UNIT 5

INSIDE THE BRAIN

Nguyen Bich Ngoc, M.A.

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 WARMING UP: BRAIN GAMES

File video: Link

Source: National Geographic

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 OBJECTIVES

After this lesson, students will be able to:

• Listening
▪ Listen for specific information
▪ Listen for main ideas
• Pronunciation:
▪ Linking Sounds
• Speaking
▪ Making suggestions during group work

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 OVERVIEW

5.1 Building vocabulary 5.3 Speaking

5.3.1 Spoken English

5.2 Listening

5.3.2 Presentation skills

5.2.1 Listening to a documentary

5.2.2 Listening to a conversation

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 5.1. BUILDING VOCABULARY

Listen. Notice the words in blue. These are our focused words of this topic. Then, read out loud the text to
practice your pronunciation.
Facts to Make You Think about Your Brain
Sources: www.nursingassistantcentral.com,www.tasttyhuman.com/30-interesting-facts-about-the-human-brain/
1. Every time you have a new thought or recall a memory, your brain creates a new connection or pathway.
2. Even without words, you can understand when someone is happy, sad, or angry. There is a small area in
your brain called the amygdala that helps you “read” other people’s faces and understand their moods.
3. The belief that we only use a tiny amount (10 percent) of our brains is false. Each part of the brain has a
function, so we use 100 percent of our brains.
4. Learning something new can change the structure of the brain in just seven days. If you want to change
your brain quickly, you should try learning a new skill like juggling, or playing a musical instrument.

File audio: Link

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 5.1. BUILDING VOCABULARY

Listen. Notice the words in blue. These are our focused words of this topic. Then, read out loud the text to
practice your pronunciation. (cont.)
5. The things you do, eat, smell, and touch every day all generate thoughts. The average person experiences
approximately 70,000 thoughts a day.
6. Your brain is an amazing, complex organ. It contains more than 100 billion neurons that are always
sending messages. But not all neurons are the same: different neurons send messages at different
speeds.
7. Every time you think, laugh, or sneeze, it’s because chemical signals are moving from neuron to neuron.
Your brain is a very powerful organ. In fact, when you are awake, your brain generates between 10 and 23
watts of electricity – or enough power to power a light buld.
8. The hypothalamus is the part of your brain that controls your body temperature. It know your correct body
temperature (98.6 degrees Farenheit/37 degrees Celsius). When you get too hot, it makes you sweat.
When you get too cold, it makes you shiver.

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 5.1. BUILDING VOCABULARY

Exercise 1: Write the correct word into the blanks

connection 1. _______________ (v.) to produce

moods 2. _______________ (n.) things that carry information
tiny 3. _______________ (v.) makes someone or something do what you want
function 4. _______________ (adj.) having many parts
structure 5. _______________ (n.) the rates at which things move
generate 6. _______________ (n.) something that is made of parts that are connected
complex 7. _______________ (adj.) very small
speeds 8. _______________ (n.) a use or purpose
signals 9. _______________ (n.) the ways you are feeling at a particular time
controls 10. _______________ (n.) the place where two things are joined together

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 5.1. BUILDING VOCABULARY

Exercise 1: Answers

generate
1. _______________ (v.) to produce
2. _______________
signals (n.) things that carry information
controls
3. _______________ (v.) makes someone or something do what you want
complex
4. _______________ (adj.) having many parts
speeds
5. _______________ (n.) the rates at which things move
structure
6. _______________ (n.) something that is made of parts that are connected
7. _______________
tiny (adj.) very small
function
8. _______________ (n.) a use or purpose
moods
9. _______________ (n.) the ways you are feeling at a particular time
connection (n.) the place where two things are joined together
10. _______________

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 5.1. BUILDING VOCABULARY

Exercise 2: Pronunciation - Practice pronouncing these word

connection
moods
tiny
function
structure
generate
complex
speeds
signals
controls

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 5.1. BUILDING VOCABULARY

Exercise 3: Fill in the blanks with the words you have just learnt

1. The heart has a very important ___________. It moves blood through the body.
2. The new art museum is a very interesting ____________. It’s made of glass and shaped like a pyramid.
3. Airplanes move at very high _______________. Most planes fly at about 500 miles (805 kilometres) per
hour.
4. It’s amazing that water, wind, and our brains can all __________ electricity!
5. Brain cells are very _____________. You can’t see them without a microscope.
6. When you are driving and you see a red traffic light, it’s a __________ to stop.
7. Allen seems like he’s in a bad ______________ today. I think it’s because his team lost last night.
8. Our landlord ________________ the heat in our apartment. We can’t change it ourselves.
9. My hotel room doesn’t have internet ______________, so I can’t send email.
10. Russian is a very ___________________ language. It has a different alphabet and the grammar and
pronunciation are very difficult.
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 5.1. BUILDING VOCABULARY

