The Perfect Match? How is technology affecting our relationships?

You are going to

• watch a short film
• use adjectives to describe personality
• discuss relationships 
• discuss technology 
• watch and discuss a short film

Note these are discussion activities for a speaking class based around a short 8 minute silent film called "97%"
(The film provoked considerable discussion when I used it in my FCE / CAE / CPE classes...)

Before you watch

A) Discuss personality

• Why do friends get on well with each other?
• How would you describe yourself to other people?
• Physically - choose any 3 words - eg tall, brunette, fair, dark-skinned, brown-eyed etc
• Personality - choose 5 words from the list below

• Who else in class has chosen the same words as you?

B) Discuss relationships

• How many of the personality adjectives above would you look for in a partner?
• Are you in a relationship? Do you have a partner/ boyfriend / girlfriend or are you married?
• What is a "perfect match" in a relationship? Is your partner a perfect match for you? Do "perfect matches" exist? Is personality important when choosing a partner?
• What do you look for in a partner?
• Would you accept a 50% match?

C) Discuss technology

• Do you have a smartphone?
• What do you use it for?
• Do you use social media (facebook, instragram, twitter)?
• What apps do you use?
• Are you addicted to it?

D) Watch
Watch the film below
What do you think the 97% in the title refers to?



97% (Short film) from Ben Brand on Vimeo.

E) After you watch - Discuss the film

• What do you think is the "message" of the film?
• Do you agree with it? Why / why not?
• What is the most important scene in the film? Why?
• What do you think is the man's attitude towards a) his phone? b) romantic relationships? c) other people? d) life?
• Do you think technology is changing the way we relate to each other? Can you give any examples from your own experience?
• Do you think using a phone app or a dating site is a good way to find a partner?
• Do you think technology will play an increasing role in our relationships and behaviour?

F) Write 
Choose 1

A) Write a review of the film discussing the film's ideas.

Plan
Introduction

• What is the name of the film? 
• What kind of film is it?
• What is the message of the film?
• Give a short (1 or 2 sentences) summary of the story. Do not give spoilers.

Main text

• Discuss the message of the film?
• Which scene best illustrates its message?
• Discuss the importance, prevalence and role of technology in our lives, our possible addiction to it and the effect it may be having on us and our relationships with each other.

Conclusion

• What is your opinion of the film's ideas and message?

B) "Our relationship with technology is having a damaging effect on the way we relate to each other." To what extent do you agree or disagree?

Plan
Introduction (3 sentences)

• Introduce the subject - modern technology 
• Introduce the idea to be discussed - our relationship with it.
• Introduce the question - What exactly are the effects it may be having on us?

Main text

• Discuss at least 3 examples of technology affecting our relationships or behavior. Give pros and cons. Support your ideas with specific examples.

Conclusion.
What is your opinion? Do you agree with the statement? Can you summarize your ideas in one sentence?

More

• What is beauty? Adjectives, Beauty, Crossword, Describing a person, Elementary, Fashion, Food, Health, IELTS, Intermediate, Life in the UK

•  Are the machines taking over?  Advanced, Business, Future, Future Continuous, IELTS, Shopping, Technology, Upper Intermediate

• Miss Devine Describing a person, Intermediate, Listening, Miss Devine, Past Habits,Upper Intermediate, Would  

• Are you always on your phone? Advanced, CAE, FCE, IELTS, Intermediate, Listening, Technology, Upper Intermediate, Writing, Writing an argument, Writing introductions for argument essays

• Could you live without it? Mobile phones, Living without electricity, Advantages and disadvantages, IELTS, Intermediate, Linking words, Listening, Reading, Smartphones, Writing an argument, Contrasting, Technology

What can we do about the environment?

You are going to 

• discuss environmental issues
• listen to someone talking about the environment
• do a gap-fill
• write an answer to a question related to the topic

1) Discuss

• What is the environment?
• What should our attitude be towards the environment?
• What is climate change?
• What do you think causes climate change?
• Do you think it is important? Why / Why not?
• What effects could climate change have on our lifestyles and the planet?
• What can we do to support the environment?

2) Listen
You are going to listen to Mary Sargeant talking about climate change and the environment on BBC Radio Devon.
Mary Sargeant is from Devon in the UK.

