Introduction: Categorized List

A. With your study group, review the list: form (pronunciation, spelling, word parts, word forms), meaning, usage.

B. Prepare a speaking topic.

Paraphrase the quote.

Discuss a Randy Pausch example.

Add one of your own examples.

Use 5 - 7 lexical chunks from the chapter. Use grammar chunks, too.

Practice with your buddy.

Academic Word List + other long words

adjective + noun

Logistical things

adverb + verb

Lectures are routinely videotaped

hifalutin nouns

I talked about honesty, integrity, gratitude

Getting exercise is crucial for my health

Idioms + other useful expressions

For the most part

Feel sorry for (myself)

That wouldn't do (them), (or me), any good

Teach their children right from wrong

how to deal with challenges

Spent countless (hours)

Turn (my stories) into (the book that follows)

But (engineering) isn't about (perfect solutions); it's about (doing the best you can with limited resources).

Grammar as Lexis ("chunks")

If I were a painter, I would have painted for them.

If I were a musician, I would have composed music for them. But I am a lecturer. So I lectured.

Speaking Topic

Paraphrase the quote; discuss a Randy Pausch example; add one of your own examples.

In your talk, use 5 - 7 vocabulary items from the chapter. Practice with your buddy.

"I have an engineering problem. While for the most part I'm in terrific physical shape, I have ten tumors in my liver and I have only a few months left to live….But engineering isn't about perfect solutions; it's about doing the best you can with limited resources." (p. ix - x)

THE LAST LECTURE

Chapter 1: An Injured Lion Still Wants to Roar

I. Chronological List

A. Read the list, then predict: what will this chapter be about? Write a sentence or two here.

B. Read and listen to the CD at the same time: in pencil, underline the words you recognize, mark the stress.

consider their demise

ruminate on what matters most

can't help but mull (something over)

What wisdom would we impart to the world if he knew

it was our last chance?

If we had to vanish tomorrow, what would we want as our legacy?

been diagnosed with pancreatic cancer

had to throw myself into getting my family's affairs in order

was leery of this whole last lecture idea

couldn't let go of my urge to give this last lecture

the idea of the last lecture

if I gave it my all

is confronting a terminal illness

overwhelming issues we were grappling with

equivalent

was often moved by our commitment

weigh in on

given Jai's reticence

an urge to show off

It'll help them understand who I was and what I cared about.

Jai (=jay)heard me out

Maybe she had me there

natural habitat

It doesn't hurt to get some external validation

She finally relented

I'd been yearning to find ways to leave a legacy

an avenue for that

Jai's green light

something that would resonate with

I felt compelled to address

bouncing my thoughts off her

More than 37,000 Americans a year are diagnosed with pancreatic cancer alone

how I defined myself

roles I valued

Did any of those roles set me apart?

It came to me in a flash

my accomplishments

were rooted in

the specifics of the dreams, from incredibly meaningful to decidedly quirky

had lived out my dreams

fueled by this epiphany

C. Do vocabulary exercises. Self-correct and/or work with a buddy.

Academic Word List + other long words

1.1 Match the beginning of each sentence with its ending.

1. In his book, Prof. Pausch wanted to honor he wants to impart some wisdom to his kids.

2. Not many people have to consider their demise decidedly quirky.

3. Though Pausch doesn't believe he's so wise, the many extraordinary people he'd known.

4. Pausch gives the last lecture in order to achieving his childhood dreams.

5. Also, Pausch wants to leave a legacy at the young age of 46.

6. It's hard to accept that one so young it would be away to define himself for the kids.

7. Pausch's love for Disneyland is for his three young children.

8. He decided that what made him unique was get some external validation.

9. As they were confronting a terminal illness, Jai did not think a last lecture was a good idea.

10. She relented when Randy convinced her that has been diagnosed with a termal disease.

1.2 Complete the invented conversation using chunks from the "idioms + other useful expressions" list.

Read aloud with your buddy.

Jai: Randy, why …......... you just …………… this idea of the last lecture? Why do you insist?

Randy: Well, it's important to me. It's what I know how to do. Why ……… you so …………… it?

Jai: There's so little time left together, and you're a ……………….. We'll never see you.

Randy: Yeah, but I'm ………………………leave a legacy. Could you just ………. me ………….?

Jai: OK. You can ………………………………….off of me. I'm listening.

Randy: I've always thrown……………………………….my work and my family.

Jai: True.

Randy: Plus I have an…………………show off. You know me.

Jai: Why not just set up a video camera in the living room and talk to the kids?

Randy: I've considered that, but I need some external validation. I'm a lecturer, so I need to lecture.

Jai: It's true. That is what you have………………. OK, I understand. Even on my birthday, I'll support you to give your last lecture.

1.3 Rewrite each sentence using the Academic List Word in brackets. Read aloud.

1. I think my message will communicate with students and with our children. [resonate with]

2. Dr. Pausch wanted to think about what was most important to him in life. [ruminate on]

3. Although he disagreed with his wife, Pausch was willing to give in to her opinion. [defer to]

4. After thinking for a long time, Paush finally had a brainstorm: what made him unique were his childhood dreams and how he'd achieved them. [epiphany]

5. What would you talk about if you had to disappear in a few months? [vanish]

6. Pausch had to pack all of his fatherly lessons into one hour-long lecture. [the equivalent of]

7. To his wife, Jai, the last lecture seemed like a distraction from the more important tasks. [unnecessary diversion]

8. In the end, the last lecture turned out to be a very important legacy. [incredibly meaningful]

1.4 Underline and then correct the six collocation errors in this paragraph. Read aloud.

In Chapter 1 of his book, Pausch compares himself to an injured lion who still wants to roar. Despite his wife's objections, he argues passionately that giving a last lecture is a very important way for him to say good-bye to his students and colleagues, as well as to legacy a leave for his children. It is a way for him to "roar," an avenue for making something meaningful incredibly out of a seemingly inexplicable death.

Jai's position is completely understandable given it is she who will have to raise the three young children by herself. It is she who needs diversion no unnecessary as she moves the entire family and tries to imagine a life without her husband. To her, the logistical issues of moving, financial planning, making new friends, and learning how to manage the family on her own are nearly overwhelming. Even if they are people extraordinary, she wants her husband to look his motivations at. It could be meaningful incredibly just to spend time with the kids, perhaps videotape them playing together. After all, he had to give the equivalent of a lifetime of lessons in only a few months. He wants them to know who we was and what his values were. In the end, she sees his point and gives him the green light. She comes to see his last lecture as a vehicle for her husband to ride into the future.

THE LAST LECTURE

Chapter 1: An Injured Lion Still Wants to Roar