We chose 2 Englisch- Lehrwerke for year 7 to analyse how Conditional clauses are dealt with and introduced. We decided to have a closer look on year seven books because in this age Conditional clauses appear the first time in syllabus.
Our choise was one book for pupils on a "Gymnasium", Lerning English- Green Line 3 from publisher Klett and another book that's used on "Hauptschulen" English H,-Highlight 3 from publisher Cornelsen.
We considered it would be interesting to have a glance at different claims of Gymnasium and Hauptschule and how the two Lehrwerke dealt with it.
First we had a closer look at the Green- Line 3 Lehrwerk:.
Generally this book is cut into 8 chapters. Conditional clauses are introduced in chapter 3 in short dialouges.
It's a scene in a youth hostel where a lot of young people were sitting in the kitchen and talking about preparing lunch and their plans for the next day.
The dialouges are always between two people so they're very short and easy. Both kinds of Conditional clauses appear here.
(For example: If it rains I'll take the next train home. Type 1; .
If I went rock-climbing I'd break my neck. Type 2).
On the first two pages is nothing mentioned refering to conditional clauses. .
This part is ment to familiarize the pupils with the use, sound and look of Conditionals.
The following page provides 3 tasks dealing with the Conditional:.
1) The first one deals with Type 1 if-clauses.
Example: Wash the dishes/ our dirty socks. .
If you wash the dishes I will wash our dirty socks.
Pupils have to repeat the structure of Type 1 clauses to keep them in mind. This task helps them to understand the meaning and the formal characteristics. .
2)The second one works with Type 2 If- clauses.
Example: The next youth hostel is 20 Miles away over the hills. Now the girls have to decide how to get there.
Fiona: 20 Miles. That's imopssible.