• What issues does she mention?
• What solutions does she offer?

listen to ‘Pause For Thought with Mary Sargeant’ on Audioboo

Listen again and do the gap fill below
Check you understand the vocabulary before you start.

Printable worksheet here




3) Discuss

• Do you agree with Mary?
• Do we do enough or should we do more?
• Should individuals be responsible for helping to protect the environment or is it the responsibility of governments?
• What do you do to help the environment?

4) Write
Choose 1 (IELTS)

1. “Many people think it is very important to protect the environment but they make no effort to do it themselves. Why do you think this is the case? What actions should individuals take to protect the environment?”
2. Nowadays environmental problems are too big to be managed by individual persons or individual countries. In other words, it is an international problem. To what extent do you agree or disagree?

More

• Are you always on your phone? Advanced, CAE, FCE, IELTS, Intermediate, Listening, Technology, Upper Intermediate, Writing, Writing an argument, Writing introductions for argument essays

• The Truth About British Rain - The Great British W...Advanced, Describing a cycle, IELTS, Life in the UK, Listening, Upper Intermediate, Weather, Writing

• What is the weight of the human race? Advice, Crossword, FCE, Food, Health, IELTS, Jamie Oliver, Listening, Obesity, Obligation, Writing, Intermediate, Upper Intermediate

Are you always on your phone?

You are going to

• listen to someone talking about the advantages and disadvantages of technology and do a gap-fill 
• practise essay planning
• write an argument essay 

Note this post can be used in combination with  Could you live without it?







1) Discuss

• Are you always on your phone?
• How often do you use your phone?
• What do you use it for?
• What are the good things and bad things about smartphones?
• Can you think of any situations when it would be inappropriate to use a phone?
• Are we addicted to technology now?

2) Match
You are going to listen to someone talking about the advantages and disadvantages of technology.
Before you listen. Look at the exercise below. If you were writing an essay on this subject what would make the best order of sentences?

3) Listen
Alison Treharne is talking about technology on BBC Radio Devon.
According to her;

• What are the good things?
• What are the bad things?
• Does she follow the structure above for talking about the topic?

listen to ‘Pause For Thought with Alison Treharne’ on Audioboo

4) Listen
Listen again and fill in the gaps.

Printable worksheet here






5) Write 
Use some of your own ideas and Alison's ideas to answer the question below.
Remember;

1. Introduce the topic to be discussed.
2. Explain the topic to be discussed
3. Restate the question in you own words (what are you going to tell us about?)
4. Give some advantages and disadvantages
5. Support your ideas with some specific examples of advantages and disadvantages
6. Give you conclusion (you can restate the question and give an an opinion)

"Nowadays the way many people interact with each other has changed because of technology. In what ways has technology affected the types of relationships that people make? Has this been a positive or negative development?"
(IELTS - 250 words) 






Read
Mobile phones are ruining relationships
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/technology/news/9714616/Mobile-phone-addiction-ruining-relationships.html





More
Now try these posts

• Could you live without it? Mobile phones, Living without electricity, Advantages and disadvantages, IELTS, Intermediate, Linking words, Listening, Reading, Smartphones, Writing an argument, Contrasting, Technology

• IELTS: Writing introductions for task 2  Advanced, IELTS, Reading, Upper Intermediate, Writing, Writing introductions for argument essays

• More technology means more communication? Communication, Crossword, IELTS, Intermediate, Technology, Upper Intermediate , Writing an argument  

• Sexting: is technology endangering teenagers? Advanced, Discussion Activities, Health and Safety, IELTS, Listening, Sexting, Smartphones, Technology, Upper Intermediate

•  Should parents follow their children on facebook? Communication, Connectives, Intermediate, Internet, Linking words, Listening, Social networks, Technology, Upper Intermediate, Writing an argument

150 Years of The Tube

You are going to 

• listen to a radio clip about the London Underground
• do a comprehension activity

Discuss

• Does your city have a metro or underground railway?
• How old is it?
• Have you ever been on the Tube in London?
• What do you know about it?

