The Case of the Disrespectful Teacher

Mrs. Gibbons was a high school English teacher. During a private meeting with the principal over school policies, she lost her temper and called him several names in a voice loud enough to be heard in the corridor.

    The next day, the principal fired her. She filed a lawsuit in federal court, claiming the school violated her right of free speech.

    “A public employee cannot be fired for expressing her views,” Mrs. Gibbons’ lawyer told the judge. The school board attorney said the suit should be dismissed.

    “The right of free speech applies only in public places, not private meetings,” he said. “Besides, she deserved to be fired for being disrespectful to her boss.”

Assignment 1

Write down 15 words from the texts. Use them in the sentences of your own:

1. _____________________________________________________________

2. _____________________________________________________________

3. _____________________________________________________________

4. _____________________________________________________________

5. _____________________________________________________________

6. _____________________________________________________________

7. _____________________________________________________________

8. _____________________________________________________________

9. _____________________________________________________________

10. _____________________________________________________________

11. _____________________________________________________________

12. _____________________________________________________________

13. _____________________________________________________________

14. _____________________________________________________________

15. _____________________________________________________________

 

Assignment 2

Give the English equivalents to the following:

1.  средняя школа ________________________________________________

2. домогательства _______________________________________________

3. увольнять ________ __________________________________________

4. быть в восторге ______________________________________________

5. оставить работу ______________________________________________

6. ответственность _______________________________________________

7. отрицать  ____________________________________________________

8. жаловаться ___________________________________________________

9. неуважительный ______________________________________________

10.  оскорбить ___________________________________________________

 

Assignment 3

Translate the first 3 paragraphs of Text “The Case of the Disrespectful Teacher” into Russian.

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Assignment 4

Give all the meanings of the word “case”.

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Assignment 5

Fill in the prepositions:

1. … a private meeting with the principal, she lost her temper.

2. She filed a lawsuit … federal court, claiming the school violated her right … free speech.

3. Mary filed a federal court case … the supermarket company for sexual harassment.

4. We cannot be responsible … the personal conduct … our employees.

5. The right of free speech applies only … public places, not private meetings.

Assignment 6

Find the antonyms to the following:

1. be delighted -

2. final -  

3. refuse -  

4. private -

5. disrespectful -

Assignment 7

Answer the following questions:

1. What was Mary delighted with?

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2. What was Mary dismayed by?

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

3. Did Mary quit her job?

__________________________________________________________________

4. What happened during a private meeting with the principal?

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

5. What did the school board attorney say?

__________________________________________________________________

 

Assignment 8

Put five types of questions to the texts. Ask the questions of your partner. Answer his (her) questions.

1. _____________________________________________________________

2. _____________________________________________________________

3. _____________________________________________________________

4. _____________________________________________________________

5. _____________________________________________________________

Assignment 9

Which of these words and word combinations would you use to retell the text?

 Add your own word combinations and retell the texts.

1. the final straw

2. to watch

3. to be happy

4. liberty

5. personal conduct

6. punish

7. imprisonment

8. to violate

9. equal rights

10.  a right of free speech

11.  private meetings

1. _____________________________________________________________

2. _____________________________________________________________

3. _____________________________________________________________

4. _____________________________________________________________

5. _____________________________________________________________

6. _____________________________________________________________

7. _____________________________________________________________

8. _____________________________________________________________

9. _____________________________________________________________

10. _____________________________________________________________

 

Assignment 10

A. If you were the judge, would you decide for Mary or the Company?

B. If you were the judge, would you allow Mrs. Gibbons to get her job back?

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UNIT 3

Warming-up. Answer the questions please:

1. What is a leave of absence?

__________________________________________________________________

2. When can you get a leave of absence?

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

3. What symptoms do you have to have to get a leave of absence?

__________________________________________________________________

 

Vocabulary Notes. Memorize the following words and word combinations:

1. leave of absence – отсутствие по уважительной причине, больничный лист

2. application – заявление 

3. pregnancy - беременность

4. furious – рассерженный, гневный

5. disability – неспособность работать, инвалидность

6. argue – возражать, спорить

7. injury – травма 

8. additional – дополнительный

9. anniversary – годовщина, юбилей

10.  emergency room – отделение неотложной помощи

11.  splatter – брызгать, забрызгать

12.  sever – порезать, отсечь

13.  tendon – сухожилие

14.  index finger – указательный палец

15.  permanent injury – невозместимый вред

16.  owe – быть должным

Assignment 1

Check the pronunciation of the following words:

1. argue

2. emergency

3. sever

4. permanent

5. injury

6. insurance

7. unemployment

8. commissioner

9. expense

10.  blood

11.  touch

Read and translate the texts.

The Case of the Pregnant Woman

During her seventh month of pregnancy, Patricia took a leave of absence from her job and applied for disability compensation. When her application was turned down, Patricia was so furious she took the state Unemployment Insurance Commissioner to court.

    “I was pregnant and unable to work,” Patricia complained in court. “Others get compensation when they are disabled and can’t work – why can’t I? I’m being discriminated against because I’m a woman.”

    “It’s not true,” the commissioner argued. “A person can’t get disability unless he’s disabled by illness or injury, and pregnancy is neither. Besides, the additional expense of paying pregnancies would soon bankrupt the disability program.”