F. choose the opposite from the list. There is one, you don’t have to use

Generous, stupid, relaxed, interesting, unfriendly, adventurous, bad tempered, miserable, rough, self-confident, energetic, ignorant, well-balanced.

1. intelligent – ___________ 7. boring – ___________

2. warm – ___________ 8. selfish – ___________

3. shy – ___________ 9. lazy – ___________

4. nervous – ___________ 10. easy-going – ___________

5. gentle – ___________ 11. knowledgeable – ___________

6. cheerful – ___________ 12. impulsive – ___________

Read and comment:

Qualities of the teacher

Task III: Jigsaw puzzle. 25 words are hidden in it. Find them as quickly as possible.

Prompter to the jigsaw:

1. Professor 2. Tutorial 3. Semester 4. Polytechnic 5. Fresher 6. Degree 7. Course 8. Fellow 9. Curriculum 10. Bachelor 11. Graduate 12. Student 13. Reader 14. Pupil 15. University 16. Dean 17. Truancy 18. Club 19. Finals 20. Fee 21. Teacher 22. Supervisor 23. Certificate 24. Campus

Task IV: make up 30 questions on the topic “Choosing a Career”, use words and word combinations from the vocabulary above.

Task V: read the following text, get ready to comment on it.

The Creation of the Teacher

A Modern Tale

The Good Lord was creating teachers. It was His sixth day of 'overtime' and He knew that this was a tremendous responsibility for teachers would touch the lives of so many impressionable young children. An angel appeared to Him and said, "You are taking a long time to figure this out."

"Yes," said the Lord, "but have you read the specs on this order?"

TEACHER:

...must stand above all students, yet be on their level

...must be able to do 180 things not connected with the subject being taught

...must run on coffee, coke and leftovers

...must communicate vital knowledge to all students daily and be right most of the time

...must have more time for others than for herself/himself

...must have a smile that can endure through pay cuts, problematic children, and worried parents

...must go on teaching when parents question every move and others are not supportive

...must have six pair of hands.

"Six pair of hands," said the angel, "that's impossible."

"Well," said the Lord, "it is not the hands that are the problem. It is the three pair of eyes that are presenting the most difficulty!"

The angel looked incredulous, "Three pair of eyes on a standard model?"

The Lord nodded His head, "One pair can see a student for what he is and not what others have labeled him as. Another pair of eyes is in the back of the teacher's head to see what should not be seen, but what must be known. The eyes in the front are only to look at the child as he/she 'acts out' in order to reflect, 'I understand and I still believe in you', without so much as saying a word to the child."

"Lord," said the angel, "this is a very large project and I think you should work on it tomorrow".

"I can't," said the Lord, "for I have come very close to creating something much like Myself. I have one that comes to work when he/she is sick... teaches a class of children that do not want to learn... has a special place in his/her heart for children who are not his/her own... understands the struggles of those who have difficulty... never takes the students for granted..."

The angel looked closely at the model the Lord was creating.

"It is too soft-hearted," said the angel.

"Yes," said the Lord, "but also tough. You can not imagine what this teacher can endure or do, if necessary".

"Can this teacher think?" asked the angel.

"Not only think," said the Lord, "but reason and compromise."

The angel came closer to have a better look at the model and ran his finger over the teacher's cheek.

"Well, Lord," said the angel, "your job looks fine, but there is a leak. I told you that you were putting too much into this model. You can not imagine the stress that will be placed upon the teacher."

The Lord moved in closer and lifted the drop of moisture from the teacher's cheek.

It shone and glistened in the light.

"It is not a leak," He said, "It is a tear."

"A tear? What is that?" asked the angel, "What is a tear for?"

The Lord replied with great thought, "It is for the joy and pride of seeing a child accomplish even the smallest task. It is for the loneliness of children who have a hard time to fit in and it is for compassion for the feelings of their parents. It comes from the pain of not being able to reach some children and the disappointment those children feel in themselves. It comes often when a teacher has been with a class for a year and must say good-bye to those students and get ready to welcome a new class."

"My," said the angel, "The tear thing is a great idea... You are a genius!!!"

The Lord looked somber, "I didn't put it there."

Task VI:

A. explain the following:

impressionable children; to figure smth. out; run on smth.; communicate vital knowledge; to endure through pay cuts; problematic children; to label smb.; to take smb. for granted; to reason and compromise; stress placed upon the teacher; hard time to fi t in; to reach some children; to welcome a new class;

B. answer the questions:

1. What tells you that this is the modern tale? Explain the choice of words.

2. What are the “specifications on the order”? Are these true to life? Would you add some to the list?

3. Why eye are the problem?

4. What opposite ideas are used about the teacher in the text? Do you agree?

5. Explain the idea of a leak or a tear? What double meaning can we find in this?