Listen

• What was London like 150 years ago?
• What effect did the Tube have on London?

listen to ‘Celebrating 150 Years of the Tube’ on Audioboo

Listen again and do the quiz below




Alternative vocabulary gap fill exercise here


Printable worksheets here






Read

Interesting Facts about the Tube

• Each year, every Tube train travels 114,500miles/184,269km.
• The average speed of a train is 33km/20.5 miles per hour.
• Only 45 per cent of the network is actually in tunnels.
• There are 426 escalators. Waterloo has the most: 23.
• The total number of lifts, including four stair lifts, on the Underground network is 164.
• The deepest lift shaft is at Hampstead station and is 55.2m.
• The total number of carriages in the Underground’s fleet is 4,134.
• The total number of stations currently served is 270.
• The total number of staff on the Underground is approximately 19,000.
• The total length of the Tube  network is 402km/249 miles.
• The deepest station below street level in central London is Bank, which is 41.4m deep.
• In outer London, Hampstead is the deepest station below street level, at 58.5m.

From http://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/history/150-facts-for-150-years-of-the-london-tube-8444153.html






More
Facts
http://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/history/150-facts-for-150-years-of-the-london-tube-8444153.html
Pictures
http://www.guardian.co.uk/travel/gallery/2013/jan/09/150-years-london-underground-pictures

London Tube map
Click on the map to see an enlarged version

Mind the gap!

Question Time Capital Punishment Debate - Are you for or against?

You are going to

• watch a short debate about capital punishment from the BBC's Question Time programme
• practise vocabulary connected with crime
• look at some expressions connected with debating and stating opinions
• debate a topical question
• write an argument essay

1) Discuss

Capital punishment

• What is it?
• Is it fair?
• Is it necessary?
• Is it wrong? 
• is it revenge?
• Do two wrongs make a right?
• What is your opinion?

2) Before you watch
Vocabulary check
The words on the right are used in the clip you are going to watch. Do you understand them all? Match them with the definitions in the drop-down menu to check you know them.

3) Watch

Question Time is BBC TV debate show where a panel of guests discuss issues of the day. This program is from 22/11/2011

The participants in this clip are;
Priti Patel - Conservative MP http://www.priti4witham.com/
Ian Hislop - Editor of Private Eye (a British satirical and current affairs magazine)
Justine Roberts - co-founder of Mumsnet.

 
Watch the clip

• What opinions about Capital punishment are stated by the participants in the debate?
• Who is "for"?
• Who is "against"?

You can see the full debate here






4) Practise
Look at this summarized transcript of the debate.
Fill in the gaps with a word from the list.

5) Write
Choose 1 of the questions and write an answer. 
Look at the website below if you need some more ideas or views on capital punishment.

• In many countries where capital punishment has been abolished there has been a corresponding rise in violent crime rates. For this reason, many governments are considering its re-introduction as a form of deterrent. Should capital punishment be re-introduced? (IELTS)

• "Without capital punishment our lives are less secure and crimes or violence increase". To what extent do you agree or disagree with this opinion? (IELTS)

• "By punishing murderers with the death penalty, society is also guilty of committing murder. Therefore, life in prison is a better punishment for murderers." (IELTS)

Read here for a summary of views on capital punishment.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/ethics/capitalpunishment/









6) Debate
Debating Language
1) Look at the text again
What language do the debaters use to state their opinions?




2) Look at the phrases below. Fill in the gaps

3) Debate for IELTS
Many IELTS students have problems thinking of ideas to put in their essays. Why not make your own version of Question Time? Choose some IELTS questions / topics and debate them in class.
Make a note of the points people make and include them in the essays which you can write after you've finished debating them.

Look at the questions for debate below. Choose one. 
A) In pairs or groups one person / group thinks of ideas to support an idea. The other person / group thinks of ideas to oppose it.
B) Debate the topic. Try and convince your "opponent" that you are right and give examples which support your points.
C) Have a "chairman" who can moderate the debate and make sure everyone gets an equal turn.
D) Let others in the class decide who has argued their ideas the best and "won" the debate.
E) Don't forget to use some of the debating language.
F) Use reason and logic. Don't get too emotional!

