Urban vs. Rural
Name: Dave Armour
Time Required: 45 minutes to an hour
Area(s) of Emphasis: Listening Reading Conversation Writing

Students' Level of English: Intermediate Advanced
Materials Needed:
Copies of the handout below for each pair or group.

Objective(s): Students will be able to:
practice listening and reading
articulate their thoughts in a guided discussion
write a response to a fictional character's problem

Procedure:
Students get in pairs or groups.
Each pair or group receives a copy of the handout. Teacher reads aloud while
students follow along. Teacher explains any new vocabulary.
Students discuss questions.

Decision Role-Play

Tommy grew up on his parents' farm. As the only child, Tommy had a lot of
responsibility. Every morning he got up 4a.m. to milk the cow and do his chores.
He started helping out when he was four years old and didn't stop working on the
farm until he left for college when he was eighteen. It was a hard, but
rewarding childhood. It shaped his personality. In college he went against his
father's desire for him to study biology or agriculture. Instead he studied
Marketing. While in college he fell deeply in love with a beautiful girl from
Tokyo, Japan. He's sure he could never find a better woman to be his wife.

The problem he faces now is what he will do after graduation. His girlfriend
wants to get married, and so does he. She wants Tommy to move with her to Japan,
or at least a big city on the west coast near other Japanese people. She doesn't
want to live in rural America where people don't understand Japanese culture.
She is worried that if they live in the countryside, their children will never
learn about their Japanese cultural heritage. In addition, she is allergic to
farm animals. Tommy's parents, however, want Tommy to take over the farm. The
farm has been in his family since before the Revolution. Tommy's great great
great grandfather invented a unique kind of cheese. Only Tommy's father knows
the process and he wants to teach it to Tommy before he retires. While Tommy's
parents don't object to him having a Japanese girlfriend, Tommy's father said he
would disown him if he didn't come back to the farm. Graduation is only 6 weeks
away. Tommy's father will retire next year and is already showing signs of bad
health. What will Tommy do?

Roles: Tommy Tommy's girlfriend Tommy's dadTommy's mom
   

First choose your role. Second, try to convince Tommy to agree with you. Tommy
will remain non-committal, but will ask challenging questions to both sides.
After 5 minutes, Tommy will leave the room. The others will predict Tommy's
decision. Tommy will reenter the room, state his decision, and explain his
reasons.

DISCUSSION:

1. What would you do if you were Tommy? Tommy's dad? Tommy' mom? Tommy's
girlfriend?

2. Do you prefer the rural or urban life? What are the pros and cons of each?

3. How important is family history to you? How does it influence your decision?

4. How important is love (romance) to you? How does it influence your decisions?

5. What do you think of Tommy's girlfriends concerns about culture?

6. Predict Tommy's future.

7. Write a letter to Tommy giving him advice.