Unit 9

Butterflies and Elephants

Activity One:

Overcoming Your Stage Fright Activity Two:

Idioms About Insects

EXTENSIEXTENSIONON

Overcoming Your Stage FrightOvercoming Your Stage Fright

What is “stage fright”?Stage fright is a phenomenon that happens to most of us before giving a speech in front of an audience. However, stage fright usually goes away once the person steps on-stage.

1. Is it true that only shy people have stage fright problem?

Try to answer the following questions about stage fright:

A.YES.

B.No.

Oops! Sorry, wrong answer.

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In fact, many of the top performers in the world get nervous before going on-stage. Having stage fright doesn’t mean you are especially shy.

You’re right! The answer is: NO.

Answer the following question:

What is the best solution to stage fright?

A. Make it disappear.

B. Face it and make good use of it.

C. Try to escape from it.

You’re right! The answer is: B.

Stage fright may come and go or diminish, but it usually doesn’t disappear for good. So the best solution is to learn to control it and use it for your advantage.

Tight throat/trembling voice.

Nausea.

Dry mouth.

Sweaty/cold/shaky hands.

Fast Pulse.

Shaky knees.

And here are some tips for reducing your stage fright:

I. During the preparation stage…II. Before going on stage…

III. Being on stage…

picture resource: http://www.rsm.ac.uk/images/lecture.jpg

Tips for preparing for a speech:1. Read the material to yourself.2. Make a voice recording of your rehearsal.3. Practice in front of a mirror.4. Practice in front of your family or friends.

Before going on stage…

* Be early and give yourself * Be early and give yourself enough time enough time to prepare. to prepare.* Yawn to relax your throat.* Yawn to relax your throat.

* Review your notes.* Review your notes.

* Don’t drink alcohol of coffee * Don’t drink alcohol of coffee or tea or tea with caffeine. with caffeine.* Concentrate on your * Concentrate on your ideas.ideas.

MORE…

* Listen to music.* Listen to music.

* Warm up your voice and * Warm up your voice and muscle in muscle in a private place. a private place.* Examine how you look in a * Examine how you look in a mirror.mirror.* Take deep breaths for * Take deep breaths for several several minutes. minutes.* If you are not hungry, don’t * If you are not hungry, don’t force force yourself to eat. yourself to eat.

When you are on stage…

* If your legs are trembling, * If your legs are trembling, lean on lean on the table or shift legs or the table or shift legs or move.move.* Use eye contact.* Use eye contact.

* Look at the friendliest * Look at the friendliest faces in the faces in the audience. audience.* Don’t put your hands in your * Don’t put your hands in your pockets.pockets.

Conclusion

Remember, stage fright can be helpful as long as you learn control it well. The next time you speak to an audience, don’t forget these useful tips!

reference: http://www.antion.com/articles/stagefright.htm

Idioms About InsectsThere are many interesting idioms

about insects. Sometimes it’s easy to tell the meaning of an insect idiom, but other times it could be difficult !

Now, take a look at the following idioms, and try to guess their meanings before looking at the answers. They may surprise you!

Ready? GO!

B. to keep mentioning or thinking about something you care about a lot

A. to be annoyed by someone

What does it mean?

C. to be very busy

CONGRATULATIONS!

Your answer is correct!

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BACK Next Question

What does it refer to?

A. basic knowledge about sex

B. knowledge about Nature

C. things that are not related

CONGRATULATIONS!

Your answer is correct!

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What does it mean?A. Something dirty

B. something small that spoils one’s fun

C. something very important

CONGRATULATIONS!

Your answer is correct!

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BACK Next Question

What does this mean?

A. to create a lot of problems and arguments

B. to interrupt something

C. to become popular

CONGRATULATIONS!

Your answer is correct!

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BACK Next Question

What does it mean?

A. to be a thief

B. to be able to watch something happening without being noticed

C. to be annoying

CONGRATULATIONS!

Your answer is correct!

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Now, let’s see how these idioms are used in Now, let’s see how these idioms are used in sentences! Read the following four sentences sentences! Read the following four sentences and choose the best answer:and choose the best answer:

1. I wish I’d been _______ when Mom and Dad had their secret talk.

A. a fly in the ointment

B. a fly on the wall

C. a bee in my bonnet

2. My mother told me about ____ when I was twelve years old.

A. a fly on the wall

B. the birds and the bees

C. ants in her pants

You’re right! The answer is: B.

3. The annoying boy who kept making noises during the movie was really ____.

A. a fly in the ointment

B. a fly on the wall

C. as busy as a bee

You’re right! The answer is: B.

4. He ____ about immigrating to France and never stops talking about it.

A. has butterflies in his stomach

B. stirs up a hornet’s nest

C. has a bee in his bonnet

You’re right! The answer is: A.

If you are interested in learning If you are interested in learning more idioms about animals, you more idioms about animals, you can find them on the internet. can find them on the internet.

WELL DONE!WELL DONE!