Talking about Intelligence

Other than the people in this room, who is the smartest person you know? Explain why. How do you feel about I.Q tests? Are they a good way to judge someones intelligence? Do you think someone who is intelligent will live a happier life or a more unhappy life? Why? What is another way to say that someone is intelligent? Fill in the blanks: Sarah is ________________ Rachel is _______________ Tristan is ______________ _______ is _______________ Lets look at two parents discussing their child. They are wondering if they should send him to a special school for gifted children.

Father: The teacher said that our son was a borderline genius. Mother: But maybe they all say that. Father: I think we should put him that special school. He needs to be challenged. Mother: I know hes smart, but maybe hes not that smart. Father: Im pretty sure hes brilliant. Yesterday, I saw him figure out an

advanced math question in one minute. Plus, he has taught himself Spanish and can now speak fluently. Mother: Thats true, but he doesnt excel in history class and he sometimes struggles in Biology. Father: Thats because he doesnt apply himself in those classes. If he were challenged, Im sure he would give it his all. Hes got a gift when it comes to math and has a natural ability in languages. Do you think the parents should put their son in a gifted school, or keep him in a normal school? Why do you feel this way? What course did you struggle in when you were in high school? The child was called a borderline genius by the teacher. Borderline is an adjective/adverb that basically means might be something. The something is extreme. I cant see for sure that hes crazy, but he might be = hes ___________________ crazy The earthquake might be a disaster, but it might not be = its a __________________ What he did might be illegal, or might not be. Its very close to being illegal = The actions were ______________________________ Would you say that fast food is dangerous? Y/N Would you its not dangerous? Y/N So, fast food is _______________________________________ What does, he is a genius mean? ________________________________________ Can we describe his actions as genius? For example, can we say, that idea was genius, or that decision was genius? Y/N/M The above term is slang. So its okay to use. The correct term for describing an idea/plan/action is ingenious. Example: The idea to save the company money was ingenious or He presented an ingenious idea to save the company money. Can you think of any ingenious/genius ideas in the past ten years? Why do you think they were so smart? Do you have any ingenious/genius ideas for an invention or company? Can you share them with us?

Smart people can usually understand information or solve problems quickly. Lets look at some of the common verbs when people solve a problem. Figure out: to find the answer/to find a solution Example: Jim always figures out what the problem with my computer is. Tom always figures out how to make me happy, when Im sad. I can never figure out where the sound in my car is coming from. Notice the common structure: X figures out (noun clause). Fill in the blanks: I cant figure out ________ to fix my computer. I cant figure out __________ he never called me back. The coaches always figures out ________ his team should do. I cant figure out _____________________________________________ Sarah always figures out ______________________________________ Rachel always figures out ____________________________________ Solve: to end a problem or figure out a question/mystery Form: X solved (noun) Example: Tom solved the problem with his car/Tom solved the mystery What is the noun for solve? __________________________________ I ___________ a (word from above) _____ the problem A __________ was ____________ ______ to the problem

Write down a couple problems that you want to solve right now? 1. ______________________________________________ 2. _______________________________________________ Offer solutions to other peoples problems

Write the following words in the correct order:

Can Suggest Solutions Problem? My To Any You

I Finding Its hard

Out Problems Out if Students

Hope Is To

I can Hard For teachers

Figure To How to

Answer Problems Figure

What the Solutions Understand

Is

The lesson

In the dialogue, the mother says that her son doesnt excel in history class. What do you think this means? To Excel: to do well in Form: X excels in (activity or area of life)/X excels at (verbing) Example: My children excel in the sciences, but struggle in Social Studies. My child excels at making new friends. 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. I excel in/at math He excelled in/at skiing. He excelled in/at the ski competition. He is excelling in/at his class. He never excelled in/at anything he ever did.

Whats another way to say he doesnt excel in/at? He ____________ in/at

What is the adjective related to excel? __________________________________ What is the noun related to excel? ____________________________________ What do you think the other people in this class excelled at when they were in elementary school? Tell me the same sentences using either excel/excellent/excellence: Tom is not good at math When it comes to skiing, Terry has a natural ability Sarah is an amazing soccer player

Rachels speech was great I did very well on the test. I aim to be perfect I aim __________ excellence In the dialogue, the father says, He has a gift when it comes, when it comes to math. X has a gift, when it comes to (area of life): X has a natural ability in this area of life/ X excels in this area of life. David has a gift, when it comes to soccer = David is really good at soccer. I have a gift, when it comes to making mistakes = It is easy for me to make mistakes Thomas ______ a gift, ___________ it comes to sciences. Louise has _____ ______ ________ when ______ ________ to cooking. ________ has a _____________________________________________________ _______have _______________________________________________________

Common Idioms related to intelligence: A person who is as sharp as a tack is able to think quickly and learn very fast. Sharp as a tack "Hell understand right away. Hes as sharp as a tack A person who is street smart, is able to succeed in daily life. They may not be good at school, but they excel in everyday activities, such as : _________________________________________________ ________________________________________________

Street smart

"He never went to school, but he is very rich. I heard hes very street smart People who are tech savvy have solid technical knowledge and skills. They are using computers and other electronic devices Tech savvy and gadgets. "Many students are more tech-savvy than their teachers." This expression is used to show that X is not as foolish. They (Person) do not believe lies. wasn't born yesterday "Stop inventing silly excuses. I wasn't born yesterday you know!"= Im not an idiot Fill in the blanks in the following dialogue: 1) My son Teddy is so __________ ____________. He set up the wireless modem in our house. 2) Donna understands everything right away. He is ______ as _____ __________. If you have any questions, ask her. 3) I hate being lied to. I ________ _________ yesterday and understand if someone isnt telling the truth. 4) Okay, before you tell me why you forgot our anniversary, I just wanted to remind that I ___________________________________. So dont expect me to believe anything that isnt true. 5) I wish I had more ______________________. Ive got a good education, but sometimes I get ripped off in everyday situations. 6) Im going to night school to become more _____________________. Im being taught how to use Microsoft Excel and might learn to build a website. 7) My new student is _________________________. I think she might be a genius.