OUR MULTIFACETED WORLD
Objectives:
 to enrich pupils’ knowledge on varieties of subcultures and their main
principles;
 to develop pupils’ speaking, listening, writing and reading skills;
 to teach pupils to be tolerant and respect other people’s way of life
 to develop pupils’ critical thinking skills.
Procedure
I. Introduction
T: Good afternoon, everyone! I am glad to see you at our English Club
meeting. We have not gathered for two weeks so turn to the pupil sitting to the left
of you and say how pleased you are to see him or her; turn to the pupil sitting to
the right of you and make him / her compliment.
The theme of our today’s meeting is youth subcultures. We can see
representatives of these groups in the streets, in our neighbourshoods and even at
our school. Somebody doesn’t pay much attention to them, somebody maybe envy
them a little bit but there are those who may think scorn of them. So who are they?
Maybe strangers whom we should keep aloof from? Maybe interesting but a little
bit different from us people who can make our life a little bit brighter and more
diverse? But what do we know about them?
II. K-W-L strategy
T: To know what we are going to deal with look at the blackboard and
give your ideas how the sentence may be completed.
A youth subculture is a youth-based subculture with distinct
____, ____ and _____.
A youth subculture is a youth-based subculture with distinct
styles, behaviours and interests.
T: Now I want you to fill in the table
There is a table on the smartboard. The pupils give their questions and
the teacher’s assistant put them down in the first column.
I know
I wonder
I have learnt
T: Well done! So it’s time to check your home assignment. As far as I
remember you should prepare your own presentations about one subculture to
share it with your club mates. So let’s start.
III. Pupils’ presentations
Group 1
Emo, is a term which is given to the subculture of
hardcore punk and pop, which originated from the
Washington DC, but later spread like wildfire to the rest of
the US and also to other parts of the world. The word ―Emo‖
actually originated from the term "emocore" which refers to
the hardcore punk music scene which started in the
mid-1980s. The term is a variation of the word "emotive
hardcore", which is what the bands in Washington sounded
like. Emo broke into mainstream culture in the early 2000s.
The term for the teenagers who listen to emocore is emo kids. The society thinks
about them as failures; they are not strong enough to hide their emotions, they're
sensitive, shy, introverted, and often quiet. Usually, emo kids like to express their
feeling writing poems about their problems with depression, confusion, and anger;
all because the world fails to understand them. Emo poetry uses a combination of a
highly emotional tone, stream of consciousness writing, a simple or nonexistent
rhyme scheme, and references to the flesh, especially the heart, heavy use of dark
or depressing adjectives, and concern over the mutability of time, love or both.
Themes such as life is pain are common.
Emo kids don't pick out outfits ahead of time; they wear whatever they want,
whenever they want. Basically emos wear a lot of black which is usually combined
with some bright and funky colours, for example if one wears dark jeans and a
black shirt, he might put on a bright crimson red tie and white jacket, with
matching or contrasting accessories. Emo clothing can never be complete without
hoodies. Tight jeans and T-shirts are also a part of their wearing. Studded belts are
often worn with jeans and these belts come with large buckles. Footwear includes
canvas sneakers or shoes in black. They are also fond of wearing bracelets and
necklaces.
Emo hair styles can be varied, but they all incorporated three basic elements:
 Black - true Emo hair styles start from a basic deep black colouring. Very
few people have truly black hair, so it is usually dyed in a proper colour,
which can also be combined with streaks and sections of other colours, from
natural lowlights/highlights to vivid punk type colours like neon pinks and
electric blues.
 Asymmetrical - Emo haircuts are typically asymmetrical, with choppy,
sharply cut layers. This allows people to be imaginative and original with
their hair styling, and creates looks that are at once well groomed, trendy
and wild.
 Straight - Emo hair styles begin with dead straight, sleek hair, which can
only really be achieved with modern straightening irons. Spiky hair is
popular in Emo styles as well, but these are typically trendy, sleek spikes
rather than random messy spikes of punk styles.
Emo makeup is a key part of their fashion. The emphasis is on the eyes,
maybe because these are said to be the windows to the soul, and emos love to delve
into the human psyche and express their emotions. Eyes are usually highlighted
with plenty of black eyeliner and smoky eye shadows. Boys can wear a little
eyeliner too. Nail polish should be dark and nails kept short, for boys and girls.
Group 2
Goths are usually associated with vampires,
darkness, morbidity, evil, unemotional and satanic
beings. However, being Gothic is something more
than that. It is being part of a distinct lifestyle. The
term Gothic comes from Germanic tribes which
ruled over Europe during the Middle Ages.
Gothicism was popularized through literature and
it became a distinguished culture in the middle of
the 19th century. Goths have always been
considered as odd and attention seeking individuals
by people who consider themselves to be normal.
Gothic lifestyle is a way of living, where the
Goths follow their own set of values and attitudes. They have a distinct culture,
which includes architecture, literature, dressing style, appearance, art and music.
The fact that is most popular about Gothic lifestyle is their sense of dressing. Black
is the colour that is associated with the Goths. However, other dark colours like
blood red, purple, dark green and blue are also popular with the Gothic people.
Even their appearance is distinguished with a pale base and dark make up. They
prefer their hair to be straight and pitch black. However, merely dressing up like a
Goth cannot make a person one. Being a Goth is more about the attitude that a
person has. Gothic people choose this lifestyle because they feel detached from the
mainstream culture and lifestyle. Gothic lifestyle gives them a sense of
independence, where they can, not only express their emotions and feelings, but
also live life in a way that is unacceptable in the conventional society. Death is
another important element that is connected with Goths. Human beings in the
conventional society live in the fear of death. However, Gothic people follow an
attitude that is totally different from that. They revel in the concept of death and
take it as a natural extension of life. Goths in a gloomy way enjoy the darkness that
life offers.
