Who inspires you?
Write about someone who inspires you.
Plan
1. Introduce the person. Who are they? Why are they important to you?
2.
Describe the the person in more detail. Describe their character /
personality. Why / How do they inspire you? Do they inspire you because
of their beliefs / their actions? What exactly have you learnt from
them?
3. Are you a better person because of them? How have they changed you? Give an example of something you do that they inspired.
4. Conclude. How would your life be different without them? Restate why they are important to you in a few words.
watch a video about memories and do a listening exercise
use remember + gerund for talking about memories
practise would and used to for talking about past habits
describe and write about memories and past habits
1) Discuss
What things do you remember from your childhood?
What are your earliest memories?
What are your favourite memories?
2) Introduction
You are going to watch a StoryCorps video. Blanca Alvarez and her husband crossed the border to immigrate into the U.S. and then struggled to make ends meet. They hoped to shelter their children from these harsh realities, but Blanca's daughter Connie reveals how much children can really see of their parents' lives—and the inspiration they draw from their struggles.
A) Watch the video
What does Connie remember from her childhood?
The film is called "The Icing on the Cake" what do you think that means?
B) Answer the questions
3) Grammar
Look again at what Connie says
Remember. If you are remembering things in the past and you use the verb remember, what must you do with the verb which follows?
Answer - Highlight here = Use a gerund-ing. I remember eating, I remember playing...
If we want to talk about past habits and repeated activities what language can we use?
Answer - Highlight here = Would. You can also use Used to
Write about a memory you have of something you did in the past.
It could be a holiday, your first visit to the UK (or another country), a school trip, a memory from your childhood or just somewhere you used to live...
Talk about what you remember doing
Use Would and Used to but remember the secret of good writing is variety so try and use both of them with a variety of other past tenses
Introduce the topic and have a concluding sentence or paragraph
You can use the ex 5 gap-fill as a model
7) More Practice
Would for Past Habit Jumbled Sentence Games 1 - 10
Whitney Elizabeth Houston (August 9, 1963 – February 11, 2012) was an American recording artist, actress, producer and model. In 2009, the Guinness World Records cited her as the most-awarded female act of all time. Her awards include two Emmy Awards, six Grammy Awards, 30 Billboard Music Awards, and 22 American Music Awards, among a total of 415 career awards in her lifetime. Houston was also one of the world's best-selling music artists, having sold over 170 million albums, singles and videos worldwide. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Whitney_Houston
News 11th February 2012
American singer and actress Whitney Houston has died in Los Angeles at the age of 48.
The mother of one died in her room at the Beverly Hilton Hotel, where she had been staying as a guest.
The singer had battled substance abuse in recent years.
Discuss
They have talent, money, looks, fame... everything.
Why do some stars lose it all?
Can you think of any other stars who have come to a tragic end?
watch a video about inventions and do a matching exercise
watch a video about a science exhibition and do a quiz
listen to a radio interview about what motivates inventors and do a gap-fill
read an interview with inventor Mark Champkins
discuss and describe inventions
write about an invention
1) Video 1 - Discuss
What are the most useful inventions that we use today?
What couldn't you live without?
Is it a simple everyday object like a pen or a paper clip or something more complex?
You are going to watch a videocalled "10 Accidental Inventions"
What inventions do you think they are?
Why do you think they are called "accidental"?
Watch and find out
2) Matching exercise
Match the beginnings of the sentences with the ends. Watch the video again if you need to.
3) Grammar
Look at the sentences again. How many tenses are there?
Which phrases are Past Simple?
Which are Past Continuous?
What's the difference between the Past Simple and Continuous?
Not sure? Look here
4) Video 2 - Discuss
You are going to watch a clip about an exhibition called the "Hidden Heroes Exhibition."
Who do you think are the "Hidden Heroes?
Why do you think they have called them "hidden"?
What kind of objects do you think are in the exhibition?
Watch the clip
Now answer these questions. Watch the video again if you need to.
5) Discuss - Listen
Rawlplugs and screws
Do you agree that the objects in the Hidden Heroes exhibition are very important?
Why do inventors invent things?
What do you think is the main motivation for inventing?
Is it a simple everyday object or something more complex?
What's it for?
What kind of design has it got?
Has the design changed much since it was invented?
Look on the internet. Find out some history
Who invented it?
Where was it invented?
Was it invented by accident?
Why and how was it invented?
What were they trying to do when they invented it (what else were they working on)?
What do you think about it?
Why is it important?
What did it change or make better for people?
What couldn't we do without it?
Why couldn't you live without it?
