Unit 1 ASPIRE TO WIN Theme : Sports Sub themes : Sportsman spirit Motivation Family support Hard work for success Overcoming obstacles by perseverance Optimism and confidence Necessity of mental and physical health Empathy Diligence Goal setting Learning Outcomes The learners will be able to: 1.1 read and comprehend stories, autobiographies and poems. 1.2 enhance their vocabulary by guessing the meaning from the context and by referring to a dictionary. 1.3 read, enjoy and appreciate poems. 1.4 get themselves familiarised with poetic craft and devices. 1.5 listen with comprehension 1.6 engage in performance based activities like commentary, announcement, group discussions etc. and enhance their communicative skills. 1.7 read and understand blogs and create their own blogs as a means of self expression, creativity and communication. 1.8 think critically and creatively. 1.9 construct discourses like character sketch, curriculum vitae, profile, blog- writing, write-up etc. 1.10 understand and apply language elements like 'if' clauses, linkers, subject- verb agreement, and various types of questions. 1.11 understand the usage of idioms in English. 1.12 develop a positive attitude towards sports and games as a means of national integration and unity. 1.13 inculcate team spirit and sportsman spirit. 1.14 develop a positive attitude to life by cultivating an optimistic approach to everything. 1.15 understand the need for support, courage and confidence to face problems in life. 47 48 Concepts and Discourses values Announcement Elements of Grammar Sportsmanship Language skills Commentary Team-spirit Group discussion Language elements Positive attitude to: Resume Discourses - life Profile Vocabulary - society Blogging Game - nation Write-up The Race (Story) by Nisha Punjabi) Twice a Week the Learning the Game Winter Thorough (Autobiography) (Poem) by Sachin Ramesh Tendulkar by A. E. Houseman UNIT FRAME - UNIT I Concepts/Skills Process/Activities with Learning Assessment Outcomes • The Race - individual reading 1.1 - reading, comprehending and - group activities 1.2 enjoying the story - pair work 1.13 - enrichment of vocabulary - group discussions 1.14 - being motivated to achieve a - storyboard making 1.15 goal through perseverance - need for empathy Activities 1. Character sketch - identifying different traits in - individual work 1.9 one's personality - assessment - developing the writing skill of the learner 2. Discussion & Write-up - awareness about a healthy - group activity and 1.6 life style-both mental and individual work 1.8 physical - assessment 1.5 - developing the speaking skill of the learner - enhancing writing skills 3. Announcement - performance skills - individual work 1.6 - speaking with good - ICT enabled learning 1.5 modulation, proper accent - self assessment and intonation 4. Curriculum Vitae (Resume) - individual work 1.9 - getting familiarised with - assessment curriculum vitae (Resume) - transfering of information 5. Commentary - having the presence of mind - individual work 1.6 and creativity to maintain - assessment 1.5 the real feeling of the event - peer group - performance skill in live reporting - speaking with good modulation, proper accent and intonation - enhancement of listening skills - ICT enabled learning • Learning the Game - familiarisation with the literary - group activity 1.1 genre of autobiography - individual activity 1.2 - reading and comprehension - assessment 1.12 - introduction to the childhood 1.13 experiences of Sachin 1.14 Tendulkar 1.15 - role of family and teachers in one's achievement in life and career 49 Concepts/Skills Process/Activities with Learning Assessment Outcomes 1. Write-up - gathering relevant - group activity 1.8 information and - assessment 1.9 sequencing them - enhancement of writing skill 2. Profile - framing meaningful - individual work 1.9 sentences from hints - group activity - writing skill enhancement - assessment 3. Blogging - familiarisation with blog- - ICT enabled learning 1.7 writing - individual activity - making blogs for the - group activity expression of one's - assessment creativity - ICT enabled learning • Twice a Week the Winter Thorough - reading and enjoying poems - individual reading 1.2 - appreciating the poetic - assessment 1.3 devices - ICT enabled learning 1.4 Vocabulary 1.11 - reference skill - individual work 1.10 Language Elements - application skill - individual activity 50 Unit overview This unit consists of ‘The Race’, a story by Nisha Punjabi, ‘Learning the Game’, an excerpt from the autobiography of Sachin Ramesh Tendulkar, and a poem ‘Twice a Week the Winter Thorough’ by A. E. Houseman. All the literary pieces in the unit unfold as to how a good sportsman is moulded by perseverance, motivation and self-confidence. The unit is intended to develop sportsmanship and confidence in the learners. It helps the learners to raise their health consciousness and to develop a healthy life style, to generate sound mental health and also offers them ample opportunity to enhance their language competency. The unit envisages the learners to construct and deliver performance level discourses like live commentary, announcement and group discussion, with a view to developing their speaking skills. Other discourses like character sketch, write-up, curriculum vitae, profile etc. are targeted towards enhancing writing skills. The learners also become privileged to make use of modern social media and ICT possibilities like blog-writing/blogging. 51 THE RACE About the author individual. Nisha Punjabi, a graduate in English Background of the text Literature and Economics, is a freelance The Children's Book Trust of India, writer based in Lucknow, India. From New Delhi, conducted a story writing 2004 to 2005, she was employed by the competition in the sports category for the Lucknow Times, the daily magazine of writers of children's books in 2001 and The Times of India as a freelancer to write the prize winning entries were published for them. Nisha Punjabi is introduced to under the title 15 Sports Stories. The story the learner as a budding woman writer of ‘The Race’ by Nisha Punjabi is one among India. them. All the stories in the collection are About the text aimed at inspiring children to play the Many teachers and parents are still under game in the spirit of the game. the notion that good grades in academics Gist of the story define the excellence of a learner. But Tarun, a mediocre student, is always there are many great personalities who blamed by his parents for his low grades have created history in various realms, in and tardy nature. The thought that he is spite of their weak scores and low grades poor in everything drains his self- during their school/college days. We confidence. But he has an intense wish have instances of many such sports to be a fast runner. He gives vent to his personalities who have achieved bitter feelings by running. On one such worldwide recognition. occasion, he accidentally meets a veteran Though often pursued for pleasure, sport athlete and coach, Ram Narayan, who is an activity that requires physical effort, identifies his talent in running and agrees appropriate skill, sheer hard work and a to train him provided he wins the race on strong will to win. It helps the all-round Children's Day. In spite of his daily development of an individual. It teaches practice, he not only fails but also discipline and tolerance, and inculcates finishes last in the race. Still Ram Narayan healthy competition. Tarun, the agrees to train him in recognition of his protagonist of the story `The Race` has strong will and perseverance. the goal of becoming a good runner even Title and Titular picture though he is an under-achiever in his You may initiate a discussion on the title studies. He becomes a model sportsman 'Aspire to Win', and the titular picture. by his determination and perseverance. Using the questions given at the beginning The story is told in a simple language, of the unit or your own questions, you while at the same time, maintaining the may lead the discussion to the theme and suspense of the competition. A real life sub themes of the unit. Any other relevant context is presented in the story. It also pictures or suitable ICT possibilities also establishes the need for support and may be utilised to sensitise the learners. motivation for the success of an 52 However, it has to be kept in mind that • Narrate an incident you want to wipe ample opportunities are to be given to the out from your memory. learners to come up with their divergent • How do you try to overcome your thoughts. sorrow when you are scolded by your e.g. Can these two players alone bring parents or teachers or elders? success to their team? II. Tarun's meeting and interaction Learners may agree or disagree. Accept with Ram Narayan their responses and let them substantiate. After individual reading of the Sum up the discussion in such a way that paragraphs, you may discuss the questions it can be linked with the story 'The Race'. 4-8. Then the learners may be paired and Text analysis let them write down the utterances of Ram You may divide the story into meaningful Narayan and Tarun separately. Random sub units for effective classroom presentation in the form of dialogue transaction. One such division may be as rendering may be done in the class. follows: III. Tarun's preparations for the race I. From the beginning till Tarun till he receives the entry card for releasing his pent-up emotions the race The paragraphs may be assigned to the You may instruct the learners to read the learners to be read individually. Let them passages and to record their responses to sit in groups and discuss their responses the scaffolding questions 9-11. Then you to the questions given along side. may initiate a discussion on their For linking the paragraphs with the responses. learners' real life experiences, you may IV.