Lead in (1): Guess the sport event Watch the video clip and tell what event is reflected. The University Boat Race Click here for information.

Lead in (1): Guess the sport event

Watch the video clip and tell what event is reflected.

The University Boat Race

Click here for information

The Boat Race, also known as the University Boat Race and The Oxford and Cambridge Boat Race, is a rowing race in England between the Oxford University Boat Club and the Cambridge University Boat Club.

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The boat race is between two eights, one from each university. Members of both teams are traditionally known as blues and each boat as a "Blue Boat", with Cambridge in light blue and Oxford dark blue.

Oxford Blues

Cambridge Blues

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The race demands skill and teamwork. All the rowing must be technically correct and at the right pace, rowing in time with all the others.

Lead in (2): Identify the following picturesRiver Thames

UBR stone

company logo

course

Putney bridge

How are the above pictures relevant to the University Boat Race?

Click the following for how.

11 22

33

44

River Thames

The race is rowed each spring on the Thames in London.

the second longest river in the United Kingdom and the longest river in England

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Sponsorship

The Boat Race has been sponsored since 1976, with the money spent mainly on equipment and travel during the training period.

The business process outsourcing company Xchanging became title sponsor in November 2009, so the 156th Race next April(2010) is known as The Xchanging Boat Race.

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Boat race course

The course is 4 miles and 374 yards (6,779 m) from Putney to Mortlake; it is sometimes referred to as the

Championship Course, and follows an S shape, east to west.

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The University Boat Race Stones

They are two small stone markers on the southern bank of the River Thames in west London, one at Putney Bridge and the other at Mortlake, the start and finish points of the Championship Course. The stones are marked "U.B.R" for University Boat Race.

The University Boat Race Vocabulary

heavyweight eightsheavyweight eights

rowers/ oarsmen rowers/ oarsmen (( 划手划手 ))

cox (cox (舵舵手手 ))

stern (stern (船船尾尾 ))

strokestroke

Judge true or false

1.The stroke steers (the rower who sits at the end next to the cox).

2.The rowers together set the pace of the racing boat.

3. The rowers face away from the direction they are travelling.

4.Rowers go through tough training before the race.

5.Female rowers are permitted in men’s competitions.

F: It’s cox who steers.

F: It’s cox and stroke who set the pace.

T

T

T

1 Look at this photo and answer the questions.

①①

1 Where are Mark, Kate and Janet?2 What has Mark just done?3 How do you think they feel?

Example answersI’ve just had my

boat race practice. I feel

excited.

They are by the river.

Right!

②②

1 Where does it take place?

2 What do you think the rules are for this kind of race?

Look at the second photo and answer the questions.

It took place probably on the River Thames.

Example answers

The rules? The boats follow each other and the one behind has to catch up with and bump the one in front in order to win or the first one has to get away.

2 Watch Conversation 1 and follow the map.

Conversation 1

Use the following pictures as clues

Use the following pictures as clues

Catte Street 卡替街（牛津大学哈福特学院所在街道）

St Aldates 圣阿尔代街（牛津大学基督学院所在街道）

Christ Church College 牛津大学基督学院

Folly Bridge 福利桥（位于牛津市中心南边，北接圣阿尔代街，横跨泰晤士河）

Clues

Cattle street

Hertford college boathouse

Folly bridge

Christ Church College

High street

St Alates

Example answers

They are at Hertford College. They turn left and go down Catte Street. Then turn right at the High Street and turn left into St Alates. They go past Christ Church College, cross over Folly Bridge and turn left until they arrive at the last boathouse on the right – the Hertford College Boathouse.

Conversation 1

3 Watch Conversation 1 again and choose the best way to complete the sentences.

The correct answers are

1 (a) 2 (b) 3 (a) 4 (b)

Cherwell boathouse

Language and Culture

Each college in Oxford has a boathouse on the river, where the rowing boats are kept. There’s also a bar and somewhere to watch the racing.

