Welcome to UNIT 16.0
PREVIOUSLY:
In Unit 15.0, we discussed about the various
ways of teaching the sub topics; "Describing character" in Form One Part 1,
"Describing character" in Form One Part 2
; "Talking about marriages" in
Form Two; "Writing business transaction letters" in Form
Three; and “Writing argumentative compositions/essays” in Form
Four.
IN THIS UNIT 16.0, we will cover the sub topics; "Expressing personal opinions"
in Form One; "Expressing state of
health" in Form One; "Talking
about funerals" in Form Two;
and "Creative writing" in Form Four.
IN THIS UNIT 16.1, we will start covering the sub topic
"Expressing personal opinions" in Form One.
TOPIC’S INFORMATION
Main Topic: EXPRESSING OPINIONS
AND FEELINGS
Sub Topic: Expressing personal
opinions
Periods per sub topic: 8
Class: Form One
DESCRIPTION OF THE SUB TOPIC
Opinion is an idea, belief or judgement about something or somebody.
Everyone has an opinion on something. The necessary skill for any person
is to understand how to present the opinion in appropriate ways.
SPECIFIC OBJECTIVE OF THE LESSON
In this sub topic/lesson, the student should be able to express his/her
opinions. The student should be able to present or express his/her opinions in
more persuasive ways than others.
- TEACHER’S PREPARATION STAGE
This stage is about the preparation of the teacher before undertaking
the lessons of the particular sub topic. These are all activities, procedures,
materials, teaching aids, and games prepared by the teacher for teaching a sub
topic:
- Putting
heads together: Introducing the
topic/lesson properly. Organising how students will be able to get to know
what is the topic/lesson about. It is where teacher makes sure that
students are going to be in his/her train. It includes brainstorming and
familiarisation of the topic/lesson with the students.
This makes students stay together with the teacher. It is at this stage
students can understand what is going to be discussed in the particular topic.
In this sub
topic/lesson; a teacher will introduce the
lesson to the students by discussing why and how people give their opinions.
The reason why people express their opinions is the desire to give what
they have in mind or the need to defend their opinions or themselves in front
of others. The teacher will guide students to the various reasons why people
express their opinions on various matters.
There are various ways of expressing opinions. The teacher will guide
students to the discussion of various ways of presenting or expressing
opinions.
- Preparation
of Materials. A teacher has
to decide on the teaching/learning materials he/she is going to use.
In this sub
topic/lesson, the teacher here has the task
of preparing a relevant written text on various contemporary issues such as
prostitution, child labour, early pregnancies, and road safety among others.
- Target Practice. Show them/Guide them to the practice of the functions of the sub
topic. A teacher has to show or guide students to the target practice of
the grammatical functions of the sub topic.
In this sub topic/lesson, the teacher practically helps students to demonstrate the target skills
on how to apply correct expressions when presenting opinions and the common
topics in which most people give out their opinions. Some of these expressions
are:
What is your opinion on school rules or corporal punishment?
What is your opinion about family life education?
In my opinion, school rules are wastage of time.
What do you suggest?
Do you support his/her idea?
I'm of the opinion that.....
- Context-Based
Practice. A teacher leads students
to the discussion on how the target grammatical functions practised
earlier can be applied or integrated into the contexts and situations. The
students are guided by the teacher to apply the learnt skills in relevant
contexts and situations like school and library.
In this sub
topic/lesson, when it comes to the giving out
of opinions, everyone can participate. Opinions can be experienced in any
context. The common contexts for expressing opinions are at home, school,
street, classroom, town/city, and playground. In these settings, there are
always arguments that prompt people to challenge each other by expressing their
concerns and opinions on the matters on the table.
- Vocabulary
Building Practice. At this time,
teacher discusses with the students on the vocabularies and phrases to
apply in the already mentioned contexts and situations.
In this sub
topic/lesson, the teacher will guide students
to discuss the most commonly applied vocabularies when giving opinions which
are: argue, debate, suggest, propose, oppose, opinions, advice, support,
against, idea, team, defend, rules, HIV/AIDS, corporal punishment, school
routine, transport, view, disagree.
- TEACHING AND LEARNING PROCEDURES, ACTIVITIES AND GAMES
Guide the students to the full sub topic/lesson procedures, activities
and games for better understanding of the sub topic by following these
activities:
Activity One: Brainstorming the sub topic/lesson through oral questions with
answers, pair works, and group discussions of all important concepts to get
students on track.
