If you have been following my blog for a while you probably know how much I like exploring new tools to spice up my lessons. We all know students prefer looking at a screen than at a book so, for this lesson I have decided to explore two new free online tools, which have a lot of potential for language teaching.
Perhaps you have never considered creating your own content because you think you aren’t tech-savvy and you don’t really know how to go about these modern things, but I can assure you that creating these two videos has been as easy as falling off a log.
In class, we are studying how to express preference with the structure would rather and (would)pefer and this is just the perfect excuse to “play” with these two little tools.
1. For a revision of the grammar for Would Rather and Prefer, I have used biteable.com. This is how this tool works:
Login for free.
Click “create a new video”.
Choose your scenes one by one and enter the text. You can choose between animation scenes, footage scenes and image scenes where you can upload your own pictures. Click + to add a new scene.
Choose the colours for your presentation and then the music track or upload your own.
Click Preview and the video will be sent to your email address once it’s created.
At this point, you can download it, share it on facebook and twitter, or post to youtube.
(presentation created with biteable)
2. For a speaking activity using Would Rather, I have used emaze.com. This is how this amazing free online tool works:
Log in for free.
You can create a new presentation form scratch or upload a power point presentation.
Do you like visiting places off the beaten track? Do you choose for your holidays unusual tourist destinations? Would you choose to visit Alcatraz, the famous penitentiary?
Alcatraz, also called The Rock, is an island and probably the most famous or maybe infamous prison in the world. Located in San Francisco, it is separated from the mainland by 2,5 kilometres of freezing water, strong currents, cold winds, and high waves, which made it impossible to escape.
Gangster and mafia boss Al Capone was one of the best-known residents in Alcatraz. As soon as he set foot in prison, he paid the guards to make his life comfortable while in prison. Below, a picture of his cell.
Would you like to know more about Alcatraz? Watch the video and test your comprehension with the exercise below. (video lasts 2:08)
Before watching the video, you might want to pre-teach the following words
Inmate /ˈɪnmeɪt/= A person living in an institution such as a prison or hospital
Infamous/ˈɪnfəməs/=Well known for some bad quality or deed
While most tourists would rather avoid jail, no trip to San Francisco would be complete without ________________________________________________
Alcatraz is located____________________________________ San Francisco Bay.
Alcatraz,the Rock, was America’s premier ______________________________and for 29 years the final stop for the nation’s most ___________________________
Make sure to buy your tickets online and in advance because they _______________
If you schedule your trip for early in the morning, you’ll have more room to _________________________
For a spooky trip, book the ___________________
When you are visiting the prison, you might want to pick up a headset for an ____________________ audio tour.
You’ll hear stories told by _______________________________________
In this engaging series of activities students will discuss different actions that involve taking risks. It aims at developing students’ communicative, listening and writing skills through the acquisition of new vocabulary.
Do a quick survey asking students: Do you enjoy taking risks?
Play the first 55 seconds of the video and pause it. Ask students in pairs to discuss what they would do in this situation. Get feedback. Ask the class as a whole to predict what might happen to the people who decide to run the risk and take the two empty seats.
Class as a whole. Ask students: What’s the most dangerous thing you’ve ever done?
Put students in pairs. Tell them you are going to show them different activities that involve taking risks. Ask students to discuss whether they would be willing to try them or not, giving reasons for their choice.
Step 2. Working with vocabulary .
Put students in pairs and ask them to write, in two minutes, words related to taking risks. On the board, write their suggestions.
Give them handout 1. Focus on any new words/expressions.
Tell students they are going to see a video about parkour. Hopefully, students will remember what parkour is, as they came across this word at the beginning of the lesson.
This lesson has been designed as a next-day revision activity for B2 (Intermediate +) students.
Aim: to consolidate the use of Past Simple, Used to and Would for past habits and routines.
Level: B2 (Intermediate+)
In this lesson you will find.
Grammar and exercises
Speaking: Picture discussion in pairs
Speaking: an advert from a popular drink comparing past and present
Writing: a fun writing game
Speaking: bits of your childhood
STEP 1. Grammar.
The use of these three verb forms to express past habits and routines can be a bit confusing for students, so in this class I am aiming at some revision to clarify concepts. Assuming students have already studied formation rules, the focus is now on use.
Display the picture of a family in the past and ask students, in pairs, to discuss the differences they can see and the differences they can guess exist between the family shown in the picture and their own family. Encourage students to use the targeted grammar.
Get feedback
STEP3. The video. Speaking.
Tell students they are going to watch a video. Explain there will be no comprehension questions as there is no dialogue.
Ask students to give you a brief description of what they have seen.
Explain that the advert is called “Grandpa” and it tries to show that the lifestyle enjoyed by our grandparents — moving more, eating well, taking it easy — can be beneficial.
Students will see the video twice more and their task is to write down any differences they can see between the man today and his grandfather.
Once students have completed this task, ask them to work in pairs commenting on the differences they have seen in the video encouraging them,once again,to use the targeted grammar point: the use of simple past, would and used to to talk about past habits and routines.
Encourage discussion of the following points
healthy eating
stress
working conditions
means of transport
relationships
habits
STEP 4. Writing game: I have retired
Target language: Used To, Would and Simple Past Tense to describe past habits, states and routines
Preparation: none
Procedure:
Set the context: tell students they have to imagine they are 70 and retired. They are happier in retirement than when they were working but there are some things that they still miss.
Students, in pairs or in threes, choose the job they used to have.
Students will need to produce four sentences using the targeted language, giving clues for the other groups to guess their job.
sentences can be positive or negative
the first sentence will contain the clue most difficult to guess
the last sentence will contain the easiest clue
The first sentence will be awarded 4 points and the last one 1 point
Each group will name a spokesperson who will read out the clues. It’s important, at this stage, to ask students to speak up and clearly. Some rules:
The spokesperson will read the first sentence and the other groups will raise a hand if they think they know the answer.
Only one guess is allowed for each clue
If the answer is correct, they will be awarded the four points, if it is not, the second clue will be read for three points.
Example
4 points. I would work with a lot of people
3 points. I worked after “work”, mainly at home.
2 points. I used my voice a lot
1 point. I used to work with children
How many clues did you need to hear?? Yes, the answer is TEACHER
STEP 5. Bits of your childhood. Speaking in small groups.
Ask students to think about their life at the age of 10.
Give students a list of things they might want to talk about.
Ask students to think about what they will say and the language they will need. Allow some minutes for preparation.
Where did you use to live?
Did your life use to be very different to how it is now?
Where did you use to go to school? Do you remember any of your teachers? Did you have any favourite teachers?
Did you use to get good marks? Did you have a favourite subject?
What did you use to do after school?
Where did you use to play? Do you remember who your friends were? Did you have a best friend?
Can you remember your favourite game?
At lunchtime, did you use to like the food? Did you use to eat with your parents?
What was your greatest wish? Can you remember?
Did you enjoy the lesson? Don’t miss any posts and follow me on facebook
