解放军文职招聘考试 Pop Star and Songwriter: Han Hong流行歌星和创作者：韩红

  Songs about Tibet are growing in popularity among China’s pop music circles today, and they’ve caused a lot of interest in the region. But the songs of Han Hong, a Tibetan-born young song-writer, are particularly beautiful because they’re based on her own experiences and knowledge of the culture.

   Many people didn’t expect Han Hong to become a famous pop star in China, for she didn’t have the attractive look and slim figure that is usually associated with successful personalities in the pop industry. Despite discouraging comments, Han Hong has never given up her pursuit of a career in music. Now she has become famous for being one of the few all-around female musicians who not only sings well, but is a very successful songwriter.

   Han Hong was born in 1971 in Xigaze, the second largest city in the Tibet after Lhasa, and was given the Tibetan name, Gesang Zhuoma. That’s why quite a number of her songs are deeply rooted with Tibetan culture and music traditions.

   At the age of nine, Han Hong came to Beijing to receive professional vocal training in a children’s chorus (合唱团). This was just the start of the long way in pursuit of a professional musical career. In 1985, 14-year-old Han Hong won her first national prize in a singing competition.

   Han Hong’s ambition goes far beyond just being a pop singer, though. She also writes her own music. She started composing songs in 1993, without having had any professional training. Maybe this helped her form her own style, which has become popular with so many listeners.

   Quite a number of Han Hong’s songs combine elements of classical Tibetan folk music with pop music. Her songs have thrown a light on the mysterious and rich culture of Tibet and caused a lot of interest.

   The song Brilliant Rays on a Snowy Landscape (《雪域光芒》) is one of Han Hong’s early works, which conveys the vastness (广博) and beauty of Tibet. It swept various pop song billboards across China, receiving more than 20 awards.

   As a pop singer in Beijing, she also tried different styles of music, such as Jazz, R&B, Rock and Roll and Latin music.

 

I Aims and Demands（教学目的和要求）

To learn a passage about Han Hong, one of the most popular Chinese singers and let the students know the reason for her success.

ⅡKey Points and Special Difficulties（重点和难点）

Key points:

1) to describe Han Hong

2) to grasp some useful words and expressions

pursuit, despite, personality, comment, professional, element, be based on, be associated with, be rooted with, throw a light on

Special difficulties: the characteristics of Han Hong’s songs

Ⅲ Teaching Aids and Approaches（教具及教学方法）

Multi-media, Task-based approach and the integrated approach Slide show

 

Ⅳ Brief Teaching Procedures（教学过程）

Step1 Background information（背景知识）

Do you like listening to pop music? Do you know about Han Hong?

Step2 Fast reading（快速阅读）

Read fast and answer the following questions（快速阅读并回答下列问题）:

1) When and where was Han Hong born?

2) Why are Han Hong’s songs very beautiful?

3) Why are the public interested in Han’s songs?

Keys（参考答案）:

1) In 1971, in Xigaze.

2) Because they are based on her own experience and knowledge of the culture.

3) Because most of her songs combine elements of classical Tibetan folk music with pop music.

Step3 Careful reading（细读）

1. Pick up some words from the passage to describe Han Hong.

(a famous pop star, has no attractive look and slim figure, all-around female musician, sings well, very successful songwriter, never gives up her pursuit, have her own style…)

2. Pay attention to the following expressions and sentences.

1)…, for she didn’t have the attractive look and slim figure that is usually associated with successful personalities in the pop industry.

be associated with = be related to/ be linked to/ have something to do with

2) Despite discouraging comments, Han Hong has never given up her pursuit of a career in music.

This sentence means “Though the public make discouraging comments about her (not having attractive look and slim figure), she has never given up her dream to become a successful pop singer.”

3) Han Hong’s ambition goes far beyond just being a pop singer, though.

This sentence means “Han Hong’s dream is not limited to becoming a pop singer. She also wants to be successful in other fields.”

4) Her songs have thrown a light on the mysterious and rich culture of Tibet and caused a lot of interest.

throw a light on = explain

Step4 Classroom activities（课堂活动）

Work in groups of four and discuss:

What has made Han Hong so successful as a famous musician?

How can we become successful in realizing our dreams?

Step5 Homework（作业）

Write a passage about Han Hong. (Around 150 words.)

Step6 Assessment（评价）

Words and expressions（词和短语）

1. popularity n. 流行                                 2. personality  n. 性格；人物

3. despite  prep. 尽管，虽然                   4. comment  n.v. 评价

5. pursuit  n. 追求                                   6. professional  adj. 专业的

7. combine v. 结合，联合                         8. element  n. 要素，元素

9. mysterious adj. 神秘的                        10. convey  v. 揭示

11. be based on 以……为基础                  12. be associated with 相联系

13. thrown a light on 解释