Taboos and Issues: Photocopiable Lessons on Controversial Topics (LTP instant lessons)

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lntroduction Introduction

Methodology

Teachersoften complain that teaching materials are bland and devoid of the very topics we discuss in our daily lives. The title of this book suggests that the material covers controversialand difficult issueswhich studentsmay be reluctantto discuss. Many of the issuesare indeedcontroversialbut the materialis in no way intendedto shock.In fact, the contents closely resemblethose we find in our newspapersevery day.

It is expected that this material will be used by experienced teachers. The teachers' notes, therefore, have been kept to a minimum and comprise only short notes, the answers, and occasionalextra ideas.

1. terboossuch as swearing, talking about death and prostitution

a w i d e r c l a s sd i s c u s s i o n .

Bearingin mind the sensitivenature of many of the topics, we suggestit will usually be best to start by asking studentsto think silently about some of the questionsbefore they are asked to say anything at There are good reasonswhy general classroom all. They then work in pairs and small groups m a t e r i a l s a v o i d t o p i c s w h i c h m a y l e a d t o before the topic is opened up to the whole class. embarrassment or friction in the classroom.Many In a similar way, with the reading texts, students teachersmay be hesitant to use such materials. often work in pairs, with each reading a different However, many more experienced teachers short text, which they then report to their partner, recognise the motivational value of materials before the material is dealt with in the whole class. which more closelyreflectthe real world. During individual or pair work, monitor what is This book presents just such stimulating and happening. You may wish to help out with r e l e v a n t t o p i c s . T h r e e b r o a d c a t e g o r i e s a r e languagewhere necessary,but you can also judge covered: whetherand how the topic(s)can be openedout to It goes without saying that, as the teacher, you 2 . s e r i o u s i s s u e s s u c h a s r a c i s m a n d g e n e t i c should remain neutral throughout any discussions, engineering seekingonly to encouragestudentsto expresstheir 3. personal matters such as appearance,hygiene views. and nudity. The materiirl is not intended to form the basisof a course but a resource from which teachers can, with their students, select topics which interest them. The material should only be used with classesyou know well and where the studentsare sensitiveenough to respectand trust both you and their fellow students.Even then, you must use the material sensitively. Individual students or membersof their family or close friends may have immediate,personal,even painful, experienceof many of the topics. In some cases,you may want to checkwith an individual studentbeforeusing a particulartopic in class.It is essentialthat teachers remain alert for difficulties. If a particular issue becomestoo sensitive,the teachermust be willing to abandonthe topic and be preparedto move on to somethingcompletely different.

Studentswill often have strongly-held views and possiblyprofound personalexperienceswhich they are willing to sharewith the class.Indeed,trying to engagestudents in this way is perhaps the prime purpose of the materials.While encouragingand helping them to express their views and experiences,you must, however,never lose sight of the fact that it is a languagelessonand they must be in no way pressurised into discussing or revealingthings about themselveswith which they are in any way unhappy. A student who wishes to remain silent must have their right to do so respected. Using the internet

M o s t u n i t si o l l o w t h i s p a t r c r n :

Becausethe topics are controversial and regularly in the news, it will almost always be easy to find related material by a quick searchof the internet. Usually typing two or three key words into a search engine will be sufficient to give you contemporary examplesrelevant to the topic.

left hand page: introductory discussionand one or more short texts

Richard MacAndrew Ron Martinez

How a unit is organised

right hand page: language work discussion.

and further

The lcft hernd page usually provides the basic material for a lesson,while the right hand page providesextensionor follow-up work.

Contents 1.

Death Talking dhout deatb, funerals, home burials

2.

Nudity

3.

Politicallyincorrectjokes

.Wby 'V/earing no clothes is natural. do people get so upset about this?

Is it OK to joke about disabledpeople, religion, deatb?

4.

Tabooconversationtopics Questionsyou cdn't ask. For example: How much do you weigh/earn?

5.

lt should be banned! Bullfighting, human cloning, boxing, the Ku Klux Klan - ban them all!

6.

Not my type Bdd breath, bites his nails, thin legs- what do you auoid in a pdrtner?

7.

Sex for sale Prostitution - cdn we stoD it? Should we stctDit?

8.

Swearing Is it OK to swear? What swetr words do/could you use?

9.

