English SME & SSE copy 1

Key Unit Competence: To use language learnt in the context of myself and my community

INTRODUCTORY ACTIVITY

1.1. Talking about myself and describing the community

1.1.1. LEARNING ACTIVITIES

Reading and text analysis

• Text: My personal vision

My personal vision is to be a woman of positive influence. I want to be able to share my experience and knowledge with people that I may come across. My vision is for people to be happy and thank God for bringing me their way. I am happy only when I help people find happiness. However, to be able to do this, I must have broad knowledge and be well informed about the happenings in my community and around the world. I must also develop and upgrade myself regularly. My vision is to have a peaceful community. My community should be one that will be free from abuses and oppressions, a community where everyone is considered important and treated as such. It should be a place where there will be freedom of expression and every member has equal access to basic facilities, such as access to health care, education, food, security and shelter; things that make life comfortable.

I want to leave in a community where I can be free to go everywhere without fear. In such a community, all people are equal no matter their color, sex or language. In fact, a dream of a community without barriers. I want to be a voice of our future and be a woman that will bring changes to the community. I wish I had some groups where I could lecture about effective participation in all community-based activities such as: community work that takes place every Saturday of the month. I am sure that I need all the available information in education to be able to impact and impart positively in my sphere of influence.

I will love to be chosen and trained as a voice of future correspondent and be able to achieve personal vision of making the world a better place to live in. I hope to learn how to use information as an instrument of enlightenment, entertainment, education and improvement for positive change.

Adapted from New times articleumuganda)

After reading the above passage, answer the following questions.

a. What is the writer’s vision towards herself and the community?

b. Describe the image of the community that she aspires to have.

c. Why does she want to have talks with people?

d. In your opinion, what would you do to have a better community? Explain.

1.1.2. APPLICATION ACTIVITIES

Vocabulary and essay writing

1. Find the meaning of the following words and phrases as used in the above conversation. Use them in your own sentences.

a. Oppressions

b. Enlightenment

c. sphere of influence

d. shelter

e. health care

2. Write a 350 words composition describing community work in

your home area and how it has contributed to the development of the country.

1.2. Community work

1.2.1. LEARNING ACTIVITIES

Reading and text analysis

Read the following text, then answer the questions that follow:

It is usual that on every last Saturday of the month, people in Rwanda get together to perform a type of community work known as “Umuganda”.They combine their efforts to do something for the good of the entire community, like cleaning an area, building some infrastructure or looking after the environment. Community work or “Umuganda” happens at least once a month.

On Saturday, May 19, many Rwandans in different areas of the country got together for the purpose of fighting disasters. The rainy season this year has been so dangerous that floods have washed away crops, destroyed houses and some people lost their lives. As a result, it was decided that we needed to work even harder than the usual community work. In addition to the usual monthly community work, it was deemed necessary to carry out special community work. This was performed twice during the week of 14-20 May, the first on Wednesday, May 16th and the other on Saturday, May 19th.

That Saturday was special because staff from both state and private institutions was instructed to go and take part to community work at the hilliest parts of the countryside near Kigali. On Mount Jali, in Gasabo District, officials from the ministries of Finance, Defense, National police, Internal security, Energy, Water and Sanitation gathered with National Institute of Statistics of Rwanda staff in a mountain forest. There, everyone helped build trenches to divert rainwater and overcome soil erosion which had previously caused the flooding of the Nyabugogo river in the suburbs of Kigali city. Community work is a good opportunity for local leaders to bring all community members together.

It mobilizes them to take part in the development of the country. In this way, people were able to overcome future disasters which might destroy existing infrastructure like housing and roads.

Adapted from New Times Article (Umuganda in Kigali)

•  Comprehension questions

a. What is the role of the community work known as “Umuganda” in Rwanda?

b. Explain from the text, the reason why special community work was organized in May?

c. What kind of work was performed by the community in partnership with government officials?

d. Discuss the outcomes of community work in Rwanda.

1.2.2. Application activities: Vocabulary, summary and composition writing

1. Give the meaning of each word in the table below by closely referring to the passage.

     2. Summarize the above passage in not more than 60 words.

    3. Write a 350-word composition on the topic:

    “The role of community work in the development of Rwanda”

1.3. Recounting past activities

1.3.1. LEARNING ACTIVITIES

Reading and text analysis

•  Text: My visit to Rubavu District

Read the following passage carefully and answer given questions on it.

Last August, I went to Lake Kivu with my family. I was so excited because it was my first time to visit lake Kivu. We spent five days there. When I stepped out from the bus and breathed, I sniffed the smell of lake water. It made me more excited to start my exploration.