Write about your invention
Write it using 3 - 4 paragraphs (see above)
Don't forget to have an introduction (say what it is and why you are choosing it)
and a conclusion (your opinion of it / why couldn't you live without it and why you think it's important)
listen to a radio interview and do a true / false quiz
practise the passive
give advice about how to avoid making gaffes when speaking another language or visiting another country
Discuss
What's a gaffe?
gaffe/gaf/ Noun: An accidental act or remark causing embarrassment to its maker; a blunder: "an unforgivable social gaffe".
Synonyms: faux pas - blunder - mistake
Have you ever made any gaffes? Describe one
Do you ever make any gaffes when you are speaking in a foreign laguage?
Do you know of any translations from your language into English which may cause a gaffe?
Do you know of any translations from English into your language which may cause a gaffe?
Why should we be very careful when we translate into another language?
What are "false friends"
What's an advertising or branding gaffe?
Can you give any examples of advertising or branding gaffes?
Listen
Listen to a radio interview from BBC Radio 4 Today. The interview is about branding gaffes.
The carmaker BMW launched a Mini Cooper marketing campaign in Germany to try to take advantage of the cold weather. Unfortunately the Mini Cooper's name was attached to a cold weather front which killed many across Europe. BMW is embarrassed and a spokesman said that "it took on catastrophic proportions and left so many victims... we do regret it very much."
What advice would you give to an English speaking person who was learning your language or coming to visit your country?
How could he / she avoid making any gaffes?
David Lammy, the Labour MP for Tottenham and former minister, sparked controversy when he said parents in his constituency were confused about the law on smacking. Cindy Butts, adviser on the Metropolitan Police's Operation Trident, and Sunny Hundal, Guardian writer and editor of left wing blog Liberal Conspiracy, discuss whether smacking is ever justified.
Listen to the discussion
1) Who says the following? Cindy Butts or Sunny Hundal?
some families don't understand the law
was beaten as a child
people are more willing to ignore authority nowadays
Click play to listen
2) Listen again and fill in the gaps with a verb from the drop-down menu.
Look at the text again.
The verbs in the gaps in the summary can all be used to report speech. We can also use Say and Tell but the test of good English is being able to use varied vocabulary.
What other verbs in the text are used to report speech?
Highlight for answers = dispute, maintain, claim, consider
The law in the UK states that a parent can smack a child without reddening the skin. Do you agree that the law is fair and sensible?
What are the alternatives to smacking?
Do you think parents should have training to raise children?
Are people more willing to ignore authority nowadays? Is this good or bad? What are the causes?
Do you agree there has been a breakdown in discipline in young teenagers?
How much are parents responsible for the actions of their children?
Writing
Choose one of the following IELTS questions
Some people think it would be a good idea for schools to teach every young person how to be a good parent. Do you agree or disagree with this opinion? Describe the skills a person needs to be a good parent.
Firm discipline is a necessary part of teaching children. To what extent do you agree or disagree
In some countries children have very strict rules of behavior, while in other countries they are allowed to do almost anything they want. To what extent should children have to follow rules? Give Reasons for your answer and include any relevant examples from your own knowledge or experience.
Behaviour in schools is getting worse. Explain the causes and effects of this problem, and suggest some possible solutions.
talk about what your country / region / city loves
1) Discuss
What is the British stereotype?
What do the British love?
Think of some things we love
2) Watch the clip
What does Britain love?
Can you guess before you watch?
3) Put the words and expressions in order
Look at the list of words and expressions in the exercise below
Do you understand all of them?
Watch the youtube clip again. While you listen, use your mouse to drag the expressions into the right order on the lines.
4) Discuss / Writing
Do you think the ad is true?
What do you love doing?
What do people in your country love doing?
What does your country love?
Make a list of things
Read them out to the class or make a poster.
Grammar
Don't forget - "... loves + a NOUN or VERB +ing"
eg Britain loves a celebration or Britain loves gardening
listen to a video about the Beatles and do a matching exercise
read a text about the Beatles and do a gap-fill exercise
do a quiz based on the information in the lesson
1) Discuss
2012 is the 50th anniversary of the Beatles' first hit single.
Who were the Beatles?
What were their names?
What did they do?
Watch the video to find out.
2) Do the matching exercise
Look at the exercise below. The information in the boxes on the right is in a different order to the film. Use your mouse to drag the information in the boxes on the right to the correct heading on the left.
Watch the film again if you need to.
Listen to this Beatles concert from 1964 while you do the gap fill exercise below.
3) Gap-fill
Read the text and fill in the gaps.
You can choose the correct answer from the drop-down menu.
Sgt Pepper
Abbey Road
4) Beatles Quiz
How much can you remember?
Do this quiz. There are 12 questions.
5) Writing
Choose someone famous that you like. Write about them.