In this activity, the teacher will guide students to brainstorm about the sub
topic/lesson and basic terms opinion and feeling. An opinion is an idea,
belief, or judgement of something or about somebody. Feeling is a state, belief
or impression in which someone places his/her confidence.
Also, in this activity, teacher will have to
ask students why they decide to express their opinions and what they do when
they want to express their opinions in front of others.
Activity Two: Teacher's application of his/models or examples so as to bring the
topic/lesson and the students into the real or common sense of the
topic/lesson.
In this activity, the teacher will provide students with the prepared texts for them to
read. These texts should be based on the common topics such as early marriages,
child labour or road safety.
Teacher's Model
The Causes of Road Accidents
ASHA: Hello, Juma.
JUMA: Hello, Asha.
How are you?
ASHA: I'm fine. I
have a question for you, Juma. Are you ready?
JUMA: Yes, I am.
ASHA: What do you think about road accidents?
JUMA: I think road accidents are many these
days. Every time, ambulances are busy carrying injured people and sometimes
dead ones.
ASHA: What are the causes of these accidents?
JUMA: In my opinion, the causes of these
accidents are many, but one of them is carelessness of the drivers and car
owners.
ASHA: Why do you say car owners and drivers
are the main causatives for road accidents?
JUMA: I believe that the car owners are
responsible because they should make sure their cars are well maintained and
operative.
ASHA: And what about drivers? Why should be
blamed?
JUMA: Yes, of
course. Drivers are also responsible because they are the ones who take care of
the vehicles and they are the ones who should strictly observe road signs!
ASHA: I am sorry I
disagree with you in one thing. I feel
that pedestrians, cart pushers, and pastoralists are also responsible
because they sometimes cause accidents when they misuse the roads.
JUMA: It is true.
But they are not core causatives to the large extent.
ASHA: It might be that, but accident is always
bad. The important thing is for everyone to play part in making sure everyone
is safe.
JUMA: You are
absolutely right!
Activity Three: Students' Participation. Showing students how models like that of a
teacher can be applied by them. Here students need to be guided on how to use
given expressions, structures, vocabulary, and phrases or similar ones.
In this activity, the teacher guides students to choose the topic they would like to
express their personal opinions. For instance, the students may agree upon the
topic "Co-education schools are
better than single-sex schools". After choosing the topic of their
preference, the teacher guides them to give their personal opinions on that
chosen subject in the form of class discussion. The teacher creates cards.
These cards are either written 'YES'
or 'NO'. The teacher asks students
to form groups and each group should pick one card and come out with their
opinions about the side of the topic they have taken.
Activity Four: Debate Time.
Taking/leading students to the real situations or contexts where they can apply
what they have mastered. Here speaking, reading or writing activities are
involved.
In this activity, the teacher will now introduce students to debates.
Debate is a place or event where people express their personal opinions
on a particular topic. Participants in debates can argue for or against the
opinions.
HOW TO CONDUCT DEBATES
(Click for Debate Time Expressions to check more
debate expressions)
In conducting debates, the following five aspects are observed:
A. Asking for an opinion
What do you think about corporal punishment?
What is your opinion on boarding school?
What is your view on school rules?
B. Expressing an opinion
I think that corporal punishment is important
I think that boarding school is better
I believe that school rules are necessary
I feel that early pregnancies are bad in the society
My opinion is that corporal punishment is good
My view is that all school rules should be observed
C. Supporting an opinion
I argue for the opinion that school rules are
necessary
I support the opinion that corporal punishment should
be abolished
I am of the opinion that all schools should have
dormitories
I agree with the motion
I agree with the argument
I support the view that students should all be sent to
dormitories.
D. Opposing an opinion
I oppose the motion
I oppose the opinion that school rules should be
abolished
I am against the motion
I am against the argument
I disagree with the motion
I disagree with the opinion that corporal punishment
should be abolished
I do not support the view that school rules are
necessary
E. Expressing a doubt in opinion
It is possible that truancy is bad, but ......
There is a possibility that corporal punishment is
bad, however...
It might be that, but...
It is possible, but....
Maybe school rules are necessary
Perhaps students should all be sent to dormitories
When we are arguing or debating on something, we have to support,
oppose, or express a doubt on opinion. We do this by giving evidences. We give
information and points that prove our views.
