新编英语教程 3 Unit 5 The Light at the End of the Chunnel.docVIP

Unit 5 The Light at the End of the Chunnel Teaching objectives 1. to be familiar with narration in informal tone 2. to get a good understanding about the relationship between France and the Great Britain from the historical viewpoint Teaching procedure I. Pre-reading questions: 1. As far you know, do you think transportation plays an essential role in a country’s development? How and in what aspects? 2. What is the significance of English Channel Tunnel? 3. How did the English and the French people look at the Chunnel, joyously or resentfully? Why do you think so? I. The English Channel 1.English Channel, narrow sea, western Europe, separates France and Great Britain(known in French as La Manche (“the sleeve”). 2.Its principal islands are the Isle of Wight and the Channel Islands. 3.The channel is at its narrowest between Dover in England and Cape Gris-Nez, near Calais, in France, it being 34km wide. II. Background knowledge 1. The function of the English Channel 1) as a route for invaders of Britain from the Continent: a. crossed by Julius Caesar’s legion in 55B.C. b. Norman forces in 1066 2) As a barrier: Napoleon and Hitler threatened to cross it, they failed. 3) The Channel has chiefly served as a physical barrier to the invasion of Britain. 2. The long-lasting Anglo-French conflict 1) In 1066, William, Duke of Normandy, France, conquered England and became King William I of England. 2) In 1154 King Henry II recovered the English throne. France assisted Scotland, over which the English kings attempted to dominate. These sources of friction led to fighting between the 2 countries from 1294-1337. 3) In 1337, Edward III of England took the title of King of France.this step began the Hundred Years’ War which continued on and off until 1453. 4) During King Henry VIII’s reign(1509-1547), England again invaded France and expanded its holdings around Calais. 5) From 1689to 1815 there was a series of conflicts between Britain and France for domination of