NATURAL NATURAL DISASTERSDISASTERS

ContextualisationContextualisation

• Level:Level: First course of bachillerato First course of bachillerato

• Topic:Topic: Natural disasters Natural disasters

• Language:Language: phonetics , vocabulary and phonetics , vocabulary and grammar based on a given text.grammar based on a given text.

• Skills:Skills: reading, speaking, listening. reading, speaking, listening.

AimsAims

• Phonetics:Phonetics:– Get rid of the typical Spanish mistakes (/s/ Get rid of the typical Spanish mistakes (/s/

in word initial position, /w/ vs. /r/, in word initial position, /w/ vs. /r/, //θ/ vs. / vs. /ð/)/ð/)

• Grammar:Grammar:– Differentiate the use of Past Simple and Differentiate the use of Past Simple and

Present Perfect.Present Perfect.

• Vocabulary:Vocabulary:– Use Use adequatelyadequately Natural disasters’ terms. Natural disasters’ terms.

Spain’s Water WarsSpain’s Water Wars

““I will not send a single drop of water from the Ebro,” I will not send a single drop of water from the Ebro,” said Pasquall Maragall, before November’s Catalan said Pasquall Maragall, before November’s Catalan elections. Now, Mr Maragall hopes to “paralyse” the elections. Now, Mr Maragall hopes to “paralyse” the Spanish government’s plan to move water from Spanish government’s plan to move water from north to south.north to south.

The government has condemned Mr Maragall’s The government has condemned Mr Maragall’s stance as “unpatriotic.” Last month the Spanish stance as “unpatriotic.” Last month the Spanish government formally requested European Union government formally requested European Union finance to meet a third of the €15,000m cost of the finance to meet a third of the €15,000m cost of the whole project. It claimed a victory when the whole project. It claimed a victory when the European Commission conditionally approved European Commission conditionally approved €80m to pay for a part of it. Mr Aznar has called the €80m to pay for a part of it. Mr Aznar has called the plan “an act of solidarity” between Spain’s regions.plan “an act of solidarity” between Spain’s regions.

The water balance between the wet north, where The water balance between the wet north, where a third of Spain’s rain falls, and the dry south, a third of Spain’s rain falls, and the dry south, where 60% of the land is semi-arid, continues where 60% of the land is semi-arid, continues to inflame passions. Critics say the entire plan to inflame passions. Critics say the entire plan is outmoded and designed to benefit the is outmoded and designed to benefit the government’s business friends. They claim it government’s business friends. They claim it will cost twice as much to transport the water will cost twice as much to transport the water as it would to produce more water through as it would to produce more water through desalination. Greens say it will destroy the Ebro desalination. Greens say it will destroy the Ebro delta wetlands. The government of Aragon delta wetlands. The government of Aragon supports the Catalans, calling the project a supports the Catalans, calling the project a “method to rob the poor to feed the rich.”“method to rob the poor to feed the rich.”

<th><th>thethe

NorthNorth

thirdthird

methodmethod

SouthSouth

theythey

throughthrough

monthmonth

//θ//• Initial and final positionInitial and final position

thirdthirdNorthNorth

/ð//ð/•Middle position or between Middle position or between

voiced soundsvoiced sounds

weatherweather

brotherbrother

ExceptionsExceptions

• Grammatical wordsGrammatical words

thethe theretheretheythey thatthat

• LoansLoans

methodmethod ThomasThomasCatholicCatholic ThamesThames

<th><th>ththe e /ð//ð/

NorNorthth //θ//

ththird ird //θ//

memeththod od //θ//

SouSouthth //θ//

ththey ey /ð//ð/

ththrough rough //θ//

monmonthth //θ//

//θ//I can think of six thin I can think of six thin

things, but I can things, but I can think of six thick think of six thick

things too things too

/ð//ð/Whether the weather is Whether the weather is

cold,cold,Whether the weather is Whether the weather is

hot,hot,Whether we like it or not. Whether we like it or not.

Not these things Not these things here but those here but those things there. things there.

specialspecial studentstudent

SpainSpain starstar

sportsport SpanishSpanish

startstart spinningspinning

A skunk sat on a stump.A skunk sat on a stump.

The stump thought the skunk The stump thought the skunk stunk.stunk.

The skunk thought the stump The skunk thought the stump stunk.stunk.

What stunk the skunk or the What stunk the skunk or the stump?stump?

/w/ & /r//w/ & /r/

whitewhite rightright

wingwing ringring

wakewake rakerake

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZKHYnavxMns (minute 1.20 to 2.27)

VocabularyVocabulary

•Previous Homework:Previous Homework:–Search on the Internet Search on the Internet vocabulary dealing with vocabulary dealing with natural disasters. natural disasters.

Brainstorming: Natural Brainstorming: Natural DisastersDisasters• Discussion with the students to check Discussion with the students to check

their knowledge on the topic. We make their knowledge on the topic. We make a list of the vocabulary that comes up in a list of the vocabulary that comes up in the discussion.the discussion.

WINDWINDRAINRAIN

SHAKESHAKEHAILSTONEHAILSTONE

FOGFOG

MatchingMatching

- Earthquake- Drought- Tornado- Flood- Tsunami- Volcano eruption

TORNADOTORNADO

EARTHQUAKEEARTHQUAKE

FLOODFLOOD

TSUNAMITSUNAMI

DROUGHTDROUGHT

VOLCANO ERUPTIONVOLCANO ERUPTION

GRAMMARGRAMMAR

• Past Simple vs. Present PerfectPast Simple vs. Present Perfect

• http://www.britishcouncil.org/http://www.britishcouncil.org/professionals-grammar-movies.htm professionals-grammar-movies.htm (video explanation)(video explanation)

Past SimplePast Simple

• We use the Past Simple to talk about We use the Past Simple to talk about complete events that happened at a complete events that happened at a definite moment in the past.definite moment in the past.

– ““I am very happy because yesterday I am very happy because yesterday Julia Julia phonedphoned me and me and saidsaid she she loved loved me”me”

Present PerfectPresent Perfect

•We use the present perfect to We use the present perfect to talk about something that began talk about something that began in the past but is still true now…in the past but is still true now…

– ““I I have knownhave known Julia for three Julia for three years”years”

Present PerfectPresent Perfect

•……and when we are interested in and when we are interested in the fact, not in the moment the fact, not in the moment when it happened.when it happened.

– ““We We have decided have decided to get married”to get married”

ExercisesExercises

• http://www.juntadeandalucia.es/averroes/http://www.juntadeandalucia.es/averroes/recursos_informaticos/andared02/recursos_informaticos/andared02/the_happy/tenses/pres_perfect.htm the_happy/tenses/pres_perfect.htm (explanation and exercises)(explanation and exercises)

• http://www.juntadeandalucia.es/averroes/http://www.juntadeandalucia.es/averroes/recursos_informaticos/andared02/recursos_informaticos/andared02/the_happy/tenses/past_simple.htm the_happy/tenses/past_simple.htm (explanation and exercises)(explanation and exercises)

THANK YOU FOR YOUR THANK YOU FOR YOUR ATTENTION!ATTENTION!