After, guiding Form One Students to the meaning of debate, management of
debates, and procedures of conducting debates, the students have to debate on a
chosen topic/subject.
The teacher prepares the Class Level Debate. For example, the motion can
be "Corporal punishment should be
abolished in schools". This debate should be announced some days
before the debate day so that students can have enough time to prepare
themselves.
Additional Activity: As a teacher, what other activity can be applied in this sub
topic/lesson? You can always drop your alternative activity or activities to
this article so as to improve teaching and learning of ‘O’ Level English Blog!
GRAMMAR PRACTICE:
Expressing personal opinions
In expressing opinions in discussions or debates, we apply various
Transitions: Conjunctions, and expressions. For more on these commonly used
expressions, check the previous article on HOW TO CONDUCT DEBATES
REFLECTION
Opinions are important in any society. The teacher can ask students to
think on how opinions are crucial in development of any society. The teacher
also asks students to tell the real contexts in which they express their
personal opinions or in which they find people arguing for or against various
opinions.
ASSESSMENT
A teacher should design an evaluation for students by using appropriate
assessment tools like oral questions or assignments so that to see if the
student is able to clearly express his/her opinions on familiar issues.
ASSESSMENTS
Assessment #01: Group work.
Ask students to be in two groups in their own class. Also ask them to
brainstorm on the motion they like to debate on. After presenting the motion,
allow them to debate on it. This is class debate.
Assessment #02: Pair works.
In pairs, allow students to decide on which motion they might like to
give their opinions. The two students can present their opinions before the
class. Each of them (in the pair) should argue for and another student should
argue against the motion.
Assessment #03: Individual work.
Ask students to individually write the opinions of a particular motion.
For example, a teacher can give students this motion: “Women should be own
land”. Ask students to argue for or against this motion.
Note: You can give
students more individual works, pair works, and group works to facilitate their
interaction and understanding of the sub topic or lesson. As English language
teacher you have to give students more works to do. Because language is meant
to be largely spoken and written, the teacher should rely on written exercises
and notes. Instead students have to learn English language by vigorously
exercising individually, in pairs, and in groups.
SUMMARY/CONCLUSION
One of the important rights of a person is the freedom of expression.
This right gives a person a chance to express his or her opinion on a certain
issue provided that he/she does not violate the laws or insults others.
NOTE: These stages
explained above are not necessarily covered in a single lesson of single or
double period. Remember that this is the guide for teaching the whole sub topic
which has periods ranging from 6 to 20. So, the teacher's task is to divide
these stages according to the total number of periods for a particular sub
topic.
FOR FULL NOTES, CHECK OUT OUR BOOK:
BOOK DETAILS:
Title: “Form One English Language Notes with Grammar, Exercises and Key Answers”
https://www.kacheleonline.co.tz/2022/09/form-one-english-language-notes-with.html
Terms and Conditions:
https://www.kacheleonline.co.tz/p/terms-and-conditions.html
Buy it Here or Contact us.
BOOK DETAILS:
Title: “Form One English Language Notes with Grammar, Exercises and Key Answers”
https://www.kacheleonline.co.tz/2022/09/form-one-english-language-notes-with.html
Terms and Conditions:
https://www.kacheleonline.co.tz/p/terms-and-conditions.html
Buy it Here or Contact us.
CONTACTS:
Call Us: +255622 009 566/+255765 884 936
WhatsApp: +255622 009 566/+255765 884 936
Facebook & Instagram: @mannykachele
Email: kacheleonline@gmail.com
CHECK OUT ALL KACHELE ONLINE BOOKS:
https://www.kacheleonline.co.tz/2022/10/kachele-online-books-full-notes.html
Call Us: +255622 009 566/+255765 884 936
WhatsApp: +255622 009 566/+255765 884 936
Facebook & Instagram: @mannykachele
Email: kacheleonline@gmail.com
CHECK OUT ALL KACHELE ONLINE BOOKS:
https://www.kacheleonline.co.tz/2022/10/kachele-online-books-full-notes.html
WHAT IS YOUR OPINION?
This article is about how to study and teach Expressing Personal Opinions in Form
One. As a student or teacher, what is your opinion on how to study and
teach this sub topic/lesson?
Your opinion is worth and I believe that it can make
these materials better for our own consumption.
You are Welcome!
Also check out: