Ask some students to present their articles about their past and future What do you think about their past and future?

Read the first passage and answer the following questions Is the writer old or young? How do you know that? What time does the writer consider to be the happiness of his life? Why does the writer think those days were happy? What does the writer think young people can do while old people cannot?

Is the writer old or young? How do you know that? The writer is old. He says “when I was young”, implying he is not young any more. What time does the writer consider to be the happiest of his life? His days at school were the happiest of his life. Why does the writer think those days were happy? He didn’t have worries and could spend all day with his friends. All he had to do was to go to school. His parents took care of everything. At the weekends, see friends, visit grandparents, read books and play sports. Didn’t need to think about problems or worry. In a word, he could fully enjoy himself.

What does the writer think young people can do while old people can’t? Young people are healthy, so they can stay happy and cheerful. They seem never tired and feel they can do anything. When people get old, their bodies ache. old people can get tired easily and must be careful not to be hurt themselves.

Read the second passage and answer the following questions. Is the writer a teenager or an adult? How do you know that? Why does the writer think that his or her happiest days will be in the future? What does the writer think an adult can do while a teenager can’t? Why does the writer think it is nice to think the happiest days are still ahead of time?

Is the writer a teenager or an adult? How do you know that? A teenager. The writer says “I will be happy because I will be an adult.” Why does the writer think that his or her happiest days will be in the future? In the future, people will be healthier and live longer, they will never worry about illness because of new technology. There will be no war, pollution or hunger. People will enjoy only work four hours on weekdays, and all the jobs will be interesting. Robots and computers can do many things for people. The family members can spend more time enjoying each other’s company.

What does the writer think an adult can do while a teenager can’t? An adult can make his or her own decisions and do things he or she enjoys. He or she can have a job that he or she likes and finds happiness in being successful at it. Teenagers have to work hard at school and should always be doing or learning things, so they don’t have time to relax. Why does the writer think it is nice to think the happiest days are still ahead of time? It gives the writer the motivation to work hard now.

Fill in the following table according to the passages. teenagersOld people advantagesdisadvantagesadvantagesdisadvantages

Language points

It is nice to look back on my school days in the countryside in England. (1) it be / become + adj + to do sth. it be / become + adj + of sb. + to do (kind, polite, friendly, foolish, cruel, nice) It be / become + adj+ for sb.+ to do important, necessary, possible, unusual, popular, natural) (2) look back on : to think about sth. In your past

It’s kind of you to help me. You are kind to help me. How kind of you to help me. It is unusual for the students to work out the maths problem. It is important for us all to learn English well.

He used to sit there, looking back on his happy childhood. When he saw the old photos, he couldn’t help looking back on the days he spent with his grandpa. Look up look out look on/ upon look into look forward to look down on look after look over look through

I had all my friends around me and encouragement and guidance of my family. (1)encouragement encourage sb to do discourage sb from doing My teacher encouraged me to take a summer course to improve my writing skills. The weather discouraged most of us from attending the meeting.

(2)guidance guide 指导 guided 有指导的 Guiding 给予指导的 under the guidance/ direction/ leadership of 在 … 指导 / 领导下

My whole life was still ahead of time. ahead of (1) further forward in space or time than sb or sth. In front of sb/ sth. (2) earlier than sb/ sth (3)further advanced than sb in a race or competition. There were three men ahead of me. He finished his homework ahead of time She was always well ahead of the rest of her class.

At that point in my life, I could have done anything or became anybody. at the point At that point, I didn’t care what you decided to do. at/ on the point of 就要到 … 时候，接近

I remember sometimes feeling in a rush to grow up and be independent, … (1) rush: a situation in which you are in a hurry and need to do things quickly. What’s the rush? (2) in a rush I can’t stop--- I’m in a rush. The words came in a rush.

Technology will guarantee good health and happiness for all. Guarantee (1) promise sth with certainty to sb. (2) undertake to be legally responsible for (3)likely to happen I can guarantee it is true—I saw it myself. I guarantee to pay debts. His turning up will guarantee the success of the meeting.

We will have robots and computers to assist us with the things that are boring. (1)assist /help sb with (2)assist/help sb to do sth. (3)assist/help sb in doing sth. She assisted me with my English. She assisted me to learn English. She assisted me in learning English.

…spend time enjoying each other’s company… (1) a business organization (2) being together with another or others I’ll stay here and keep you company. He joined the company in in company with keep sb company in the company of have company

…there is always someone telling us things we should be doing or learning. There is n+ doing. There is a pretty girl standing at the school gate. There is some progress made by him. There is a lot of work to do.

What is the first writer’s opinion on happiness? And what about the second writer’s?

Do you think happiness lies in the past or the future? Do you remember a specific happy event, or a general feeling of happiness?

Planning Divide the class into four group Discuss the two questions Preparing Discuss the information each group member has talked about Make a list of points that each group comes up with.

Producing Write the essay Check the essay Put all the essays together and make the cover of the handbook Presenting Present the handbook to the class