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Lesson 2
A Myanmar family
Objectives : By the end of the lesson you will have
• discussed a picture
• read an extract from a letter
• been introduced to aspects of informal writing
• compared life in two countries
A Look at the picture below and exchange your views with your partner.
The Shwe Dagon Pagoda in Yangopn
1 what do you see in the picture?
2 How are the buildings here different from buildings we see around us?
B Moh Moh, a girl from Myanmar, is Karim's pen-friend. Read this extract from Moh Mod's letter.
Let me first introduce my beautiful country 10 you. It is in south-cast Asia, a neighbour of yours in fact. We gained independence from Britain in 1948. In 1949 the name of our county was changed from Burma to Myanmar, the traditional name. Almost all of us speak the Myanmar language. There are a number of tribla languages, too. Many-of us speak English as well. We are mainly buddhists but don't be surprised to hear that I also have Christian, Hindu and Muslim friends.
The national dress, for both men and women, is the longyi, a long tightly wrapped skirt worn from the waist to the ankles. Women wear blouses and longyis which are of bright colours and patterns. Men wear shins and longyis with checks and patterns. You can differentiate whether the longyis are for women or men from their patterns and designs.
I live in our capital, Yangoon, which was formerly known as Rangoon. It is famous for its many pagodas which are Buddhist prayer houses. Like most city-dwellers, we live in a concrete house. My father works for the Government. My uncles from both my parents' side live in villages and work on farmlands. We have close lies with them and visit them during the holidays.
I'm proud to let you know that women in my country have more rights than many
other Asian women. In most families the mother manager the finances-arid runs tlic household.
Discuss in pairs.
Do you find any similarities between life in Myanmar. and life in Bangladesh? Are there any differences?
C Write True/False, in the space given, based on the information from the text above.
Correct the information that is false.
1 All the people in Myanmar speak English.
2 Most of the people in cities live in pagodas.
3 Moh Mod's relatives are rural people.
4 The "longyi" is a long dress especially for women.
5 The tribes speak English.
6 In Myanmar the women usually run the household.
7 all people in Myanmar are Bud lusts.
8. Women like bright colors.
D In the table below are some words/expressions from the text. Match the words/expressions shown in column A with their meanings in column B.
A
introduce
tribla
traditional
concrete
finances
independence
manage
B
money matters
free, sovereign
building materials of cement, sand, and grave
make known
belonging to groups united by language and customs
organize and implement
following customs, beliefs that have existed for a long time
E Think about and prepare in pairs a list of information you would like to give Moh Moh about Bangladesh.
e.g. Where is Bangladesh located? What are the different religions in Bangladesh? What are some of the common customs and traditions that people follow? etc.
F Now write a short passage (about 150 words) introducing Bangladesh to a foreigner who does not have much idea about our country.
Focus:
Skills.
Reading, speaking, writing
Functions.
Giving information, making comparisons
Grammar/Structure.
Simple present tense, simple past tense, comparative adjectives Vocabulary.
pagoda, tribal, wrapped, concrete, finances, city-dwellers
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Lesson 2
A Myanmar family
Objectives : By the end of the lesson you will have
• discussed a picture
• read an extract from a letter
• been introduced to aspects of informal writing
• compared life in two countries
A Look at the picture below and exchange your views with your partner.
The Shwe Dagon Pagoda in Yangopn
1 what do you see in the picture?
2 How are the buildings here different from buildings we see around us?
B Moh Moh, a girl from Myanmar, is Karim's pen-friend. Read this extract from Moh Mod's letter.
Let me first introduce my beautiful country 10 you. It is in south-cast Asia, a neighbour of yours in fact. We gained independence from Britain in 1948. In 1949 the name of our county was changed from Burma to Myanmar, the traditional name. Almost all of us speak the Myanmar language. There are a number of tribla languages, too. Many-of us speak English as well. We are mainly buddhists but don't be surprised to hear that I also have Christian, Hindu and Muslim friends.
The national dress, for both men and women, is the longyi, a long tightly wrapped skirt worn from the waist to the ankles. Women wear blouses and longyis which are of bright colours and patterns. Men wear shins and longyis with checks and patterns. You can differentiate whether the longyis are for women or men from their patterns and designs.
I live in our capital, Yangoon, which was formerly known as Rangoon. It is famous for its many pagodas which are Buddhist prayer houses. Like most city-dwellers, we live in a concrete house. My father works for the Government. My uncles from both my parents' side live in villages and work on farmlands. We have close lies with them and visit them during the holidays.
I'm proud to let you know that women in my country have more rights than many
other Asian women. In most families the mother manager the finances-arid runs tlic household.
Discuss in pairs.
Do you find any similarities between life in Myanmar. and life in Bangladesh? Are there any differences?
C Write True/False, in the space given, based on the information from the text above.
Correct the information that is false.
1 All the people in Myanmar speak English.
2 Most of the people in cities live in pagodas.
3 Moh Mod's relatives are rural people.
4 The "longyi" is a long dress especially for women.
5 The tribes speak English.
6 In Myanmar the women usually run the household.
7 all people in Myanmar are Bud lusts.
8. Women like bright colors.
D In the table below are some words/expressions from the text. Match the words/expressions shown in column A with their meanings in column B.
A
introduce
tribla
traditional
concrete
finances
independence
manage
B
money matters
free, sovereign
building materials of cement, sand, and grave
make known
belonging to groups united by language and customs
organize and implement
following customs, beliefs that have existed for a long time
E Think about and prepare in pairs a list of information you would like to give Moh Moh about Bangladesh.
e.g. Where is Bangladesh located? What are the different religions in Bangladesh? What are some of the common customs and traditions that people follow? etc.
F Now write a short passage (about 150 words) introducing Bangladesh to a foreigner who does not have much idea about our country.
Focus:
Skills.
Reading, speaking, writing
Functions.
Giving information, making comparisons
Grammar/Structure.
Simple present tense, simple past tense, comparative adjectives Vocabulary.
pagoda, tribal, wrapped, concrete, finances, city-dwellers