This is a class activity based on this post: http://dogmediaries.wordpress.com/2013/07/04/nesting-in-the-south/

1. Skim read article:
http://dogmediaries.wordpr
ess.com/2013/07/04/nestin
g-in-the-south/
• Think of an alternate title.
• In one or two lines, say briefly what the text was about.
• Read text again and do the following exercise.

2. Match the word on the left
to its definition on the right

3. check out to make something less severe, shocking, or offensive
setup
to move your head first downwards and then upwards, to answer
'Yes' to a question or to show that you agree, approve, or
understand
sit in on whatever the situation is or will be
here we go again the way that a particular group of people or things is organized
tone down to look at someone or something to see whether you like them
peer
to go to a meeting or a class although you are not directly involved
in it
in any case
someone who belongs to the same social or professional group as
another person
nod
used when something annoying starts to happen again

4. check out to look at someone or something to see whether you like them
setup the way that a particular group of people or things is organized
sit in on
to go to a meeting or a class although you are not directly involved
in it
here we go again used when something annoying starts to happen again
tone down to make something less severe, shocking, or offensive
peer
someone who belongs to the same social or professional group as
another person
in any case whatever the situation is or will be
nod
to move your head first downwards and then upwards, to answer
'Yes' to a question or to show that you agree, approve, or
understand

5. EXAM
We do an exam, sit an exam, or take an exam.
In American English, they’d say: sit for an exam.
IMPROBABLE SITUATION
Clauses that start with as if / as though describe an unreal or improbable situation if they are
followed by an unreal tense (a past subjunctive or a past perfect subjunctive)
He looks at me as though I had two heads and three arms.
He seems as though he hadn't slept for days. (it seems that he hasn't slept for days, but he has,
he probably has or we don't know if he has or not)
He looks as if he knew the answer. (but he doesn’t)
I BET
We use this when we are sure about something.
I bet you have no idea what that is!
I bet she will pass the exam.
I bet it’s them who have done it!

6. In Modern English the subjunctive form of a verb is in many
cases the same as a corresponding indicative form, and thus
subjunctives are not a very visible grammatical feature of
English. For most verbs, the only distinct subjunctive form is
found in the third-person singular of the present tense, where
the subjunctive lacks the -s ending: It is necessary that he
see a doctor (contrasted with the indicative he sees).
However, the verb be has not only a distinct present
subjunctive (be, as in I suggest that they be removed) but also
a past subjunctive were (as in If I were rich, ...).

7. Discuss:
Is accent important in language?
Do you judge people by their accents?
Are you judged by your accent?
Can you tell where someone comes from by their accent (in
your own language).
Can you tell where someone comes from by their accent in
English?
Does it matter what accent your teacher has?
What makes a good teacher in your opinion?

8. Write a short composition:
What makes a good teacher?