Torture Does torture happen in your country? Is torture always wrong?

10. Sexualharassment rYhat's wrong with telling a colleague she has nice legs?

11. Briberyand corruption gifts,bribes,perks- is thereany difference? Rewards, 12. Designerbabies Blonde hair, blue eyes- would yow like to designyour children?

1 3 . C h i l d r e nw h o k i l l

.When a child kills someone,who is responsible- the child, the parents, society?

14. Gays and jobs Does it matter that d doctor, teacher,or tbe Prime Minister is gay?

1 5 . A n i m a lr i g h t s We eat them, we do experimentson them, we keep them as pets. Do you object?

16. Marriage- for better or for worse What's the point of marriage thesedays?

17. Nobody needs a gun Gun massacresin schools.

.Why

.Wbat's wrong with diuorce?

do people carry guns?

'Would

you euer use a gun?

18. The sale of human organs

.Would .Wbat you let doctors remoue your orgdns? about people who sell their organs?

19. AIDS .Would yowtreata frienddifferentlyif (s)hehadHIV? Whatdo you knowaboutAIDSi 20. Tellinglies How honestdre you?

21. Abortion Are you Pro-lifeor Pro-choice?

22. NationalstereotYPes

"They're lazy and'rlirhonrrt." Blind preiwdice,or is tbere some truth in stereotypes?

23. Cheatingon YourPartner

tflhat is cbeating?Just looking dt someone else,fantasising'dn e-mdil relationsbip!

24. Are you haPPYwith Your bodY?

Haueyou thoughtabout it? Cosmeticsurgeryi, ,o iongeriust/or the rich and famous'

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25. lmmigrationand racism

comingto liuein yours? Ho* io you feelaboutpeoplefrom othercountries 26. Ghangingsex

next to d trdnssexual? Transsexuals- would you feel uncomfortable if you sat

27. ls this news?

rwbat is the news for - to prouide facts or to sbock and entertain?

28. The right to die Euthanasid- who has the right to choose?

29. Old enough to be her grandfather!

.V/hynot? woman? *on with a 25-year-old A 7T-year-ild 30. Big Brother is watching!

be woftied about? Are we losing our priuacy? Haue you got anything trt

3 1 . Anxiety and depression 'What Do you get depressed?

c(tn you do about it?

32. Gay families

f*L ,lacl,andno mum.rybatis a normalfamilythesedays? 33. Begging Should we giue beggarsmoney or lock them up?

culture 34. Compensation

easymoney? More pectpleare swingthan euerbefore.Is it right or is it iust

35. Sportand money ouerpaid? Are tolt sportsprofessionals

36. Vanity Are men uainerthan women?

3 7 . Legalisingdrugs Is it time to cbangethe laws on soft drugs?

3 8 . Turning the other cheek

Do you-findit easyto forgiuepeopleor do you holdgrudges? 39. The death PenaltY Are you in fauourof it? 40. Addictions

dre you hooked on? Alcohol,nicotine,drugs, chocglate,shctpping,football.'what

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Death

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Introduction Do you find this conversation offensive? I haven't seenHarry for months. How is he? > Dead! He died just beforeChristmas. Which would you prefer to say? He passedaway just beforeChristmas. or We lost him just beforeChristmas. Do you use similar expressions in your language to avoid the words dead or died? lf so, what are they?

Discussion ln your country: 1. When someonedies,what happensto their body? a. It is buried. b.It is cremated. c. Somethingelse 2. \7here do funeralceremoniestake place? a. In a church b. At d sbrine c. Sometuhereelse 3. Who usuallyattendsfunerals? d. Only men b. Men and women c. Anyone 4. What colour do peoplewear ro signify death? a. Black b.White c. A different colowr .5.What do peopleusuallydo at funerals? a. Cry openly and expressstrong emotions. b. Keep their emotions under control. c. Try not to cry, but cry quietly if they cdnnot help it. When you die, would you prefer to be buried or cremated?

