PROGRAMA DE INGLÉS NIVEL 8
BOOK USED: SUMMIT 1B
UNIT6: Animals
Vocabulary:
Ways animals are used or treated
Describing pets
Describing characters traits
Conversation Strategies:
Use I´ve heard to introduce a statement of popular opinion
Use For one thing to provide one reason among several in supporting an argument
Use Believe it or not to introduce surprising information
Discussion topics
The treatment of animals
The advantages and disadvantages of different pets
Animal characters in books, cartoons, TV programs, and movies
The value of animal conservation
Grammar
The passive voice with modals
Grammar and pronunciation boosters
Grammar booster: Modals and modal-like expressions: summary Pronunciation booster
Sound reduction
Listening tasks:
Rephrase descriptions
Determine the moral of a story
Identify character traits
Focus on details
Readings:
The Chinese Zodiac
A discussion board about the humane treatment of animals
An article about animal conversation
Writing:
Express an opinion on animal treatment
Writing skill:
Persuasion
UNIT 7: Advertising and Consumers
Vocabulary:
Describing low prices and high prices
Shopping expressions
Ways to persuade
Conversation Strategies:
Soften a wish or a statement of intent with I think
Ask questions to narrow scope
Say Of course to make an affirmative answer stronger
Discussion topics
Appropriate pricing
Smart shopping
Reactions to ads
Advertising techniques
Compulsive shopping
Grammar
Passive forms of gerunds and infinitives
Grammar and pronunciation boosters
Grammar booster:
Grammar for writing:
Past forms of gerunds and infinitives: active and passive voice
Pronunciation booster
Vowel sounds /i/ and /l/
Listening tasks:
Identify points of view
Rephrase what people are doing
Match advertising techniques to ads
Determine people´s attitudes
Readings:
Interviews: reactions to ads
A presentation of eight advertising techniques
A magazine article about compulsive shopping
Writing: Explain an article you read
Writing skill:
Writing a summary
UNIT 8: Family trends
Vocabulary:
Examples of bad behaviour
Describing parent and teen behaviour
Word Skill: transforming verbs and adjectives into nouns
Conversation Strategies:
Use I hate to say, but to introduce unwelcome information
Respond with I suppose to indicate partial agreement
Use But to introduce a dissenting opinion
Discussion topics
Conflicts in relationships
Birth rates and life expectancy
Parent-teen issues
Changing family demographics
Generational issues and concerns
Current family trends
Care for the eldery
Grammar
Repeated comparatives and double comparatives
Grammar and pronunciation boosters
Grammar booster:
Making comparisons: summary
Other uses of comparatives, superlatives and comparisons with as...as
Pronunciation booster
Stress placement: prefixes and suffixes
Listening tasks:
Summarize demographic information
Rephrase people´s points of view
Focus on details
Classify information to compare two generations
Apply logic to information
Readings:
A brochure about falling birth rates
A newspaper article about China´s elderly population
Case studies: aging parents
Writing:
Describe your relationship with a family member
Writing skill
Avoiding comma splices and run-on sentences
UNIT 9: History´s Mysteries
Vocabulary:
Ways to say "I don´t know"
Ways to express certainty
Word Skill: using adjectives with the suffix -able
Conversation Strategies:
Use Well to introduce an encouraging statement
Say You´re probably right to acknowledge another´s encouragement
Ask a question with Why else to confirm one´s own opinion
Discussion topics
Theories that best explain mysteries
The credibility of stories
Trustworthy news sources
Grammar
Indirect speech with modals
Perfect modals in the passive voice for speculating about the past
Grammar and pronunciation boosters
Grammar booster:
Reporting verbs say, ask and tell: summary
Grammar for writing: other reporting verbs
Pronunciation booster
Reduction and linking in perfect modals in the passive voice
Listening tasks:
Summarize main ideas
Identify information that supports an argument
Infer what people mean
Readings:
"The world´s easiest Quiz"
Descriptions of bigfoot, the Loch Ness Monster, and the Bermuda Triangle
Encyclopedia entries about well-known mysteries
A magazine article about the world´s greatest hoaxes
Writing:
Write a news article
Writing skill:
Avoiding sentence fragments
UNIT 10: Your free time
Vocabulary:
Ways to express fear and fearlessness
Word Skill: using collocations for leisure activities
Word Skill: modyfing with adverbs
Conversation Strategies:
Use kind of to soften an assertion
Use I hate to say this, but to excuse oneself for disagreeing
Use Well, even so to acknowledge someone´s point but disagree politely
Discussion topics
The benefits of leisure activities
Hobbies and interests
Your use of leisure time
Extreme sports
Risk-taking vs. Risk-avoidance
Grammar
Order of modifiers
Grammar and pronunciation boosters
Grammar booster:
Intensifiers
Adverbs of manner
Pronunciation booster
Readings:
Statics comparing technological promises vs.reality
Case studies: stresssful situations
Message-board posts about unusual hobbies
A magazine technology and leisure time
Writing:
Comment on another´s point of view
Writing skill:
Expressing and supporting your opinion