Loading... Please wait...Step II Talking (P55)
T: Since we have read and listened to so many parts of the play, why not write a scene for an act? Now, open your textbook to page 55, and look at Talking.
(Students read the request of this part: After reading the letter from the brothers, Henry puts it back into his coat pocket. Then he notices that his coat is worn out. So he finds a tailor’ shop and goes in to get a new coat.)
T: Make a dialogue for Act Two, Scene 1 with a partner using all of the following information: Henry tells a clerk that he wants a coat for a suit. The clerk shows him a cheap coat downstairs. Henry doubts if he should take it. The clerk persuades him to buy it. Henry agrees, but explains that he can’t pay him right now, as he has no small change. In your dialogue, include expressions on shopping. Practice your dialogue and then share it with another pair. And we’ll see which has the most appropriate for the play.
1. Suggested scene:
The dialogue takes place at a tailor's shop. (O=Owner; C=Clerk; H=Henry)
O: There's a customer, Todd. Will you serve him?
C: I don't know why he's in a tailor's shop. Just look at his clothes!
O：No matter what he's wearing, Todd, just show him the cheapest.
C: Do you want anything?
H：Yes, please. I want to buy a suit.
C: Of course. You may find these rather expensive. We've got some cheaper ones in the back room. Will you come through to the back, please?...Why don't you try this one on?
H：Mmm, it doesn't seem to fit very well.
C: I'm afraid it's the cheapest one we've got.
H：Very well, I'll take it. Could you wait a few days for the money? I don't have any small notes on me.
C: Oh, you haven't? Well, of course, I know that gentlemen like you carry only large notes.
H：My friend, you shouldn't judge strangers always by the clothes they wear. I'm quite able to pay for this suit. I just didn't wish to put you to the trouble of changing a large note.
C: Why do you think we can't change your note? Of course we can.
H：Oh, very well. Then there is nothing to worry about. I apologize. (Hands him the note.)
2. Explanations to the suggested scene:
T: Maybe you find something is difficult to understand. So let me explain some to you.
(1) have…on/with/about somebody means take or bring something when someone goes to a place.
(2) put somebody to the trouble of doing something means make someone have the trouble of doing something.
(3) Change means the money that you gave back when somebody has paid you too much. e.g. Give me my change.
(4) judge somebody / something by / from something: form an opinion about somebody.
e.g. Judging from what you say, they ought to succeed.
e.g. Don’t judge a man by his looks.
Step III Listening, Speaking and writing Task (P58)
T: Imagine that Henry meets the woman of his dreams-Portia, how will they talk with each other? How would Portia know if Henry was telling her the truth? How would Henry say that he likes her very much in a way that she would like? Now, listen carefully to Act Two, Scene 3 and make a few notes to use when you write your dialogue.
1. Students listen to the tape, make notes and then share their notes with another pair.
T: Well, boys and girls, all of did a good job. But in order to help you to write a better dialogue, we should read the listening text together. Look at the big screen.
Then the teacher show the listening material and the students read it aloud.
(The following is the listening text of this part.)
N=Narrator A=Ambassador P=Portia H=Henry
Act Two, Scene 3
N: Well, very soon, it seemed as if everyone in London was talking about Henry. After a while, he felt it was his duty to report to the American ambassador to Britain. The Ambassador gave him a warm welcome and invited Henry to a dinner party that very night. Of course, Henry was glad to go. He knew that he might need the ambassador when others found out just how poor he really was. Now Henry is on the balcony of the American ambassador’s home in London.
A: Ah, there you are.
P: (to Henry) How do you do?
A: Mr. Adams, my special guest, Miss Portia Langham.
H: How do you do?
P: I’m afraid you must be too busy for me.
H: Yes, indeed, I am. I mean, no, no, not at all!
A: If you’ll excuse me, I must return o the other guests.
P: Won’t you sit down, please?
H: Yes, I’d love to-err-I’d like to. Thank you, Miss.
P: That poor, dear ambassador. He hates these parties almost as much as I do. Nothing but talk, talk, talk. And no one says anything anyone wants to hear, do they?
H: No, I suppose not.
P: The ambassador tells me you are a rich man.
H: Well-err-not really.
P: He tells me you are the talk of London these days. Why, it seems that every banker and shop owner in the city wants to meet you.
H: Yes, I’ve head. I can’t understand why, really. I’m not so special as that.
P: Oh, I don’t know about that, Mr. Adams.
H: Please, call me Henry.
P: Henry. I mean, even the ambassador is eager to know you better.
H: Yes, it would seem to be so.
P: What’s the matter?
H: Oh, nothing. Nothing, at least, that anyone can help with.
P: Are you in some kind of trouble, Henry?
2. Students discuss each of the following things in pairs:
(1) Which things Henry might tell Portia about himself?
(2) Which things he might keep a secret himself?
(3) Which things Portia might tell Henry about herself?
(4) Which things she might keep a secret about herself?
(5) What they might say about each other?
3. Students finish writing the dialogue for Act Two, Scene 3, making the words sound believable.
Suggested dialogue:
Henry: In a way, yes. It is not of my own doing though. I was given a million pound banknote to use for 30 days. Now everybody thinks I am rich. But I really don’t have a penny.
Portia: Is that all? I thought you were a bank robber or had hit your grandmother.
Henry: How could you have such terrible thoughts?
Portia: I do tend to think about the bad side of the people I meet.
Henry: Why is that? I am sure people could only be kind and thoughtful to you.
Portia: Well, you see….
Henry: If I am going to let you see all my bad points, I had better do it now. I can not sail a boat well and I have no job.
Portia: Well I can not sail a boat well either and have no job either.
Henry: I knew we were meant for each other.
Portia: What a lovely thought. Now my bad points. I have no money of my own and I c an not earn my own living at all. In fact I am useless.
Henry: Not to me! You look the sweetest and most honest girl in the world to me!
T: Well done! Your dialogues are different, but they are all good. Do you want to know which is fit for the next scene? Now, let’s read Act Two, Scene 4.
Step IV Reading and Speaking Task (P59)
1. Students read Act Two, Scene 4 by themselves.
T: After reading this part, can you guess how the play will end? Now, in pairs, talk about the end and be sure to describe what you think Portia will say and do next. Then describe what you think Henry and the two brothers will say and do after that.
2. Students discuss the end to the play:
S1: I think the play has to end happily. But it will be difficult if Portia thinks Henry is rich and he is not.
S2: Yes, I agree. There must be some way of letting Henry and Portia get married but have money too.
S1: But how can that happen when Henry has to give back the banknote?
S2: There is also the problem of him having brought a lot of things and not paid for them.
S1: So I think one of the brothers must come to the rescue and help him.
S2: Perhaps they can adopt him as their son so he gets a lot of money that way.
S1: Perhaps the job they give him will pay very well.
S2: Yes, I think that is the answer. He will have to be given a job with a very large salary.
3. Students read the real end to the play.
4. Students listen to the tape that is about Act Two, Scene 4 and the real end to the play so that they can correct their pronunciation and be ready for acting.
Step V Homework
T: Boys and girls, you did very well today. But suppose that Henry feels tricked by Portia when he finds out that Oliver is her stepfather. How might the play end differently under these circumstances? So, today’s homework: Write a different end to the play.