"Die,

my dear doctor? That's the last thing I shall do!" Lord PctLmerstot't

SURPRISING HONESTY AT FUNERAL Family and friends at the funeral of George Ramsbottom in Honley, West Yorkshire, were stunnedwhen his brother,Frank, stood up in the church and told everyonethat his brother would not be missed. Describing his brother as the meanestman he had ever met, he went on to list all the people who would be glad to know that Georgehad died, and gave the reasonswhy. He claimed that Georgewas a liar, a cheat,a womaniserand a drunk. "He owed money to half the people in the village; he had ruined a number of marriages; and he was often incredibly rude for no good reason. No one will be sad that he has sone." said Frank Ramsbottom. Mr Ramsbottom's unexpectedspeech was followed by complete silence. Eventually Margaret Dudley, the minister in charge of the service,stoodto say,"Let us give thanks for George'slife with our final song." She then sang on her own while everyone else stood in silence.The service ended shortlv afterwards.

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Reading Read the two articles opposite. Then choose the best answers to these two questions: 1.Why do you think nobody sangthe final song at the fur-reral Y e s I, c o u l d ... acupof tea. 3. What's your new boyfriend like? I'm ....t0meethim.

. . warmed up! Are 9. You look like you ill? 10.I don't just want to sit on the beachall day. I'll be bored to . . . you have similar idioms in your language? Do Do you know these idiomatic expressions? He's kicked the bucket. He'spopped his c/ogs. He'sgone to meet his maker.

4.I've been out shoppingall day. My feet are . . . . . . m e ! 5. The train doesn'tleavetill 4, so we've got nearly an hour to . . . 'Whenever you open your 6. Just keep quiet. ... theEnglish mouth,you.. language! Add the following words to these sentences: death

murder

7. When is it going to stop raining?I'm sick to of this weather! 8. Sorrv I'm so late. The traffic was . .

"'Will you pleasetakeyour

Discussion

feet

off *y bestcbair!"

Answer the questions below on your own: 1. How do you feel when the subject of death comes into the conversation? a. [Jncomfortable- I don't want to talk abowt it. b. lt dependshow other people redct. c. Fine - it's perfectly natural to talk about death. Or do you have another reaction? 2. You have to tell a close friend that a mutual friend of yours has died. You know that they were very close. How would you start the conversation? a. I'm afraid we won't be meeting Mary for lunch on Friday after all. b. Haue you heard? Mary's jwst died. c. You'd better sit dotun. I'ue got some bad news about Mary. She died last night. C)r would you say somethingelse? 3. A friend of yours (a rather unreliable one) has just died, owing you a lot of money. After the funeral his sistercomes to talk to you. Do you say: a. I was hoping to meet one of the family so I can get my money back. b. Poor George! He was such a good friend. (and forget about the money) c. I shall miss George- but not as much as the ["1000 he ctwedme! Or would you say somethingelse? 4. If the only work availablewas working with dead bodies - for example as an undertaker or a pathologist - what would you do? a. Take the job. Somebodybas to do lobs like that. It's no big deal. b. I could neuer do a iob like that.'What would my friends think? I'd rather starue. c. I'd ask for a huge salary.It would be OK if I was paid a lot. d. Pleasestop tall Tell her a joke on Monday. ...ablonde? 2.Howdoyou > Put a mirror on the bottom of a swimming pool. 3. What's the differencebetweena blonde and a computer? information into > You only have to . . . a computer once.

say throw

6. \fhy don't blondes get coffee breaks? > It takes too long to . . . . . . them afterwards. 'V7hat do intelligent blondes and UFOs 7. ...incommon? > You often hear about them, but you never seeone. . . . to screw 8. How many blondes does it in a light bulb? > One. Sheholds the bulb still and the world revolvesaround her.

. . . over the glass 4. Why did the blonde wirll? > Tcrseewhat was on the other side.

9. IX/hatdo you brain? > Gifted.

S.What do you do if a blonde . . . . . . . - a grenadeat you? > Pull the pin out and throw it back.

' . . if her doctor 10.What would a blonde told her that she was pregnant? > Is it mine?

