Impact Issues Lesson 1 - Teacher's Notes

Impact Issues Teacher's Notes
Lesson 1 – Why I Learn English

Story Comprehension questions:

1. Who is Jin Lee? (a university student)
2. When will he graduate? (in 4 months)
3. Where will he work? (a small town near Seoul)
4. How long has he studied English? (10 years)
5. How does he feel about English study? (It’s been a waste of time)
6. What kind of company will he work for? (a taxi company)
7. Will he use English at his job? (No)
8. Why won’t he use English at his job? (It’s an all Korean company/no foreign visitors)
9. Will he use English in his free time? (No)
10. How does he learn about news from foreign countries? (Korean papers/T.V. news)
11. What could he have studied instead of English? (history and literature)
12. Why does he wish he had studied history more? (so he’d understand his own country more/better)
13. Why does he wish he had studied literature more? (so he’d understand his own country’s great writers)
14. Why did he have to spend so much time studying English? (for exams)
15. Does he think anyone should have to study English? (no)

Opinion questions to be asked after the story (all followed by why/why not?):

• What do you think are good reasons for studying English?
• Do you think the Japanese education system makes everyone study English too much?
• Are there any topics you studied a lot in school that you think were a waste of time?
• Do you think students should only study topics which they believe will be useful in their future?
• How has studying English been helpful in your life in the past?
• How will it be helpful in the future?
  

Homework:
Write an essay about 2 topics of study, the most important and the least important in your opinion. Be sure to explain why each is important/unimportant to you.

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