Some ideas for debating;

• Downloading free films and music from the internet is stealing. Do you agree or disagree?
• "Free Speech does not only cover saying what your opinion is without reprisals; it also gives you the right to be as foul, unpleasant and vile as you feel the need to be".   What do you think?
• Should rich countries forgive all debts for poor countries?
• Should money be spent on space exploration?
• Is animal testing necessary?
• Will the Internet bring people of the world closer together?
• Should retirement be compulsory at 65 years of age?
• Education is not a luxury, but a basic human right and as such should be free for everyone irrespective of personal wealth. Do you agree or disagree?
• Children should never be educated at home by their parents. Do you agree or disagree?
• Many people believe that women make better parents than men and that this is why they have the greater role in raising children in most societies. Others claim that men are just as good as women at parenting. What do you think?
• Most high level jobs are done by men. Should the government encourage a certain percentage of these jobs to be reserved for women?
• Should criminals be punished with lengthy jail terms or re-educated and rehabilitated using community service programs for instance, before being reintroduced to society?
• All blood sports should be banned. Do you agree or disagree?
• Should governments ever intervene in the rights of the individual?
• Global warming is the most serious issue that the world is facing today. Do you agree or disagree?

More
Printable worksheets here


More language for expressing an opinion  
http://www.myenglishpages.com/site_php_files/communication-lesson-opinion.php

More on debates
http://esl.about.com/od/conversationlessonplans/a/debate6.htm

More on "For and Against" essays
http://academicwriting.wikidot.com/for-and-against-essays

More on crime
http://efllecturer.blogspot.com.es/2012/05/what-happened-to-db-cooper.html

Discussion / Listening / Writing - Is smacking a child ever justified?

You are going to

• listen to a discussion and do a gap-filling exercise
• practise verbs used to report speech
• discuss parenting and children's behaviour
• prepare and write an IELTS task 2 question on this theme

Discuss

• What's the best way to educate children?
• What's the best way to teach children about right and wrong?
• How should parents discipline children when they do wrong?
• Do you think it is ever right to smack a child who has done wrong?
• What is the law in the UK with regard to smacking?
• What is the law in your country?
• How does the education of children affect society? 
• How did your parents raise you?
• Are you a parent? How do you / will you raise your children?

Listen
You are going to listen to a short discussion from the BBC Radio 4 Today programme
http://news.bbc.co.uk/today/hi/default.stm

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.

Printable version available here

Grammar - Reported Speech

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

Practise reported speech here
http://www.englishcafe.com/blog/reported-speech-reporting-verbs-27093



Discuss

• 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.

More Practice
More reported speech
http://www.englishcafe.com/blog/reported-speech-reporting-verbs-27093

Reporting verbs lists
http://www.edufind.com/english/grammar/rep7.cfm
http://academicenglishcafe.com/ReportedandQuotedSpeechVerbs.aspx

Game  http://academicenglishcafe.com/HotChocolateCoolQuotesBetaRV.aspx

Reading
Daily Mail - Labour MP: Smacking ban led to riots because parents fear children will be taken away if they discipline them
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2093223/Labour-MP-David-Lammy-Smacking-ban-led-riots.html

More BBC Radio 4 Today stories on Facebook
http://www.facebook.com/thetodayprogramme

Willpower - How can you improve it?

You are going to 

• discuss willpower
• listen to a radio programme about willpower and do a gap-fill exercise.
• do a quiz to find out how much willpower you have

Discuss

• Do you have willpower?
• What is willpower?
• When do you need it?
• When you decide to do something do you always finish it?
• Oscar Wilde said "I can resist everything but temptation". Can you resist everything?
• How can you improve your willpower?

Listening

1. Read the summary below of the BBC Radio 4 interview with Roy Baumeister about willpower. Can you guess any of the words which go in the gaps?
2. Listen to the recording below and fill in the gaps with the word you hear.

Be careful of your spelling!


According to a new book, the most important thing to make a person successful is willpower and not self-esteem as is sometimes thought.

Professor Roy Baumeister, author of Willpower: Rediscovering Our Greatest Strength, talks to the Today programme

 Click play to listen. Fill in the gaps.

More
Listen to a debate on this subject BBC's The Forum here  http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p00mxby8

Printable version here

Reading

How much willpower do you have?
Find out in this quiz  http://www.youthink.com/quiz.cfm?obj_id=80878

Why willpower matters – and how to get it
http://www.guardian.co.uk/lifeandstyle/2012/feb/07/why-willpower-matters

Achievements - Laura Dekker: a heroine for our times?