Group 3
Hip hop is the combination of two separate slang
terms—"hip", used in African American Vernacular English
as early as 1898, meaning ―current‖ or ―in the know‖, and
"hop", for the hopping movement.
Hip hop is a form of musical expression and artistic subculture that originated
in African-American and Hispanic-American communities during the 1970s in
New York City, specifically the Bronx. Since its emergence in the South Bronx,
hip hop culture has spread to both urban and suburban communities throughout the
world.
Nowadays Asia, the Middle East, Africa, Australia, and the Caribbean have
long-established hip hop followings. According to the U.S. Department of State,
hip hop is "now the centre of a mega music and fashion industry around the
world," that crosses social barriers and cuts across racial lines. National
Geographic recognizes hip hop as "the world's favourite youth culture". Hip hop
has impacted many different countries culturally and socially in positive ways.
Thousands of organizers from Cape Town to Paris use hip hop in their
communities to address environmental justice, policing and prisons, media justice,
and education.
Graffiti is considered to be one of the pillars of hip hop culture.
Hip hop clothing represents an entire culture and attitude recognized globally
as being one of the most unique expressions of style that there is. Once solely an
underground street culture, hip hop clothing has now acquired a prominent place in
the mainstream fashion world. Hip hop pants and skirts may be different colours
and cuts: bright and dark baggy and tight. Hip hop T-shirts and hip hop hoodies are
extremely important in the hip hop clothing. Dark and rich colours such as red,
black, grey and brown are very popular. Sometimes these articles may be striped: it
can add glamour and style. Hip hoppers usually wear special jackets with emblems
of famous sports teams. It does not mean at all that they support any. It is just cool.
Accessories appropriate for this style are hip hop hats, large ornamental belt
buckles, fitted caps, scarves as well as skull and skeleton decorations. So T-shirts
should be rather short in length to expose decorated belts, belt-buckles and biker
chains.
IV. Quiz: question battle
T: Thank you very much for so bright and interesting presentations. I hope
everybody was very attentive when listening to them. To check it I want to ask
each group prepare 5 questions on the topic they presented.
V. Music break
Great! Now let’s listen to the song which some of you have already heard
―Different People‖ performed by Gwen Stefani.
VI. Mistakes hunting
T: Perfect! Now you are going to read some statements. Your task is to find a
mistake in each one and correct it.
 The word ―Emo‖ actually originated from the term "emotion". (Group 3)
 Hip hop is a form of musical expression and artistic subculture that
originated in New York City, specifically the Bronx in 1980s. (Group 1)
 Another name for hip hop culture is uderground culture. (Group 2)
 The term Gothic comes from Saxon tribes which ruled over Europe during
the Middle Ages. (Group 1)
 Goths hair styles start from a basic deep black colouring which can also be
combined with streaks and sections of other colours. (Group 3)
 According to the U.S. Department of State, hip hop is "now the centre of a
mega music and fashion industry around the whole country‖ (Group 2)
 Gothic people choose this lifestyle because they feel closely connected with
the mainstream culture and lifestyle. (Group 1)
 The society consider emo kids to be rather extraordinary. (Group 3)
 The appearance of Goths is distinguished with a neutral base and dark make
up.
T: Great! The fact that you have spotted all mistakes means that you were very
attentive.
VII. Dress a doll
T: Now let’s play a little bit. You can see a set of pictures on the desk. Your
task is to dress a doll.
Each group get a card with the name of the subculture written on it:
Group 1 – Hip hop
Group 2 – Emo
Group 3 – Goth
The task is to pick up articles of clothes which are proper for this culture.
VIII. Association
T: You can see some adjectives written on the whiteboard. You have to pick up
only those which can be associated with a particular culture and make up your
own sentences to prove your opinion.
Group 1 – Goth
Group 2 – Hip hop
Group 3 – Emo
Tight, globally recognized, purple, pitch black, musical, pale,
sensitive, asymmetrical, baggy, detached, highly emotional,
underground.
IX. Reflection
T: I wonder do you remember the definition of a youth subculture we
completed at the beginning of our meeting.
A youth subculture is a youth-based subculture with distinct
styles, behaviours and interests.
T: So tell me please about the differences in
 styles (group 1);
 behaviours (group 2);
 interests (group 3).
T: I think it is time to fill in the last column of our table answering the main
question of our class: What new information have you learnt about subcultures?
Pupils give their ideas.
T: So thank you for your hard and fruitful work. Let’s say ―Good bye‖ to each
other and I hope to see you in two weeks.
Different People
(Gwen Stefani)
Things can be broken down
In this world of ours
You don't have to be a famous person
Just to make your mark
A mother can be an inspiration
To her little son
Change his thoughts, his mind, his life,
Just with her gentle hum
So different, yet so the same
Two sisters only have their parents to blame
It's rare that two can get along
But when they do, they're inseparable
Such a blessing comes to few
The sky is full of clouds and
My world's full of people
All different kinds with different ways
It would take a lifetime to explain
No one's exactly the same
He and she, two different people
With two separate lives
Then you put the two together
And get a spectacular surprise
'Cause one can teach the other one
What she doesn't know
While still the other fills a place inside
He never knew had room to grow
Chorus:
Once in a while I sit back
And think about the planet
Most of the time I trip on it
To kick back and think about
How massive it all is
And how many others are one it
I often think about the world
In which I live today, of animals and plants
And nature's gift set on display
But the most amazing thing
That I've seen in my time
Are all the different people
And all their different minds
And different ways
It would take a lifetime to explain
Not one's exactly the same
So many different people
So many different kinds
So many different people
So many different kinds
Look at me, I'm a person
Look at me, I'm my own person
So many different people
So many different kinds
For better or for worse, different people