Text 1D. Sport in My Life 6 page

Date: 2015-10-07; view: 933.

Ex.2. Read the following words paying attention to the sounds:

Ex.3. Learn the key-words and word combinations to the topic “Physical Education”. Translate the sentences.

Step 2. Reading Practice.

Task 1. Read Text 2A for detail and find the answers to the questions:

Text 2A. Physical Education: its Goals and Objectives

Schools are teaching not only the basics of various sciences these days. An important mission of modern schools is to provide students with knowledge, skills, capacities, and the enthusiasm to maintain a healthy lifestyle. This can be done by means of physical education (PE in short).

Physical education is the part of the school curriculum that instructs students in body movements, sports and games, and other physical activities. In many countries physical education is taught in both primary and secondary schools. It is also a subject on many college syllabuses. In many countries degree courses or teaching diplomas exist in physical education. It is also a very important element of military training.

PE programmes involve a wide variety of activities, including elementary games, basic skills in movement (such as running or jumping) and exercises to improve physical fitness, to develop motor skills and body condition. Team sports and recreational activities such as swimming, dancing and gymnastic exercises, all form important aspects of physical education as a discipline. Students learn to work either as part of a team, or as individuals in competitive activities.

In primary school physical education classes help children develop and understand basic body movements. They also include elementary games that emphasize participation and cooperation rather than competition. Dance activities and exercises done to music are also included.

In the more advanced primary school classes simple competition sports, games, and exercises may be taught. The secondary and high school physical education programmes develop these activities and offer many other ones such as archery¹, athletics, badminton, cycling, soccer², swimming, tennis, etc.

Most colleges and universities offer physical education programmes and students take one or two years of physical education. At some colleges and universities these courses are optional. College students may take up the sport they played at high school or learn a new one. Big universities offer many activities not available at smaller schools like sailing³ and skiing.

There are some colleges and universities that offer Bachelor's degrees in physical education. These degrees require the study of such subjects as anatomy, sports techniques and teaching methods. Master's or Doctor's degrees in physical education are also offered at some universities.

The objectives of physical education today are as follows:

1. PE courses help build up physical fitness, increase student's endurance, strength, flexibility and coordination.

2. They develop student's motor skills and many other qualities one's life depends on.

3. People taking part in physical activities improve their mental health. They become more confident and persistent⁴, communicate and make friends easily.

4. Social objectives of physical education are closely connected with the general ideals and goals of education and form the basis of sportsmanship and fair play principles⁵.

5. Doing various sports people must know and follow the rules and techniques, use various tactics and strategies, make decisions. That is what makes knowledge objective of physical education so important.

6. Sports and athletes are very aesthetic. Everybody admires people who move with grace and ease, whose bodies are slender and well-built⁶.

Notes:

Post-reading exercises

Ex. 1. Replace the following Russian words and word combinations with their English equivalents from the text:

средняя школа, выносливость, подвижные игры, основные навыки, мышца, состояние организма, диплом учителя, мышечный тонус, соревнования, физическое воспитание, активный отдых, двигательные навыки, физические упражнения, учебный план, делать акцент, уверенный, физическая подготовленность, сустав, гибкость, настойчивый.

Ex. 2. Make as many word combinations as possible.

Ex. 3. Fill in the gaps with the words from the word-box below and translate the sentences into Russian.

Ex. 4. Complete the following statements. Choose one of the alternatives and translate the sentences.

Ex. 5. Look through Text 2A and find sentences where personal, possessive, demonstrative and indefinite pronouns are used. Translate the sentences with them into Russian.

Ex. 6. Write down your extensive comments on the following statements about the main objectives of physical education.

Task 2. Check if these words and word combinations from Text 2B are known to you. If not, try to memorize them.

Task 3. Read Text 2 B to know how physical education began.

Text 2 B. The History of Physical Education

The beginning of physical education can be traced back to the ancient Greeks, who had organized physical education programmes by the 700s B.C.¹ At educational establishments called gymnasia, Greek boys practiced in discus and javelin throwing, jumping, running and wrestling². They also received instruction in mathematics, philosophy and rhetoric³.