You are going to

• Review past tenses
• Read and analyse a text about Laura Dekker
• Look at vocabulary and expressions to describe personality
• Discuss keeping diaries and blogs
• Discuss and write about an achievement using a variety of past tenses
• Discuss and write some IELTS style questions

1) Introduction
A) Who is Laura Dekker?
What do you know about her?

• Where is she from?
• How old is she?
• What is her achievement?
• How long did it take?
• Why did the authorities try to stop her?

 

B) Watch the news report to check your answers

C) Watch again, listen and fill in the spaces in the gap-fill exercise with a verb

D) Grammar - Look again. What are the tenses in each sentence?

2) Discuss

Look at the map below

• Would you like to sail around the world on your own?
• What skills do you think you need?
• What kind of a person do you need to be? Think of some adjectives or expressions.
• Do you agree with the Dutch authorities that Laura was too young to do the trip?
• What do you think Laura learned from the trip?

3) Reading

3a) Read the text below quickly and put these paragraph headings into the correct spaces in the text. Each heading describes the paragraph which follows

   A) She is determined

   B) She is a reluctant superstar

   C) She is good with cockroaches

   D) She was born to sail

   E) She becomes the youngest person to circumnavigate the globe

Read the text again and find the answers to these questions.

3b) What expressions or adjectives are used to describe Laura?
3c) What did she learn from the trip?

4) Vocabulary

Check / Guess / Find out
What do these underlined expressions from the text mean? Try and guess from the other words in the sentence.

Paragraph 1

a trip her father had hoped would "cure her wanderlust"

Paragraph 2
She took on six-metre-high waves and extreme weather
heading into the Cape of Good Hope
her storm jib (a sail used in storms) got jammed
Another of her sails ripped completely
She dodged near-collisions with cargo ships
Not in the least squeamish, she had to rescue live flying fish that had flung themselves into her cabin, and scrub the stinking remains of decomposing squid from the deck
the ants and cockroaches that had stowed away in her cabin.
Paragraph 3

she set off

in the meantime

Paragraph 4

Dekker has just pipped the previous youngest

Now do the exercise

5) Grammar

Tenses. Look again at part 1D. What were the tenses?
How many tenses can you find in the reading text? Give one example of each.

• Find a past simple =   She survived weeks at sea...
• Find a past continuous =
• Find a present perfect =
• Find a past perfect = 
• Find a conditional = 
• Find a passive = 

6) Discuss

• What do you think of Laura's achievement?
• Do you think she is a heroine?
• Was she right to follow her dream or was she too young?
• Were the Dutch authorities right to try and stop her?
• How much do you think she learned on the trip?
• Would she have learned as much at school?

Look at Laura's blog http://www.lauradekker.nl/English/News.html

• Why do you think she kept a diary / blog?
• Do you keep a diary or blog?
• What are the advantages of keeping a learning diary or blog in English?

Think of an achievement in your life and talk about it eg learning to drive, learning English, entering a competition, doing a course...

• Why did you decide to do it?
• Describe doing it. Was it difficult? How did you feel during and after?
• What did you learn from it?
• What did you learn about yourself?

7a) Writing

Now write about your achievement
Organise and plan

• Paragraph 1 - Introduce the achievement. Say why you wanted to do it. Use past tenses  - past simple and continuous / past perfect

• Paragraph 2 / 3 - Describe doing it - preparation, difficulties, your feelings. Use past tenses - past simple and continuous / past perfect. Use some adjectives to describe the activity and your feelings.

• Paragraph 4 - What have you learnt from doing it? How has it changed your life? How have you changed? What are the benefits? Would you recommend the activity to others? Try and use a variety of tenses; past simple and continuous / past perfect / present perfect / conditional / passive

7b) Writing (IELTS)

Discuss and prepare to write about one of these questions

• Should parents be obliged to send their children to school? Or should they have the right to choose how to educate them?

• Some people believe that governments have a duty to make sure all their citizens are healthy, safe and well educated. Others say that this can lead to state interference and infringes on the freedom of the individual to choose how to live. Discuss both views and give your opinion

• “Not everything that is learned is contained in books.” Compare and contrast knowledge gained from experience with knowledge gained from books. In your opinion, which source is more important? Why? Give reasons for your answer and include any relevant examples from your own knowledge or experience.

