Reading & Real Talk: A Fish Out of Water
English Grade 9 (Super Goal 3) · Unit 12: Culture Shock · Lesson 12-3 · Term 2
Also known as: A Fish Out of Water · Reading comprehension
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Lesson idea
Read about the experiences of students who moved to a new country and felt like "a fish out of water", and learn how to deal with culture shock and give advice to travelers.
Key points
- Feeling like "a fish out of water" means feeling uncomfortable in a new situation or place.
- Stages of culture shock: excitement → frustration → adjustment → acceptance.
- Advice to travelers: Learn some words of the local language. Respect local customs. Be patient.
Vocabulary
Lesson questions (12)
- On his first day in London, Majed didn't understand anything. He felt like a fish out of ____.
Answer: water - Saad missed his family and Saudi food very much. He was ____.
Answer: homesick - "____ is it like to live in Tokyo?" – "It's crowded but exciting."
Answer: What - "I ate a whole pizza by myself!" – "No ____!"
Answer: kidding - "To be ____, I didn't like the food at first, but now I love it."
Answer: honest - In many countries, people ____ in line and wait their turn patiently.
Answer: stand - A good piece of advice to travelers:
Answer: Learn about local customs before you travel. - After a few months, most students ____ to their new life and start to enjoy it.
Answer: adjust - In Germany, people expect you to ____; being late is considered rude.
Answer: be on time - Visitors should ____ the customs of the country they visit.
Answer: respect - At first, everything was new and exciting. Then he felt frustrated. This is part of ____.
Answer: culture shock - In an email about cultural differences, you might write:
Answer: One thing that surprised me here is that shops close very early.
More lessons in Unit 12: Culture Shock
Questions about this lesson
What does a fish out of water mean?
An expression describing a person who feels like a stranger and uncomfortable in a new place.
What did Majed face in London?
On his first day in London Majed did not understand what was going on around him and felt out of place, so he is compared to a fish out of water.
What is the difference between literal and figurative?
Literal is the obvious meaning; figurative is a different, non-literal meaning.
Do students need an account to play this lesson?
No. The teacher shares the lesson link; the student types a first name and plays on a phone or computer, and the score reaches the teacher.
Which games suit this lesson?
You can play it in The Hunter, Complete the sentence, Match Up, Matching pairs and the other games and activities on Hessa Play.