That's English! - Module 7 - unit 10: Superstitions and Fears

Not all the superstitions are the same in all the countries; there are differences but what they have in common is that they are true for many people. Let's start with the general questions:

• Do you have a lucky number, clothes or an object you feel more confident with? Do you believe in lucky objects? Give reasons for your answer.
• Are you a supersitious person? Do you have lucky charms you use before important events such as exams, job interviews, sports events and so on?
• Do you think Spanish people are supersititious? Is it a problem of nationality, age, religion or sex? Compare different groups of people according to supersitions: Italian or Spanish versus British or Geman people, a youngster and an elderly person, for a wedding or for an exam...
• What's the difference between a fear and a phobia? Think about some examples.
• Do you suffer from any phobias? Is there anything you can't beat or you really hate? Do you know anybody who suffers from ones: spiders, bees, dogs or eating fish, kidney, etc?
• Were you afraid of anything when you where a little child? Do you still have it?
• Do you have any scary story that happened to you? 

Activity 1

In p.102 there is a gramar point about describing repeated and typical behaviour. You should use WILL for the present and WOULD for the past, like in these examples:

• An actor won't wear yellow clothes during a performance because it means bad luck
• Pelé would kiss the ground every time he won a match

Using this model try to think about some activities for you:

• getting up in the morning  -  going to school as a child - playing with my brothers/sisters - something you used to do before an exam - something you do on Sunday

Activity 2

In p.105 there are some proverbs. Choose one o those or pick up one from the ones given below and try to explain it to your mate (taken from this site):

• "Two wrongs don't make a right."
• "The pen is mightier than the sword."
• "When in Rome, do as the Romans."
• "No man is an island."
• "People who live in glass houses should not throw stones."
• "Better late than never."

Activity 3

Here is a video about superstitions: click here for the video. After watching it, discuss with your partner the following questions:

 Which of these superstitions are similar to those in your country?
 Which are different?
 What are the things that are considered unlucky?
 What are the things that are considered lucky?
 Do you think that there is truth behind superstitions?

Activity 4
What about you? Discuss with your partner if you are a superstious person and why you think so. Compare your attitude with the one when you were younger. Have you changed a lot? In wahat sense? Give reasons for your answers.

Activity 5
Some people think they are going to be lucky and they'll be able to change their life. Here you have a video about luck: click here
What do you think this story is about? Would you do something like that? Why/why not?

Activity 6
This is another video with a programme talking about luck: click here

See you in class and... Good luck with your exams! Next lesson is a revision and we'll have the final exam of module 7 after Christmas holidays so you should start studying.

REMEMBER WE DON'T HAVE CLASS ON THE 5TH OF DECEMBER BECAUSE WE HAVE RECUPERATION EXAMS. However,we have class on the 12th and 19th of December 2019.
We'll practise with this last lesson and with exercises for the exam in class.