The Greeks emphasized the idea of harmony of body and mind in education. This involved the harmonious development of the mental, physical, and spiritual aspects of human personality. Physical education was considered an integral component of the educational programme. Besides strength and courage the Greeks' ideals included grace and beauty of movement and other moral aspects. The sport festivals in ancient Greece celebrated magnificence of movement.

Although physical education was also an integral part of the general education in Roman Empire, its primary value was in military training. Later civilizations used physical training mostly for military purposes, too.

In Europe throughout the Middle Ages⁴ (from the 400s to the 1500s), the spiritual education and aesthetics were viewed most important, and physical and social aspects of human development were almost neglected, and sports and other physical activities were considered sinful5. However, during the Renaissance6, which lasted from the 1300s to the 1600s, a revival of interest in Greek and Roman culture brought a return to competitive and fitness sports and bodybuilding activities.

From the period of Enlightenment7 to the twentieth century, education primarily emphasized intellectual development. However, the necessity of physical education in the form of natural play or organised activities, such as gymnastics and games, was emphasized in writings of Locke, Rousseau, and Spencer8. During the twentieth century the philosophy of education began to change toward the return of the Greek ideals of balance and harmony between mind and body.

In the 1800s physical education programmes were introduced into schools in Germany, Sweden, the United Kingdom and the United States. German and Swedish programmes emphasized gymnastics and exercise routines. The British programmes stressed team sports. The U.S. programmes borrowed from all these European sources.

During the first decades of the twentieth century rigid gymnastic programmes dominated in school syllabuses9, but later in 1930s gymnastics was almost completely substituted by games as they were considered to be most important for socializing children. Only minor attention was given to skill and physical development.

From the early 1940s and until the late 1960s physical education programmes were changed substantially. Increased attention was given to the professional preparation of specialists in physical education as well as classroom teachers. Extensive research in such areas as growth and development, motor learning, and physical performance led to the creation of balanced programmes of physical activities for all levels of education. However, a special emphasis was still placed on physical fitness. Another very important development in the 1900s was the large-scale provision of physical education courses for girls and for people with disabilities.

In recent years PE programmes have been designed to develop in each child knowledge, skill, health, and fitness, and a positive attitude toward participation in recreational activities that can be continued throughout life.

Notes:

Post-reading exercises

Ex. 1. Find in the text the paragraphs describing:

· the Greeks' idea of harmony of body and mind;

· the return to the Greeks' ideals;

· the increase of attention given to the professional preparation of specialists in physical education.

Ex. 2. Choose any two paragraphs from the text and translate them into Russian in written form.

Ex. 3. Write questions to the following answers:

· The ancient Greeks had organized physical education programmes by the 700s B.C.

· The Greeks emphasized the idea of harmony of body and mind in education.

· Later civilizations used physical training mostly for military purposes.

· In Europe throughout the Middle Ages the spiritual education and aesthetics were viewed most important.

· From the period of Enlightenment to the twentieth century, education primarily emphasized intellectual development.

· The necessity of physical education was emphasized by Locke, Rousseau, and Spencer.

· In the 1800s physical education programmes were introduced into schools in Germany, Sweden, the United Kingdom and the United States.

· From the early 1940s and until the late 1960s extensive research in growth and development, motor learning, and physical performance led to the creation of balanced programmes of physical activities.

Ex. 4. Read the statements below and agree to them saying “That's right” or disagree saying “That's wrong”:

· The beginning of physical education can be traced back to the 1800s.

· The Greeks did not emphasize the idea of harmony of body and mind in education.

· The sport festivals in ancient Greece celebrated magnificence of movement.

· In Europe throughout the Middle Ages physical and social aspects of human development were most important.

· During the Renaissance a revival of interest in Greek and Roman culture brought a return to competition and fitness sports and bodybuilding activities.

· Locke, Rousseau, and Spencer stated in their writings that physical activities are not necessary in education.

· The USA created their own PE programmes completely different from all European ones.

· Physical education courses for girls and for people with disabilities were designed in the 20^th century.

Ex. 5. Write your comments on the following points:

· the origin of physical education;

· the changes of attitude towards physical education from the Middle Ages to the 20^th century;

· modern PE programmes.

Task 4. Learn the following school physical education terms you will come across in Text 2C.