. . . a blonde with half a

Did you find these jokes offensive? Do you know anybody who would? Are they blonde? it to Thi;k about a joke that you know and try to translate it into English. Write it down first and then tell a classmate. Politically incorrect iokes

Taboosand /ssues

Reading The authors would like to make it clear that none of the following jokes has been written by them. They are typical of jokes which exist in books of jokes and on joke websites.The jokes printed here are among the least offensive! As you read the jokes below, rate each one for its level of humour and level of offensiveness:

HUMOUR A: very funny OFFENSIVENESS A: verv offensive

B: a bit funny B: a little offensive

C: not funny C: not offensiveat all

loke 1 Q: How can you tell when a lawyeris lying? A : H i s l i p sa r em o v i n g .

loke 7 How do you make a cat go 'woof'?. Soak it in petrol and throw it on the fire.

foke 2 A womanwas payingfor someitemsin a - a pint of milk,a packetof bacon,a supermarket smallbagof rice and a few vegetables. The man at the checkoutsaid,"l betyou'resingle,aren'tyou?" "Well yes,I am,"the womanreplied."How did you you'rereallyveryugly,"replied know?""Because the man.

foke B There was a young man from Calcutta, Who had the most terrible stutter, H e s a i d , P a s st h e h - h a m , And the 1r-ffjam, And the b-b-b-b-b-b-butter.

foke 3 HOW TO IMPRESS A WOMAN Compliment her,cuddleher,kissher,caressher, love her,strokeher,comfort her,protecther,hug her,wine and dine her,buy giftsfor her,listento her,respecther,standby her,supporther,go to the endsof the earthfor her. HOW TO IMPRESS A MAN Arrivenaked... with beer. foke 4 How do you makea dog drink? P u ti t i n a l i q u i d i s e r . foke 5 Q: How do men sorttheirlaundry? ' F i l t h yb u t s t i l lw e a r a b l e . ' A: 'Filthy'and foke 6 Q: What hasfour legsand eightarms? A: A pit-bullterrierin a children's playground.

foke 9 A young man with a wild and multi-coloured hairstylesits next to an old man on a park bench. The old man staresat the young man. "What's the matter,old man?" saysthe young man. "Never done a n y t h i n gc r a z y i n y o u r l i f e ? "T h e o l d m a n r e p l i e s : "Yeah. When I was in the Navy, I got really drunk one night and had sex with a parrot. I thought you might be my son." loke 10 Q: How do you know when you're too fat? A: When you step on the scalesand it says 'To be continued.' foke 11 Q: If your wife comes out of the kitchen to nag you, what have you done wrong? A: Made her chain too long. foke 12 Q : W h y d o l t a l i a nm e n w e a r l o t s o f g o l d c h a i n s a r o u n dt h e i r n e c k s ? A: So they know when to stop shaving.

Match the following reactions to the relevantjokes above: a. Anybody who thinks setting fire to an animal is funny needspsychiatrichelp. They are sick! b. That's in really bad taste.Peoplewho have a speechimpedimenr can'r help it. c. I don't think you should joke about people'sappearance.It's not their fault! d.I don't get it. (I don't understandthe johe.)

Discussion Did you find any of the jokes offensive or 'sick'? Which, it any? Who would be offended by the jokes above? Consider each one with a partner. Are there any categories of jokes that you would describe as offensive that were not included above?

Taboosand /ssues

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When you fill in a form, are you h"ppy to give this information: Yottr age? Your mdrital statusl Your income? Are there any other questionsyou don't like answering?

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Readthrough the four conversationsbelow.Who are the peopleand what is the situation?

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Conversation 1 A: Your blood pressureis absolutelyfine. Have you beeneatingnormally? B: Oh yes.The sameas normal. A: And do you take any regularexercise? B: Yes,I play squashtwice a week. A: Mm. Tell me, how much do you weigh? B: About 68 kilos. t

Gonversation2 A: B: A: B:

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'We've just moved in Hello, I'm Jean Walker. nert door. Paul Burton. Pleasedto meet you. Do you work locally? Yes, I'm a solicitor with a firm on the High Street. A solicitor.That's a good job. How much do you eirrn?

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Conversation3 A: B: A: B:

Hello. I'rn looking for a white tennis shirt. OK. Tennisshirtsare over here. As you can see,I'll need a fairly large srze. Yes, I c:rn seethat. How much do you weigh, if you don't mind me asking? Conversation4 A: Gareth,you will be delightedto hear that we wor-rldlike to offer you the job. B: Great! Thank you very much. A: \7e need tc'rtalk a bit about salaries. B: Right, yes,of course. A: Rernindme, how much do you earn at the moment? B: About {35,000 a year. A: Yes,well, we won't be able to give you more than that initirrlly, but we shor-rldbe able t