8) More reading

• Laura Dekker's website http://www.lauradekker.nl/English/About_Laura.html
• Laura Decker: A heroine for our times by Emine Saner.  http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2012/jan/23/laura-dekker-sailing-heroine-times
• Daily Mail http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2089989/Laura-Dekker-Dutch-girl-16-youngest-sail-world-own.html

Ex 3 and 4 - Printable version here 
Other answers - Highlight below

1C Answers
1) has. 2) arrived, set. 3) had. 4) were, was 5) were, wanted, wanted. 6) had, have. 7) has.

1D Answers 1) Present Perfect. 2) Past Simple. 3) Past Perfect. 4) Past Simple, Past Passive. 5) Past Simple x 3. 6) Past Perfect, Past modal - should. 7) Present Perfect Passive.

3a) Answers
She was born to sail
She is good with cockroaches
She is determined
She becomes the youngest person to circumnavigate the globe
She is a reluctant superstar

3b) Answers 

stoic, a cool head, wanderlust, not in the least squeamish, determined, experienced solo sailor, values solitude and a proximity to nature, has a deep appreciation of the beauty the world has to offer, "mostly I simply enjoy the endless silky blue ocean and the quiet peace that it brings,"  "At sea, I feel comfortable and I come to rest."

3c) Answers
 - To prepare for the trip Dekker had done training in first aid and sleep management, and had become a more experienced solo sailor,
 - Sailing around the world, navigating difficult port approaches, storms, dangerous reefs, and the full  - responsibility of keeping herself and her boat safe
 - Learned to value and appreciate nature


5) Answers
past simple - She survived weeks at sea...
past continuous - Her Dutch parents were living on a yacht...
present perfect - Her mother has said...
past perfect - ... flying fish that had flung themselves into her cabin
conditional - If Laura had drowned people would have accused us of not doing enough to protect her
passive - Dekker was placed under state guardianship by a Dutch court

Air New Zealand All Blacks Flight Safety Video

You are going to

1) Discuss flying and air safety procedures
2) Watch a flight safety video and do some comprehension activities
3) Look at and practise the following grammar points;
   a) the zero conditional with an imperative
   b) "should" and "were to" in conditionals to express improbability eg "If something should / were to happen..."
   c) language for advice, instructions and obligation
4) Write an instruction / advice leaflet
5) Adapt your leaflet into a powerpoint presentation or film

Teacher's notes; 

1. Answers are in the powerpoint presentation at the bottom of the post

2. The All Blacks are the New Zealand rugby team.

1) Discuss

• How often do you fly?
• Do you pay attention to the flight safety demonstrations?
• Do you know what to do in an emergency?
• Make a note of any vocabulary you need to explain what to do. For example; take off, land, exit, signs, seats, fasten, seat-belt, life-jacket, oxygen mask, overhead compartments, evacuate

2) Video 
a) Do you know..?
You are going to watch a flight safety video. How many of these questions do you know the answers to?

1. Where should you store your baggage?
2. What should you do if the seat-belt sign is switched on?
3. If an oxygen mask should drop down in front of you, what would you do?
4. What should you make sure of before you help anyone?
5. If an emergency were to happen during take-off or landing, what should you do?
6. How do you put on the life-jacket?
7. Where can you smoke?
8. How will you find the exit if there is no light?
9. What should you count?
10. What should you do with your mobile phone?

2b) Watch the video to check your answers

Air New Zealand - 'Crazy About Rugby' Safety Video from CDow on Vimeo.

2c) After you watch. How much can you remember? 

Finish the sentences.

1. Even if you fly with us often, please keep your eyes on the briefing.
2. Make sure all your baggage is stored away…
3. Whether you’re in the front row or the back…
4. We recommend you keep your seat-belt fastened throughout the flight, but…
5. If the seat-belt sign is switched on…
6. If an oxygen mask should drop down in front of you…
7. If there are young ones around you…
8. If an emergency were to happen during take-off or landing…
9. If you find yourself needing to smoke on this flight…
10. If you need to find your way out even if it’s All Black…
11. Should we need to evacuate…
12. Mobile phones can interfere with aircraft systems and mustn’t be used in flight unless...

Can't remember them all?

