English For Today chapter 8: Likes and Dislikes

Unit Eight

Likes and Dislikes

Learning outcomes

After we have studied this unit, we will be able to

• take part in simple language games
• read and understand texts and dialogues
• listen to and understand conversations on familiar and everyday topics
• ask and answer questions about likes/dislikes
• complete guided and semi-guided writing tasks

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Lesson 1: I Like Folk Songs

Keywords : chess, photography, fish cutlet, classical music, folk song, pop music, adore (v), bloom (v)

A. Play this game in pairs. Take turns asking and answering questions. Ask and answer as many questions as you can in five minutes to find similarities between your and your partner's likes. For each similar liking your pair will get one point. Add up your points when the game is over. The pair having the highest points is the winner. Use the following clue to play the game:

A: I like ice cream. And you?

B: I like ice cream too. (One point)

B: I like playing chess. And you?

A: I don't like playing chess. (No points)

B. Read the dialogue between A and B silently. Underline the words that express liking/disliking. Then act out the dialogue in pairs.

A: Hello. How are you doing?

B: I'm OK. I've just finished a course on photography.

A: Great! Did you like the course?

B: Yes, I loved the course so much! You know, I like photography a lot. How about you? What sorts of things do you like?

A: I don't like photography but I like fishing. I went fishing to a nearby village last week. Did you ever go fishing?

B: Errrr. I like eating fish. I actually love fish cutlet. But I don't like to go fishing. It's hard to wait for hours looking at the water!

A: That's right. You need to have patience. I enjoy fishing. It's really exciting when you catch a fish after hours of waiting. Would you like to come with me next time?

B: I'm not sure. But I would love to taste fish cutlet.

A: Well. I'll certainly invite you to come to my place and enjoy fish cutlets with me.

B: Thank you. Sounds great! Thanks!

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C. Now read about Kobita, a class 7 student of Sundarpur village. What does she say about her likes/dislikes?

Hello, I am Kobita. I am a class 7 student of Sundarpur High School. I like listening to music in my free time. I like folk songs but I don't understand classical music much. However, my father likes classical music very much, but he doesn't like pop music. He never watches pop musical programmes on TV. He says he hates them because they don't appeal to emotions. My favourite singer is Farida Parvin. I like her songs very much. She has a wonderful voice. I also like gardening. I have planted many flowers in my garden. When the flowers are in full bloom, I love to watch them. I'm very happy about the flowers that I grow. I just adore them!

D. Ask and answer the questions in pairs.

1. Why doesn't Kobita like classical music?
2. What does Kobita's father think about pop music?
3. Who is Kobita's favourite singer? Why does she like her so much?
4. What does Kobita think about her garden?
5. What does the sentence"I just adore them!" mean?

E. Now make five sentences about what you adore, love, like, don't like and hate.

F. Study the table below. In pairs use the table to ask and answer questions to talk about your and your friend's likes/dislikes.

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Lesson 2: Kobita's Village

Key words : vocational, theatre, stage (v), children's classics, perform (v), borrow (v), frequent, load shedding, delicious, bitter gourd

A. Make questions from the table. Then ask and answer them in pairs. Find how many of you like/dislike each of these five things.

B. Read about Kobita's village. Then discuss in pairs what you like/dislike about her village.

The name of Kobita's village is Sundarpur. It is a small village on the bank of the river Kalini. The beautiful river flows through the village. There are one high school, three primary schools and one vocational training centre in this village. Kobita and her friends take computer lassons at this centre. There is a theatre club and a small library too. Kobita can borrow books from the library. She borrows books on history, poetry and children's classics. The theatre club stages plays regularly. Last month Kobita enjoyed the Mohua drama dance performed by the theatre club. The village has a bazar on the river side. This is a very noisy and dirty place. Kobita never goes to the bazar. The village roads are also narrow and dirty. Although there is electricity in Sundarpur, the villagers experience frequent load shedding in summer.

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C. Look at the food that Kobita usually eats at home. In pairs match the names of the food items given below with the pictures.

Figure

Labels: 1, 2, 3 (top row); 4, 5, 6 (bottom row) Description: Six photographs of food items, numbered 1 to 6 with a blank line under each number. Top row, left to right: 1 is a dark, fried-looking leafy item; 2 is a fried egg; 3 is a cluster of four dark, fried pieces. Bottom row, left to right: 4 is a stack of flatbreads on a plate; 5 is three triangular fried pastries on a plate; 6 is a mound of mashed food on a plate.

D. Now, discuss which of the foods above you like or dislike. Follow the example below:

A: Do you like French fries?

B. Yes, I do. They're delicious.

A: Do you like dried fish?

B: No, I don't. I can't stand the smell.

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Lesson 3: Paul Visits Sundarpur

Keywords : volunteer, arsenic poisoning, green coconut

A . In pairs, tell your partner the names of four things- one thing you like, one thing you dislike, one thing you love and one thing you hate. But don't tell him/her which ones you like, dislike, love and hate. Your partner guesses which one you like/dislike/love/hate. Follow the example given below.

A: Mathematics, washing clothes, rain, dry fish

B: You like mathematics.

A. You're right.

B: You love washing clothes.

A. That's not right.

B: Then you love rain and hate washing clothes.

A: Yes.

B: And you dislike dry fish

A: Right. My turn now!

B . Paul is a young volunteer of an international NGO in Bangladesh. He visits Sundarpur to talk to the villagers about arsenic poisoning. Read the passage to know about his visit.

Paul went to Sundarpur High School to meet the teachers and students there. He was warmly greeted by all. He quite enjoyed the green coconut drink that was served on his arrival. He gave a short lecture to the students and explained how they would fight against arsenic poisoning. Paul also answered the questions asked by some students. He liked most of the questions. He also took some pictures with the students. He used to take his camera with him always. He loves photography.

As he was taking leave, all the students followed him up to the school gate. The teachers wanted to hire a rickshaw for him. He does not like riding rickshaws. He is used to walking short distances on foot, and likes getting some exercise. So, he did not mind walking towards the local Union Council Office.

C . In pairs, discuss the following questions.

1. Why did Paul go to Sundarpur High School?
2. Did Paul like the students and teachers of the school?
3. How was Paul entertained at the school on his arrival?
4. What did Paul talk about to the students of the school?
5. Why doesn't Paul like riding rickshaws?

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D . Read the statements about Paul's likes/dislikes and replace the underlined parts of each sentence with phrases given in the box.

1. Paul quite likes the green coconut drink.
2. He didn't mind walking along the village roads.
3. He loves taking pictures.
4. He hates sitting idly in a rickshaw.

really dislikes, did not dislike, very much enjoys, really likes

E . Write your likes and dislikes in the grid below. Then compare your completed grid with a partner.