Oxford Colleges’ Boathouses

4 Look at the map and decide where the boat race takes place.

Hertford College Boathouse

Answer:It takes place on the river near the Hertford College Boathouse.

Conversation 25 Watch Conversation 2 and answer the

questions.1 What does Mark’s boat manage to do?

2 What does Mark hope to do?

3 How seriously did Mark hurt himself as he was getting into the boat?

It manages to win the practice race.

He hopes to get a place on the team.

He did not hurt himself very badly, it was only a scratch.

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4 How does Mark compare with other people who rowed with him?

5 How do people know if they have got a place on the team?

Some of the people who rowed with him have rowed before, and he can’t help thinking that they were better than him.

The team list is put on the door.

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6 Why is Kate pleased that Mark has got a place on the team?

Kate believes that Mark deserves a place on the team. So she is very pleased for him.

6 Watch Conversation 2 again and complete the sentences.

Kate So the rules are … the boats follow each other and the one behind has to bump the one in front … just like that one has done.Janet Is that Mark’s boat?Kate Yes! Look, his boat is about to bump

the one in front! (1) ___________________!

…

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Well done

Mark Hi you guys!Kate Fantastic, Mark. (2) __________________!Mark Well, we won the practice race, but (3) _____________________ getting a place

on the team. (4) ______________________

there are at least three other people on the team who have rowed before. (5)_______________________________

they were better than me.Janet Don’t worry, Mark. (6)_________________ _________.

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You were amazing

I’m worried about The problem is

that

And I can’t help thinking that

Everything will beOK

Mark And then I hurt my knee getting into the boat.Janet (7) ____________________!Kate Too bad, but it’s only a scratch. Listen up, Janet is right. (8)___________________

________, Mark. You were the strongest looking guy in the boat today. Chill out!Mark Hey, they’re putting the team list on the door.Janet Let’s go over and see.Mark No, you go! I can’t bear to look!Kate OK.…

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Oh, I’m so sorry

No need to getnervous

Kate Hey, Mark, great news! You got a place on the college team!

Janet (9) ________________!Kate That’s great, Mark, (10) _______________.

You trained so hard.Mark I can’t believe it!

CongratulationsYou deserve it

Rowing Champions from Oxford

Celebrities from the University Boat Race

Four times Olympic gold medalist Sir Mathew Pinsent rowed for Oxford in 1990, 1991, and 1993

Andrew Lindsay was a member of Britain's triumphant eight-man rowing team who rowed for Oxford in 1997, 1998, 1999

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Rowing medalist from Cambridge

Olympic rower Kieran West rowed for Cambridge in 1999, 2001, 2006, 2007

The toughest rowing race might be the annual Atlantic Boat Race – 4,727 kilometres from the Canary Islands to Antigua in the West Indies.

British Olympic rowing gold medalist, James Cracknell, completed the 2005 race with a partner in just 49 days.

Atlantic Boat Race

on your way

Yes, got it!

No problem.

Listen up!

Chill out!

I can’t bear to look!

7 Match the expressions with their meanings.

1 on your way ____2 Yes, got it! ____3 No problem. ____4 Listen up! ____5 Chill out! ____6 I can’t bear to

look!

____

a. I do not want

to look.b. going right

nowc. A response to thank you.d. Relax.e. Listen to me. f. I understand.

b

fc

ed

a

Create your own sentences using Everyday English expressions.

8 Work in pairs and act out the conversation.

Student A Ask where Student B is going.

Student B Say that you’re going to a sports event and invite Student A.

Student A Explain that you’re too busy but you’d like to come later. Ask

where Student B will be.

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Student B Sympathize with Student A and give directions. Explain that you /your team won the last match.

Student A Congratulate Student B.

Student B Express concern that you / your team may not win the next match.

Student A Reassure Student B.

Please refer to the functional expressions on page 65