Teahouse

This is one of the famous dramas by Lao She. The drama is set in a typical, old Beijing teahouse

and follows the lives of the owner and his customers through three stages in modern Chinese history. The play spans fifty years and has a cast of over sixty characters drawn from all levels of society. Brought together in Yutai Teahouse, they reflect the changes that took place in Chinese society.

The strength and appeal of the play lie in part in Lao She's masterful recreation of the characters

and language of the streets of old Beijing, but the center of its strength is Lao She's vision, his unerring choice of significant detail, and his familiarity with the old society he is describing, with its strengths, weaknesses, and ironies. It is this which carries Teahouse beyond the borders of social criticism and makes it a complex and living work of art. Written in 1957, Teahouse bids an inspired, lingering farewell to old Beijing and the old society, despite their evils and ills, and extends a passionate welcome to the new society with its promise of freedom and equality of the people.

Standing as it does between old and new China, and deeply rooted in both, Teahouse shimmers

with a fine sense of ambivalence. True to its writer, to China, and to its time, it is a masterpiece of modern theater.

About the Author Lao She (1899-1966) was one of the most renowned contemporary Chinese writers, famous for

his novels and plays. His works have been translated into over 20 foreign languages.

(1) 不定式作宾语

接不定式的动词主要有：want, like, would like，decide，hope，help，learn，mean，plan，seem，wish, fail等。

The driver failed to see the other car in time. 司机没能及时看见另一辆车。

I happen to know the answer to your question. 我碰巧知道你那道问题的答案。

I like to keep everything tidy.　我喜欢每件东西都保持整洁。

I want to speak to Tom.　 我想和汤姆谈话。

还有“动词+疑问词+to”的形式：

Please show us how to do that. 请演示给我们如何去做。

There are so many kinds of tape-recorders on sale that I can't make up my mind which to buy.有这么多的录音机，我都拿不定主意买哪一种。

2. finish the activities in the workbook.

Teaching resources教学资源库

1. revise this Module.

2. Key sentences重点句子

She wanted to see some Beijing Opera.

My parents offered to take us there.

My parents agreed to take us.

We decided to stay for two hours.

I hope to understand more next time.

Ability goals 能力目标

Enable students to use Verbs followed by infinitives

Teaching important/difficult points 教学重难点

Verbs which are followed by infinitive.

Teaching methods教学方法

Task-based learning.

Teaching aids教具准备

Some pictures and a tape recorder

Teaching procedures and ways教学过程与方式

Step I Revision

In this procedure, check the homework and then ask students to talk about Lao She’s Teahouse.

Have a dictation of some new words and expressions.

Ask some students to read the passage about his or her favourite film and play.

T: Let’s come to Exercise 4, talk about something about Lao She’s Teahouse.

One sample:

The play takes place in a tea house. It asks us to see the teahouse as the centre of the neighbourhood….

Step II Vocabulary

In this procedure, ask students to finish activities 8 and 10 by doing pair work.

Ask the students to complete the sentences and passage with the correct form of the words and expressions in the box.

Check the answers by themselves first, then go through the answers with the students.

Step III Grammar

In this procedure, revise the important grammar points of this module. Do pair work to practise verbs followed by infinitives.

T: Look at page 84, activity 1. Let’s work in pairs to complete the sentences with the correct form of the words in the box.

Sample conversation:

S1: I’d like to see Beijing Opera one day.

S2: He wanted to see Beijing Opera one day.

S1: Yes. Let’s go to the opera.

S2: They agreed to go to the opera.

Ask some pairs to act before the class. Then go through the answers with the students.

T: Well done! Let’s come to activity 2. Please complete the sentences with the correct form of the words in the box.

Give the students a few minutes to write the correct answers.

Ask some pairs to read their answers. Go through the answers with students. Then go on with activity 3.

Step IV Listening

In this procedure, ask students to listen to the conversation and check the true sentences in activity 6.

Go through the answers with students and play the tape again to ask them to check their answers.

Step V Speaking and writing

In this procedure, ask students to do activities 7 and 9.

T: Sometimes we can express our feelings through what we say. Let’s come to activities 9. Work in pairs, match sentences 1-4 with sentences a-d.

One sample:

S1: It’s lovely to see you!

S2: I’m very happy.

S1: The food here is excellent.

S2: It’s delicious.

…

Then ask students to work in pairs and write a short conversation using the sentences in activity 9 and the verbs hope, want, would like.

One sample conversation:

S1: It’s lovely to see you!

S2: Me too!

S1: Would you like to go the park?

S2: I want to, but I must do my home work.

S1: It’s a pity. I hope to go with you next time.

S2: OK. Thank you all the same.

Then ask some pairs to act out the conversation.

Step VI Module task

In this procedure, ask students to read Around the world first. Make sure they understand the meaning of the passage. Explain some difficult sentences to the students if necessary.

Then ask them to work in groups and write a scene from a play.

Give the students a few minutes to write the conversation. Ask some groups to act out the conversation in front of the class.

Step VII Homework

Ask students to

1. Words & phrases生词和短语

full, silver, enjoyable, performance

2. Read the passage for several times.

Period 3 Language in use

Target language 目标语言

1. Learn and remember the new words and important sentences.

2. Key sentences重点句子

The play shows the audience life in China between 1898 and 1945.

It asks us to see the teahouse as the centre of the neighbourhood.

It takes place in a teahouse in old Beijing and it tells us the story of Wang Lifa and his customers.

