Lesson Plan: Elephants Can Recognize Human Languages
II. While Reading Activities
Vocabulary
Word Inference
- differentiate ˌdifəˈrenSHēˌāt| verb [ with obj. ] recognize or ascertain what makes (someone or something) different: children can differentiate the past from the present. [ no obj. ] (differentiate between) identify differences between (two or more things or people): he is unable to differentiate between fantasy and reality.
- habitat |ˈhabiˌtat| noun-the natural home or environment of an animal, plant, or other organism: wild chimps in their natural habitat.
- herd |hərd| noun-a large group of animals, esp. hoofed mammals, that live, feed, or migrate together or are kept together as livestock: a herd of elephants
- conflict |ˈkänˌflikt| verb- be incompatible or at variance; clash: parents’ and children’s interests sometimes conflict .
- clashes |klaSH| noun-a violent confrontation: there have been minor clashes with security forces.
- tended |tend| verb – regularly or frequently behave in a particular way or have a certain characteristic: | her hair tended to come loose.
- decipher |diˈsīfər| verb- succeed in understanding, interpreting, or identifying (something): an expression she could not decipher came and went upon his face.
- sophisticated |səˈfistiˌkātid| adjective- (of a person or [animal] their thoughts, reactions, and understanding) aware of and able to interpret complex issues; subtle: discussion and reflection are necessary for a sophisticated response to a text.
- matriarchs |ˈmātrēˌärk| noun-a female who is the head of a family or tribe.
- juveniles |ˈjo͞ovəˌnīl, -vənl| noun- a young bird or other animals.
Source: New Oxford American Dictionary
Reading Comprehension
True /False/NA-Statements
- T- African elephants can differentiate between human languages.
- F- African elephants are the largest land animals on Earth.
- F- The local Maasai men sometimes come into conflict with elephants.
- T- The recorded voices were played for hundreds of elephants.
- NA-Baby elephants are born with little tusks.
- F-When elephants heard females, boys, or adult male Kamba speakers, they did not show concern.
- F-The ability to distinguish between Maasai and Kamba men is not the same as understanding what the words mean.
- T-Their response to hearing Maasai men talking was to be alert, to move away, but not to run away in fear.
- T-Elephant groups with older matriarchs in their midst did best at assessing the threat from different speakers.
- T-According to researchers, we have become a formal enemy of the elephants.
IV. Listening Activity
Video Clip: Elephants Can Tell Gender, Ethnicity in Human Voices by AFP
While Listening Activities
True /False/NA-Statements
- F- The study was done in Kenya.
- T-The elephants were able to distinguish between two different languages.
- T- The messages were played over a loud speaker.
- F- The other mammals mentioned in this report were dolphins.
- F- Elephants were not afraid of the voices of women and children.
- T- Elephants were able to recognize a female voice even when the pitch was lowered.
- NA-The bull elephants always charge first when the herd is in danger.
- T- Elephants can also distinguish between portraits on canvas.
- F- The narrator stated that elephants should not be kept in zoos.
- NA-A similar study with elephants was done in India.
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