Language and culture
Talk
Listening to natural English: noticing the degree of emphasis
In this passage it isinteresting to note the degrees of emphasis that speakers use.
Two people speak with agreat deal of emphasis:
Definitely, yes.
The one that annoys me mostis...
No way!
I really don't think we cansay...
Notice also how the thirdspeaker uses stress to emphasize her points:
...there's no real equalityof pay in this country, men still have all the top jobs.
Women continue to be shownas objects...
The other speakers,however, use moderate emphasis only:
I do feel that feminism hasgone too far.
I don't really like the waymen are portrayed in advertisements.
Well l find the way men areshown in ads annoying.
I think it's just to makepeople laugh, isn't it? To show the guy as a bit of an idiot...
Finally, notice how the phrase a bit is used above to express moderate emphasis.
Passage 1
Listening to natural English: noticing the degree of emphasis
In this passage it is interesting to note the degrees of emphasisthat speakers use.
Two people speak with a great deal of emphasis:
Definitely, yes.
The one that annoys me most is...
No way!
I really don't think we can say...
Notice also how the third speaker uses stress to emphasize herpoints:
...there's no real equality of pay in this country, men still have all the top jobs.
Women continue to be shown as objects...
The other speakers, however, use moderate emphasis only:
I do feel that feminism has gone too far.
I don't really like the way men are portrayed in advertisements.
Well l find the way men are shown in ads annoying.
I think it's just to make people laugh, isn't it? To show the guy as a bit of an idiot...
Developing Critical Thinking
Passage 1
【Book 2】P66. 5. Work in pairs and discuss the questions:
1. What do people mean when they ask“Has feminism gone too far?”
2. Are women portrayed as objects in advertisements rather than as real people?
3. Is it acceptable to portray a man as “a bit of an idiot” in an advertisement? Why / Why not?
Passage 2
【Book 2】P67. 10. Work in pairs and discuss the questions.
1. It is said “Boys think with the head, while girls think with the heart”. Do you agree? Why / Why not?
2. Should men and women be treated equally in all circumstances?
3. What do you think plays a greater part in a child's character, genetic make-up or upbringing?