ARGUMENT

FOR THE OPTIONAL COURSE ACROSS CULTURES

Level: 11th grade and 12th grade, 1 class/ week

This course addresses 11th graders and 12th graders who study English as a first
foreign language, in a number of four classes a week. Enlarging their sphere of
knowledge beyond the curricula was expected by our students.
The present optional course will provide further support for childrens interest in
issues less insisted upon in any textbooks their level: dialects, varieties of English,
legends, customs, traditions; present- day reference to each of these sections is also being
made; but, most importantly, it is meant to provide enough information as to enable them
to compare and contrast between same generations, situated on the other sides of the
world. At the end of the course, students will have been able to state whether culture,
civilization and, implicitly, the foreign languages which allow us to get to know them can
be considered passports.
Across Cultures , by Elizabeth Sharman- is one of the best cross-cultural course books;
it has a wide range of cultural information on topics such as civilization, literature, music,
language, history, geography, society, etc of the English-speaking world. I also strongly
recommend it for FCE-preparation or for the Higher Mature Exams.
The book is organised into modules and there is the possibility to focus particularly on
one of the countries. Across Cultures is a new modular, flexible, user-friendly course
which presents a wide variety of material on the English-speaking world. Traditional
topics, such as geography and institutions, are fully covered, along with the most up-todate themes and topics.
The aid of the audio materials considered, the course is most likely to bring about
excitement, curiousity, enthusiasm and the need for more.
A course suggestion by:
Voichita-Iuliana Pernes

Liceul Teoretic George Pop de Basesti,

Disciplina: limba englez, curs opional

Numr de ore/ sptmn: 1

Profesor: Voichita-Iuliana Pernes
Clasa: a XI-a / a XII-a
Materiale: ACROSS CULTURES, BY Elizabeth Sharman, textbook and CD
An colar: 2016-2017
PLANIFICAREA ORELOR PENTRU CURSUL OPIONAL, CLASA a XI-a / a XII-a

Nr. crt.

1.

2.

Unitatea de nvare Compete

ne
specifice
vizate
An Introduction to
the concept of
culture

2.3
3.1
3.2

Culture as the
deeper
underground

2.3
3.1
3.2
3.3
5.1

Everyday Life

2.3
3.1
3.2
3.3
5.1

Coninuturi

Nr. Perioada
ore

Students become
familiar with
several definitions
of the term
1
culture, then
debate and state
whether culture, as
a phenomenon can
be treated
separately
Further focus on
non-separable
concepts spinning 1
around cultureindividual and
group values
Arguing whether
cultural differences
are always
negative in
meaning; tolerance
; gastronomy- the
2
reflection of a
societys taste and
evolution; hobbies
and personal
growth; families;
me at the centre of
the family; me/ the
others( as in nonversus) ; varieties
of English or... fun

Modaliti O
de
b
evaluare
s.

1st W Debate

2nd W

rd

3 W;
4th W

Presentati
on

Listening
and
readingbased
assessments

4.

5.

6.

7.

Habitats and
Homelands

1.2
1.3
2.1
2.2
3.2

Links with the Past

3.1
3.2
5.1

States and Systems

Society

8.

Consolidation

9.

Education

10.

The Arts

3.2
4.1
4.2
5.1

2.3
3.1
3.2
3.3
5.1
2.2
3.2
2.3
3.1
3.2
3.3
5.1

3.2
4.1
4.2
5.1

with dialects
House and familyassertive
development
components ;
lifestyles;
adjectives of
measurement
British history;
American history;
word building;
words related to
army
Rigour and
development;
forms of
government;
national
celebrations;
prejudice; law and
law infringements
Discrimination and
(non-) evolution;
equal rights- pros
and cons; basic
rights and
freedoms; single
parents
Self- awareness in
the social context
Educating very
young learners;
state/ private
schools; elite
schools;
educational
systems; exams as
forms of
recognition ; words
connected to
education; dialects
The concept of
art; samples of
art; art and fame;
contemporary
approaches of art

5th W;
6th W;
7th W;

Essay:
My Place

8th W;
9th W
10th W;

Cloze
test

11th W;
12th W
13th W

th

14 W;
15th W,
16th W
17th W
18th W

th

19 W
20th W
21st W
22nd W

23rd W;
24th W;
25th W

Essay:
My
freedom
manifesto
Quiz;
essay: My
most
special/
most
feared
freedom
Debate
Transcript
s;
Essay:
My
Vision of
an
Education
al System

Project

11.

Links to Literature

3.2
4.1
4.2
5.1

Deconstruction;
poetry and drama;
searching for ones
style in writing

26th- 29th
W

12.

Sports and Leisure

30thW,
31st W

Communication
and technology

Hobbies;
personality and
pastime
Hobbies;
technologys part
in contemporary
life
Recycling of
knowledge

13.

1.2
1.3
3.3
2.2
3.2
3.3

32nd W

Writing
poetry by
following
specified
patterns
Essay:
My time,
my choice
debate

33rd W;
34th W

Cumulati
ve test

Consolidation
14.

3.2
4.1
4.2
5.1