My family and I visited many interesting places in Rubavu. We went to a hot spring; it was my first time to taste and bathe with natural warm and salty water from the ground. My visit to Bralirwa breweries and the international market made my stay wonderful. I spent a great part of my time at the beach where I met lovely people. Even though there were so many lovely but noisy places in Rubavu, I was not bored with them because each one was unique. Kivu beach lies at the shores of the lake. From that place we could have an attractive view of the lake which was the most gorgeous scenery I have ever seen.

There were both local and foreign tourists surfing or just sunbathing. The best time to come to Kivu beach is in the evening to see the sunset. It was so romantic. It is really a very nice beach to visit. The wind and waves were just right for enjoyable water sport. I did not want to miss this chance and tried to do parasailing.

At first, I was so afraid to approach the lake because I feared that the wind would blow me into thewater. When the sailor took us in a boat, I turned around to see how long we had travelled. I could see the view of Rubavu city from the water.

Finally, we came to the end of my trip. I felt that time run so fast. I was so sad because I had to leave that beautiful place. In Rubavu, I did not only enjoy my stay, but I also visited and learned about its different beautiful places which are part of its touristic attraction. I will always remember my beautiful trip to Rubavu, and I promise I will go back at least one more time.

Adapted from African Child, by Camara Laye.

• Comprehension questions

a. Why did the speaker and his family visit Rubavu?

b. Which attractive places did they visit?

c. According to you, why were they happy after visiting those places?

d. Where did the speaker spend most of his time during his stay in Rubavu?

e. Why is the evening the best time to visit Kivu beach?

f. Explain the reason why the speaker was afraid of parasailing?

g. According to the passage, does the speaker keep good memories about his visit to Rubavu? How do you know?

1.3.2. APPLICATION ACTIVITIES

Vocabulary

1. Match the words in the table below with their respective meanings

2. Suppose that you have a friend who lives abroad and wishes to visit Rwanda. Write a letter to him describing another touristic

place that he should visit during his stay inRwanda.

3. Write a 300-word essay about “The contribution oftourism to the development ofthe Rwandan community”

1.4. Language structure: The present simple tense, reflexive adjectives and possessive adjectives

1. The present simple tense

Read the following summary about the use of present simple tense and carry out the task that follows.

The present simple tense is the most basic tense in the English language. There are 7 uses of this tense in direct speech:

a. Facts, generalizations and universal truths

b. Habits and routines

c. Permanent situations

d. Events that are certain to happen

e. Arrangements that we can’t change (timetables, official meetings)

f. State verbs (be, have, suppose, know etc.)

g. Narrations, instructions or commentaries

A. Facts, generalizations and universal truths

The present simple tense is used when talking about universal truths such as laws of nature or things we believe are, or are not, true. It’s also used to generalize about something or somebody.

Examples:

• Water boils at 100 degrees Celsius. Universal(Truth)
•  It is a big house. (Fact)
•  The Earth goes around the Sun. (Universal truth, fact)
•  Dogs are better than cats. (Generalization)
•  Berlin is the capital city of Germany. (Fact)
•  The Elephant doesn’t fly. (Fact)
•  London is the capital city of France. (Fact)
•  Kivu is in the west of Rwanda.(fact)

B. Habits and routines

We also use this tense to describe actions that happen frequently. For example:

habits, routines, tendencies.

Examples:

•  We leave for work at 7:30 am every morning. (Routine)
•  My husband watches TV in the evening. (Habit, Routine)
•  Susan often meets with her friends after school. (Habit, Routine)
• They usually play football on Sunday. (Habit, Routine)
•  Mark rarely visits his sick grandmother.(Tendency)
•  James usually tells lies. (Tendency)
•  Every last Saturday of the month, people in Rwanda get together to perform community work. (Routine)

Adverbs of Frequency

The Present Simple is often used with frequency adverbs including the following:

Always, frequently/often, usually, seldom/rarely, nowadays, never, every week/ year, sometimes/occasionally, from time to time, every now and then, ...

Examples:

•  I always go to church on Sundays.
•  I never eat anything after 10 PM.

C. Permanent situations

The present simple tense applies for actions that last a relatively long time.

Examples:

•  I live in Musanze district
•  He works as a receptionist.
• Margaret drives a Volkswagen.
•  Jane teaches Mathematics at high school.
•  Summer follows Spring,
• The best time to come to Kivu beach is in the evening to see the sunset

D. Events certain to happen

The present simple tense is also used when an event is expected to happen in the future.

Examples:

•  My grandmother turns 100 years old this July.
•  Winter starts on 21 December.
•  Theconcert begins at 7.30 next Friday evening.

E. State verbs

Some verbs such as like, love...are called “state verbs” when they refer to “states”.

A state action has no beginning nor ending. It can’t be controlled and that’s why it’s not normally expressed in present progressive tense.