Exercise 3: Answers

1. The heart has a very important function. It moves blood through the body.
2. The new art museum is a very interesting structure. It’s made of glass and shaped like a pyramid.
3. Airplanes move at very high speeds. Most planes fly at about 500 miles (805 kilometres) per hour.
4. It’s amazing that water, wind, and our brains can all generate electricity!
5. Brain cells are very tiny. You can’t see them without a microscope.
6. When you are driving and you see a red traffic light, it’s a signal to stop.
7. Allen seems like he’s in a bad mood today. I think it’s because his team lost last night.
8. Our landlord controls the heat in our apartment. We can’t change it ourselves.
9. My hotel room doesn’t have internet connection, so I can’t send email.
10. Russian is a very complex language. It has a different alphabet and the grammar and pronunciation are
very difficult.
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 5.2. LISTENING

5.2.1. Listening to a documentary 5.2.2. Listening to a conversation

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 5.2.1. LISTENING TO A DOCUMENTARY

Predicting Content

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 5.2.1. LISTENING TO A DOCUMENTARY

Listening for Main Ideas

Exercise 4: Listen again and put a check (✓) next to the main ideas:
❑ Your brain is a very important and complex organ.
❑ Your brain tells your muscles what to do.
❑ Your brain is very powerful.
❑ Your brain can send messages very quickly.
❑ Your brain helps you protect your pets.
❑ Learning changes your brain.
❑ Exercise helps you learn.

File audio: Link

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 5.2.1. LISTENING TO A DOCUMENTARY

Listening for Main Ideas

Exercise 4: Answers
✓ Your brain is a very important and complex organ.
❑ Your brain tells your muscles what to do.
❑ Your brain is very powerful.
✓ Your brain can send messages very quickly.
❑ Your brain helps you protect your pets.
❑ Learning changes your brain.
❑ Exercise helps you learn.

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 5.2.1. LISTENING TO A DOCUMENTARY

Listening for Details.

Exercise 5: Read the statements below. Then listen again and circle T for True or F for False.

1. Your brain weighs five pounds T F

2. Computers can process information more quickly than our brains can. T F

3. Your brain contains about 100 million neurons. T F

4. Motor neurons can send information at 200 miles per hour. T F

5. Exercise can improve your mood. T F

6. Exercise produces chemicals that make it easier to learn. T F

File audio: Link

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 5.2.1. LISTENING TO A DOCUMENTARY

Listening for Details.

Exercise 5: Answers

1. Your brain weighs five pounds F

2. Computers can process information more quickly than our brains can. F

3. Your brain contains about 100 million neurons. F

4. Motor neurons can send information at 200 miles per hour. T

5. Exercise can improve your mood. T

6. Exercise produces chemicals that make it easier to learn. T

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 5.2.2. LISTENING TO A CONVERSATION

File audio: Link

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 5.2.2. LISTENING TO A CONVERSATION

Practice the conversation

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 5.2.2. LISTENING TO A CONVERSATION

Listening for Main Ideas

Exercise 6: Listen to the conversation. What conclusions do the students make about
short-term and long-term memory. Arrange these points into the correct category:

• Only lasts for a few seconds Short-term memory Long-term memory

• Requires concentration
• Lasts long
• Helps us remember an immediate
question
• Requires a lot of brain work
• Helps us learn how to ride a bike
File audio: Link

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 5.2.2. LISTENING TO A CONVERSATION

Listening for Main Ideas

Exercise 6: Answers
Short-term memory Long-term memory

• Only lasts for a few • Requires concentration

seconds • Lasts long
• Helps us remember an • Requires a lot of brain
immediate question work
• Helps us learn how to ride
a bike

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 5.2.2. LISTENING TO A CONVERSATION

Listening for Details

Exercise 7: Listen again and complete these sentences

1. To create a long-term memory, your brain has to……………
2. To learn new information, you have to…………..
3. To learn how to ride a bicycle, you have to…………….

File audio: Link

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 5.2.2. LISTENING TO A CONVERSATION

Listening for Details

Exercise 7: Answers
1. To create a long-term memory, your brain has to decide that something is important
2. To learn new information, you have to concentrate / focus
3. To learn how to ride a bicycle, you have to do it again and again

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 5.3. SPEAKING

5.3.1. Pronunciation 5.3.2. Spoken English

5.3.3. Presentation Skills

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 5.3.1. PRONUNCIATION

Linking Sounds

Linking Sounds Examples

It’s a fascinating job.

Consonant – Vowel
He walked in the shop.