His parents sent him to the Teacher’s School and he learned to teach.

He was named a “People’s Artist” and a “Great Master of language”.

Lao She’s teahouse gives a wonderful welcome to everyone from China and from all over the world.

Ability goals 能力目标

Enable students to read and write a passage about the film and the play they saw.

Teaching important/difficult points 教学重难点

How to find out the heading of each paragraph in the passage

Verbs followed by infinitives

Teaching methods教学方法

Task-based learning.

Teaching aids教具准备

A projector or some pictures and some small pieces of paper, a tape recorder

Teaching procedures and ways教学过程与方式

Step I Revision and lead-in

In this procedure, revise something that was studied in unit 1 by doing pair work. After that, lead in Activity One of this unit.

T: Yesterday we have known something about Lao She’s Teahouse. I have some small pieces of paper with some questions on them. I’ll give them to some students and they will read the questions. You will answer the questions as quickly as you can.

Sample conversation:

S1: What does Sally likes to do?

S2: He likes to listen to music.

S1: Why did Sally want to go to Lao She’s teahouse？

S2: Because she wanted to see some Beijing Opera.

Ask some students questions about Lao She and Teahouse and lead in this unit.

T: What is Lao She most famous for?

S: He’s especially famous for his play, Teahouse.

T: Right. Do you want to know something more about Lao She and his Teahouse? Now please turn to page at 82 and look at activity 1.

Step II Listening and matching

Vocabulary

In this procedure, make students familiar with some new words of some instruments by making use of pictures. Give a brief introduction of Lao She and Teahouse.

T: Teahouse is the most famous play written by Lao She. When and where did it take place?

Help students answer.

S: It took place in 1898 to 1945 in a teahouse in old Beijing.

T: This play tells us a story of Wang Lifa and his customers in old Beijing. There are many different types of people with different ends. Wang loses the teahouse and dies in the end. Lao She is considered as a Great Master of Language in the twentieth century.

Use the picture of the Teahouse to help students understand. Present the new words: take place, customers, lose, master, twentieth, waiter.

Ask the students to read these words. Make sure they understand the meaning of each word.

Listening and matching　

In this procedure, ask the students to listen and read the passage and find out the heading of each paragraph. Match the correct headings with the paragraphs.

T: Now that you have known something about Lao She and Teahouse. Let’s read the passage to get some further information. First, listen to the tape with your books closed. After listening, read the passage and then you’ll match the headings with the paragraphs.

Point out that finding out the heading of each paragraph is important. The title of a passage, the paragraph headings and the photos will help them understand the main ideas.

After that, ask students to read the passage again and underline the new words and expressions and then finish activity 4.

Competition

T: I’ll read a word or an expression. If you know its meaning, please read the meaning as quickly as you can.

After students get ready.

T: Part of a town where people live.

S1: neighbourhood

…

Then divide students into two groups. One group reads the meanings and the other group says the words and expressions.

Step III Reading

In this procedure, ask students to read more carefully to find out some important and difficult sentences. Explain these sentences and give some other examples. Then do some exercises.

T: Let’s read the passage again and complete the sentences in Activity 3. Read slowly and carefully this time.

Check the answers and go through answers with the students. Deal with any difficulty point in understanding. Explain the meaning of the difficult sentences if necessary.

Ask the students to read the sentences carefully and loudly.

Reporting

In this procedure, help students report the passage, using some questions.

T: We have learnt the passage about Lao She’s play, Teahouse. If you are a reporter, can you tell us this story? You can do a report after answering some questions.

Provide some questions, ask the students to do pair work.

Sample conversation:

S1: When and where does the play take place?

S2: It takes place between 1898 and 1945 in a teahouse in old Beijing.

S1: Who is in it?

S2: It tells us the story of Wang Lifa and his customers.

S1: What’s the story?

S2: The play shows the audience the life in old China by asking us to see the teahouse as the centre of the neighbourhood. In the end, Wang loses the teahouse and he dies.

Write down some key words and ask students to make a report.

One possible version:

Lao She’s play Teahouse takes place between 1898 and 1945 in a teahouse in old Beijing. It tells us the story of Wang Lifa and his customers. The play shows the audience life in old China by asking us to see the teahouse as the centre of the neighbourhood. In the end, Wang loses the teahouse and he dies.

Step IV Reading and Speaking

In this procedure, ask students to ask and answer questions of the passage in pairs. Be prepared to write a short passage.

T: Let’s talk about some other films and plays. Did you ever heard of The Sound of Music? It is a very interesting film. Let’s read the passage to find answers to the questions. Work in pairs!

Sample conversation:

S1: What’s the name of it?

S2: The name is The Sound of Music.

S1: Where does it take place?

S2: It takes place in Australia.

…

T: Everyone may have favourite film and play. Now talk with your friends about your favourite film and play. Ask and answer questions in pairs like activity 4.

Sample version:

S1: What’s the name of it?

S2: The name is Superman Returns.

S1: Where does it take place?

S2: It takes place in America.

…

Ask a student to report his favourite film or play. Connect the answers together.

Step V Writing

Come to Activity 6, ask the students to write the passage down. Ask one student to write on the blackboard. Correct mistakes after writing.

One sample version:

My favourite film is Superman returns. It takes place in America. After a long visit to the lost remains of the planet Krypton, the Man of Steel returns to earth to become the people’ savior once again and reclaim the love of Lois Lane.

Step VI Homework

Ask students to