Examples:

•  I like swimming.
•  We know this man.
•  She loves her baby more than anything (not is loving)

N.B. Some of the state verbs used in the present simple tense can also appear in the present continuous tense. This is typically when they have an active meaning or emphasize change.

Examples:

•  I’m thinking of moving to San Francisco.
•  Jane is understanding the concept.
•  Denis is growing so tall.

There are five groups of state verbs. They refer to: feelings (like, love, etc) ; thoughts/belief (think, understand, etc); wants(want, prefer, etc); perception (see, hear, etc); being/having/owning (appear, seem, belong, etc).

F. Future Arrangements

The present simple tense is used when talking about events whose schedule can’t be changed (for example, an official meeting or a train departure).

Examples:

• The meeting starts at 4 PM.
•  The train leaves at noon.

Exercise

Write a paragraph about daily habits in your community with adverbs of frequency.

2. Reflexive pronouns

Note:

The reflexive pronoun is used to refer to the subject of a sentence. In this case the “doer” and the recipient of the action are one and the same. They include: myself, yourself, herself, himself, itself, ourselves, yourselves, and themselves.

It is formed by adding –self or –selves to personal pronouns.

•  Reflexive pronouns are often used:

a. As objects when the subject and object are the same person/thing/animal.

Example: I told myself not to worry.

They are commonly used as the objects of the verbs such as burn, hurt, cut, enjoy, teach,introduce, and look at. There are also common phrases with reflexive pronouns, such as enjoy yourself (have a good time), help yourself (take something if you want), and behave yourself (be good)).

b. To emphasise that a specific person/thing/animal is being referred to.

Examples:

•  I organized this event myself.
•  I’m sure he is aware of the changes. He himself spoke to me about it.

Exercise

Complete the sentences with the appropriate reflexive pronouns

1. Tommy told a lie. He was ashamed of …………………….

2. Masako cut …………………………. while he was chopping vegetables.

3. People surround …………. with friends and family during holidays.

4. Omar thinks Oscar is telling the truth. So does Ricardo. I…. don’t believe

Oscar’s story for a minute.

5. Now that their children are grown, Mr. and Mrs. Grayson live by………………

6. A: should I marry Steve?

B: no one can make decision for you, Ann. Only you……. can make such an

important decision about your own life.

7. Emily and Ryan,be careful! You are going to hurt…………………

8. A: I hate my job.

B: I envy Jacob. He is self-employed.

9. Yeah. I would like to work for….……too.

10. You should pay more attention to people who take good care

of………………….

3. Possessive adjective

• Note:

A possessive adjective specifies the owner of somebody, something or object.

These adjectives are my, your, her, his, its, our, their.

1.5. END UNIT ASSESSMENT

I. Complete each sentence below using a word or expression from the box and an appropriate reflexive adjective. The words should be used once.

a. Williams never took lessons. She………………how to play the piano.

b. Did Sandra have a good time at Rubavu? Did she……………...?

c. All of you did a good job. You should be……….

d. A man down the street committed suicide. We were all shocked by the news that he had………..

e. I had always wanted to meet David. when I saw him at the beach,I walked over and ……. to him.

f. Nothing good ever comes from self-pity. You should stop……………

George and start doing something to solve your problems.

g. People might think you are a little crazy,but…………….is one way of doing practice using English.

II. Fill in the blank space with the correct form of the verb.

Before I visited Australia, an Australian friend in London (1)………….

(tell) me I would learn the Australian salute.What is that? I asked. You will find out when you get there, he said. I (2)………….(arrive) in Perth last week. Since then, I(3)………..(stay) at a nice hotel near a beautiful beach. I (4)……… (never visit) Australia before and I am enjoying my stay. I(5)……. (Swim) every day from the time I(6)…………(arrive). Yesterday, an Australian friend suggested that we should go for a tour in “the bush”. I (7)………….(not agree) at once, but later on I accompanied him.The first thing I noticed when we were in the bush was the flies. After a while, I(8) ……….(remember) the conversation I had had in London before I(9)……….(come) here. “What is the Australian salute?” I asked suddenly, as I waved my right arm to keep the flies away. “That’s it” My friend said as he (10)…………. (Wave) back.

III. Choose the possessive pronoun or possessive adjective that best completes the sentence.

1. Claudine finished (hers/her) assignment early but had to wait for Nahla who hadn’t done (hers/her).

2. His dad trimmed the branches off the trees asand it looked so bare without all. (it/its) branches.

3. They bought a new car for(their/theirs) son who had just wrecked his old car. (their/theirs)

4. The CD over there is (him/his) but this one right here is (my/mine).

5. You can never convince anyone that (your/yours) child isn’t (your/ yours).

VI. Write a 350-wordcomposition describing the past activities that you carried out with people in your community and how they contributed to the country’s development.