The Third Period Language study

Teaching goals 教學(xué)目標(biāo)

1. Target language目標(biāo)語(yǔ)言

Grammar: Present perfect continuous tense.

2. Ability goals 能力目標(biāo)

Enable the students to use the present perfect continuous tense.

3. Learning ability goals 學(xué)能目標(biāo)

Help the students learn how to use the present perfect continuous tense.

Teaching important & difficult points 教學(xué)重難點(diǎn)

How to use the present perfect continuous tense.

Teaching methods 教學(xué)方法

Explanation and practice.

Teaching aids 教具準(zhǔn)備

A projector and a computer.

Teaching procedures & ways 教學(xué)過程與方式

Step Ⅰ Revision

Check the homework. Let some students read their work.

A sample version:  

A brief introduction to the Zhoukoudian Caves

Zhoukoudian is a small village situated about 50 km southwest of Beijing In 1928, Dr C. C. Young, a famous Chinese paleontologist, and Wenzhong Pei, a young Chinese geologist joined the excavation. Two lower jaws of Peking Man were unearthed in this year. To make the excavation more successful, Dr Weng and Dr Black established “Cenozoic Research Laboratory” in 1929. The Peking Man Site also provides the more precise scientific data for the study of the evolution, behaviour. On the western side of Zhoukoudian Village, there are two parallel hills. The one on the east is lower and called Dragon-bone Hill. Zhoukoudian is a relic of primitive culture, 48 kilometers southwest of downtown Beijing, where Longgushan(dragon skeleton mountain) is standing. Several decades ago, local farmers mined limestone in Zhoukoudian, came upon some bone fossils and called them “the Dragon Bones”. Zhoukoudian became known as “Dragon Bone Mountain”. Drugstores purchased the bones as a medical ingredient. The news about the “magic bones” drew attention of scientists. In 1929 these limestone caves became world famous with the discovery of a skull and two teeth dating back 200,000 to 500,000 years. They were named Peking man.

The historical and cultural value of the Zhoukoudian site has been acknowledged by its listing as a World Heritage Site in December 1987 at the eleventh session of UNESCO.

Step Ⅱ Lead-in

Ask the students to point out the sentences that contain the structure as in “We have been excavating here for many years...”

Sample sentences:

1. We have been finding the bones of tigers and bears in the caves and we think these were their most dangerous enemies.  

2. We have been excavating layers of ash almost six meters thick, which suggests that they might have kept the fire burning all winter.

3. Yes, indeed, as the botanical analyses have been specifically showing us, all the fields around here used to be part of a large shallow lake.

T: What is the same structure in these sentences?

S: “have/ has been doing...”

T: Yes, in this unit, we will learn “have/has been doing sth.” That is the present perfect continuous tense.

Step Ⅲ Explanation

Present Perfect Continuous

[HAS / HAVE] + [BEEN] + [V+ing]

Examples:

I have been waiting here for two hours.

She has only been studying English for two years.

Note: When you are using a verb tense with more than one part such as Present Perfect Continuous (has been studying), adverbs often come between the first part and the second part (has only been studying).

Use 1 Duration from the Past until Now     

T: We use the Present Perfect Continuous to show that something started in the past and has continued up until now. “for five minutes”, “for two weeks”, and “since Tuesday” are all durations which can be used with the Present Perfect Continuous. Look at the following examples.

Show the following.

They have been talking for the last hour.

She has been working at that company for three years.

James has been teaching at the University since June.

Use 2 Recently, Lately  

T: You can use the Present Perfect Continuous without a duration such as “for five minutes”, “for two   weeks”, and “since Tuesday”. Without the durations, the tense gives a more general meaning of “l(fā)ately”. We often use the words “l(fā)ately” or “recently” in the sentence to strengthen this meaning. Now read these examples.

Show the following.

Recently, I have been feeling really tired.

She has been watching too much television lately.

Mary has been feeling a little depressed.

Important

T: Remember that the Present Perfect Continuous has the meaning of “l(fā)ately” or “recently.” If the Present   Perfect Continuous is used in a question such as “Have you been feeling alright?”, it suggests that the person looks sick or unhealthy. A question such as “Have you been smoking?” suggests that you can smell the smoke on the person. Using this tense in a question suggests you can see, smell, hear, or feel the results of the action. It is possible to insult someone by using this tense incorrectly.

Important: Non-Continuous Verbs / Mixed Verbs

T: It is important to remember that Non-Continuous Verbs cannot be used in any continuous tenses. Also,  certain non-continuous meanings for Mixed Verbs cannot be used in continuous tenses. To express the idea of Present Perfect Continuous with these exception verbs, you must use Present Perfect. Here are some examples.

Show the following.

Sam has been having his car for two years. (Not Correct)

Sam has had his car for two years. (Correct)

Active / Passive Present Perfect Continuous

Examples:

Recently, John has been doing the work. (Active)

Recently, work has been being done by John. (Passive)

Note: Present Perfect Continuous is rarely used in its passive form.

Step Ⅳ Consolidation

Show these exercises on the screen.

1. Hi, Tracy, you look tired.

I’m tired. I ____ in the living room all day.

A. painted     B. had painted

C. have been painting D. have painted

2. There is so much snow these days, isn’t there?

Yes, it ____ for a few days.

A. was snowing   B. has been snowing

C. had been snowing D. snowed

3. Although these scientists ____ on the project for nearly four years, I don’t know how long it will last.

A. have been working B. had worked

C. were working   D. are working

4. Now that she is out of job, Lucy ____ going back to school, but she hasn’t decided yet.

A. had considered   B. has been considering

C. considered   D. is going to consider

5. The little boy is dirty from head to foot because he ____in the mud all morning.

A. has played   B.  is playing

C. has been playing D. was playing

Key: 1. C  2. B  3. A  4. B  5.C

Step Ⅴ Practice

Ask the students to work in pairs, and take turns to read the statement and turn it into a question using the present perfect continuous tense.

1. S1: Sam has just finished learning to fly an airplane on six-month course. (How long)

   S2: How long have you been learning to fly an airplane, Sam?

2. S1: He swam till he felt very tired.  He has just stepped out of the swimming pool.(How along)

   S2: How long has he been swimming in the swimming pool?

3. S1: Sally and Zhou Xin have been busy all day.

(What)

   S2: What have Sally and Zhou Xin been doing all day?

4. S1: They have argued each other for years about the best way to grow potatoes.  (What)

   S2: About what have you been arguing with each other for years?

5. S1: Jail Yang uses a particular kind of washing powder and his clothes have always been clean and soft.  (What)

   S2: What kind of washing powder have you been using to make your clothes clean and soft, Jail Yang?

Step Ⅵ Homework

Word study exercises are assigned as homework. Students are asked to finish them after class. And ask the students to learn useful words and expressions by heart and practice them. Finish exercises 1 and 2 on pages 40 and 79.