You just need to do it

Vowel – Vowel
He asked a question

Consonant – Same The book will certainly be interesting

Consonant I want a pet turtle

I cleaned the house myself

Consonant - Consonant
She is the top student in the class.
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 5.3.1. PRONUNCIATION

Exercise 8: Listen and identify the types of linking used in each sentence. Choose C-V for consonant-
vowel, V-V for vowel-vowel, and C-SC for consonant – same consonant. Then, read the sentence out loud.

1. Your brain controls everything you do. ___C-V____

2. Your brain generates enough energy to power a light buld. __________
3. The activity in your brain never stops. __________
4. Your brain sends a message to your foot to shake the bee off quickly. __________
5. Any exercise that makes your heart beat faster can help your mood. __________
6. Your body produces a chemical that makes it easier to learn. __________

File audio: Link

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 5.3.1. PRONUNCIATION

Exercise 8: Answers

1. Your brain controls everything you do. ___C-V____

2. Your brain generates enough energy to power a light buld. ___C-V____
3. The activity in your brain never stops. ___C-SC____
4. Your brain sends a message to your foot to shake the bee off quickly. ___V-V____
5. Any exercise that makes your heart beat faster can help your mood. ___V-V____
6. Your body produces a chemical that makes it easier to learn. ___C-V____

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 5.3.2. SPOKEN ENGLISH

Making Suggestions

We use the modal could to make suggestions.

You could talk to the professor and explain the problem.

Here are some other expressions we use to make suggestions.

(You) might want to take the exam again.
Let’s study after class.
Why don’t you/we do the worksheet at home?
You could try to imagine the situation in a different way.
Maybe you should study with a friend.

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 5.3.2. SPOKEN ENGLISH

Exercise 9: Complete the Mike: I have to pick my cousin up at the airport on Friday, so I can't go to
conversation with the phrases class. Do you think Professor Harris will let me hand my paper in on
to make suggestions. In some
Monday instead?
places, more than one phrase
can be used Eric: I'm not sure. (1) _____________ you hand it in on Thursday instead?
Mike: I don't think I can finish it by then.
• You could/ You might Eric: Well, you (2) _____________ email it to her on Friday.
• Let’s Mike: Good idea. I'm going to try to talk to her after class.
• Why don’t you/we Eric: You (3) _____________ want to tell her before class starts, because I
• You could try think she has a class right after ours.
• Maybe you should Mike: OK, thanks. (4) _____________ stop at the Student Center before
class and get something to eat.
Eric: Sounds good. I haven't eaten lunch yet.
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 5.3.2. SPOKEN ENGLISH

Exercise 9: Answers and Practice the conversation

Mike: I have to pick my cousin up at the airport on Friday, so I can't go to class. Do you think Professor Harris
will let me hand my paper in on Monday instead?
Eric: I'm not sure. (1) Why don’t/Could you hand it in on Thursday instead?
Mike: I don't think I can finish it by then.
Eric: Well, you (2) could try to/ could/ might email it to her on Friday.
Mike: Good idea. I'm going to try to talk to her after class.
Eric: You (3) might want to tell her before class starts, because I think she has a class right after ours.
Mike: OK, thanks. (4) Let’s stop at the Student Center before class and get something to eat.
Eric: Sounds good. I haven't eaten lunch yet.

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 5.3.2. SPOKEN ENGLISH

Read these problems. What do you suggest they do? Use the phrases you’ve learnt

• You could/ You might

• Let’s
• Why don’t you/we
• You could try
• Maybe you should

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 5.3.2. SPOKEN ENGLISH

Read these problems. What do you suggest they do? Use the phrases you’ve learnt (cont.)

• You could/ You might

• Let’s
• Why don’t you/we
• You could try
• Maybe you should

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 5.3.3. PRESENTATION SKILLS

Making Suggestions during Group Work

Here are some expressions you can use to make polite suggestions during group work.
Why don’t we write our ideas on the board?

Let’s make a list of possible ideas first.

I suggest we talk about our ideas first, then write them down…

Can we brainstorm some ideas for our topic?

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 5.2.3. PRESENTATION SKILLS

Making Suggestions during Group Work (cont.)

Here are some expressions you can use to make polite suggestions during group work.
Why don’t we write our ideas on the board?

Let’s make a list of possible ideas first.

I suggest we talk about our ideas first, then write them down…

Can we brainstorm some ideas for our topic?

Challenge: Find at least 2 colleagues or friends who you often have to discuss work with. Try to discuss with
them in English using these phrases. Share your results in the Forum (you can video or record audio)

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 SUMMARY

• Vocabulary about Brain

• Listen to a documentary
• Listen to a conversation
• Linking sounds
• Suggestions during group work

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