do to change my parents? From Wei Lingyu From Yang Ming Studying and Exploring Language Vocabulary 1Complete the passage using the words below in the correct form agenda session academy diploma deadline curriculun rigid forgetful format trend My sister decided she wanted to be a manager and told me that she was going to study for a in Business Administration. She was busy so she asked me to look for some suitable colleges or on the internet that ofered a that was both theoretical and practical. This seemed very good to me and less than the more old- fashioned courses. As I did my investigation I found the was for some to take place in the College and others in a business connected to it My sister was very happy with my results. She noted the for the applications on each course. In case she became I made an for her setting out what had to be done. She was very grateful to me especially when her application was accepted and she was offered a place on her preferred course
Unit 3 Fnding the correct perspective 2 Look at the six pairs of sentences. Each uses the same word but in a different sense. Identify the word in the text and write it down in the gaps provided Sentences His mother likes to hear him praised so that she can in his success That achievement was a triumph and brought to our hometowN 2 I would like to to this magazine I have never to the idea that you are happiest when you are young 3 My brother and his wife lived for many years in perfect_ The beautiful in the music made me feel very happy as I listened to it 4 The policy of your company is you raise prices but at the same time emphasise how inexpensive the products are If ou give dvice. you will confuse the students 5 Today there will be mainly sunshine with cloudy He left the room and returned after a short with the answer to my question 6 The television programmes were consistently produced using the same Let me the files on your computer for you so that you have room to add more 3 Write down adjectives or phrases connected with feelings Happiness Anxiety FEELINGS UnhappY ness Excitement Anger Grammar 1Go back to the reading passage. Underline the sentences that use emphatic do and it. Remember what you learned before and draw conclusions about how to use emphatic structures 2 Emphatic do is sometimes used when you are being polite. In pairs take turns to make the following requests or suggestions. EXAMPLE: When greeting people and inviting them into your home, you would say "It's very nice to see you Mr and Mrs Wang and I would like to welcome you to my home. Please come in and do sit down Work out situations for the phrases below and act them to the class Suggestions Requests I to close the door as you leave to come to your party 2 to pick up the rubbish in the playground 2 to go to the cinema with you 3 to walk home from school for the exercise 3 to tell a funny story to the class 5
Unit 3 Finding the correct perspectve 3 Read these dialogues and put in the missing words which you think best show the feelings of the person speaking. You need to use do for emphasis I SAM: We may only have a few pence for food or the children s shoes. But we enjoy ourselves doing inexpensive things JANE: Yes 2 MUM: I waited up for you till twelve o'clock last night and missed going to sing in the choir with my friends. Why didn t you take the mobile phone I gave you so that you could inform me if you were going to stay out late? I was so worried SON: I 3 A: I asked you to post that important letter to Mr Deng. Yesterday he still hadn't received it B: I A: Maybe you forgot to write the postcode on the envelope 4The structure It is/was. that/who can be used to give special emphasis to a part of the sentence EXAMPLE: It was his parents who made the decision Change the following sentences using emphatic it. I An efficient leamer knows how to strike a balance between work and rest 2 The biology teacher saw her lying on the floor unconscious 3 I found Martin in the gymnasium yesterday afternoon Now complete these sentences using emphatic it I It was last night that 2 It is his mother who 3 It was this idea that Using Language Reading task COPING WITH DISASTER! My name is Liu Xiaoming and I am going to tell you how I coped after I failed the college entrance examinations. My personality changed, I withdrew from people, becoming unusually reserved, tired and anxious. My parents were, of course, very concerned and tried to comfort me and give me guidance. They sent me on a holiday and afterwards to a consultant to discuss alternative careers. His suggestion was to start my own business. But what could I sell or do? I felt completely useless. At last my parents. in desperation 26