Try the matching exercise below

3) Discuss Grammar

1. What do these sentences have in common?
2. What's the difference between them?

   A) If an oxygen mask drops down in front of you, use it to breathe.

   B) If an oxygen mask were to drop down in front of you, use it to breathe.

   C) If an oxygen mask should drop down in front of you, use it to breathe.

   D) Should an oxygen mask drop down in front of you, use it to breathe.

3. Which 3 are the most unlikely? 

Practise
If + "were to... "  http://www.englishpage.com/conditional/wereto.html
http://www.englishpage.com/conditional/conditional11.htm

Conditionals - Alternative forms http://esl.about.com/cs/advanced/a/gr_cond_alt_2.htm

4) Writing

Use the information from the video to write a flight safety advice leaflet.
or
Write a leaflet advising people what to do in an emergency
For example - A fire
Does your school or college have fire drills?
Do you know what to do and where to go if there was a fire?

Use some of the language from the video

• If the alarm were to ring...
• If the alarm should ring...
• Should the alarm ring...
• Make sure you...
• All students must...
• We recommend (that) you + verb

5) Speaking

Turn your leaflet from part 4 into a presentation or film.
Make a powerpoint presentation
or
direct and act in an instructional film telling people what to do in an emergency

6) Sporting vocabulary

This Air New Zealand video features the New Zealand All Blacks Rugby team. There are many sporting expressions in the video. Read the transcript here http://lybio.net/air-new-zealand-crazy-about-rugby-safety-video/travel-events/  or watch the video again. How many can you find?

Make a note of any other vocabulary in the film that you find useful


 
More air safety videos http://www.carhire.org/blog/funny-flight-safety-videos


Powerpoint presentation (containing answers)
Click to start

Air safety from David Mainwood

More

• 3 Things I learned while my plane crashed by Ric Elias, Conditionals 1 and 2, Discussion Activities, IELTS, Listening, Reading, Upper Intermediate, Writing
• The very honest Austrian bus driver 2nd Conditional, Conditionals, Intermediate,
  Upper Intermediate
• What would happen if..? (2nd Conditional) Conditionals, Intermediate, Reading, Upper Intermediate, Webquest 
• What would have happened if..? 10 Inventors Killed by their own inventions (3rd Conditional).3rd Conditional, Advanced, Upper Intermediate Conditionals, Inventions, Inventors, Technology

 

 

What would have happened if..? 10 Inventors Killed By Their Own Inventions (3rd Conditional)

You are going to

• discuss inventors and inventions
• watch a video about inventors and inventions
• do some comprehension activities based on the video which introduce and practise the 3rd conditional
• look at and practise the 3rd conditional using photos from a presentation
• reflect on the past and say what you would have done differently using the 3rd conditional

1) Discuss

• Who invented television?
• Who invented the internet?
• What famous inventors do you know?
• What did they invent?
• What modern activities did they make possible?
• What do you think have been the most important inventions in history?

2) Video clip - "10 inventors who were killed by their own inventions"

Before you watch, look at the list of inventors and inventions below.
The names are in the correct order but the inventions are not. As you watch, match the name with the correct invention. 

• Can you guess any before you watch?
• The inventors were killed by their own inventions. How do you think they died?

The numbers are in reverse order as the video is a top 10 countdown. One is done for you.
You can drag and drop the inventions.

Watch the video and check.

3) Discuss

All of the inventors were killed by their own inventions.
If they had known...

• What would the inventors have changed?
• What would they have done differently?

4) Match the beginnings and ends of these sentences

How much can you remember?
The beginnings and ends of the sentences below have been mixed up.
Match the beginnings of the sentences in the left hand column with the ends in the right hand column.
The first is done for you.
You can drag and drop the ends of the sentences.
Watch the video again if you need to check.

Note  for 3 and 4 - been strangled and been convicted are passives.
Printable version here

5) Presentation on the 3rd conditional

If the inventors had been more careful, they would have lived.
If we are imagining changes in the past what language do we use?
Look at all the sentences in ex 4. How do we make the 3rd conditional?
Look at the presentation to check.

3rd Conditional from David Mainwood

6) Discuss / Practise

Reflect on the past. Think. Imagine.
In the last 12 months...

• What would you have done if you'd had more time?
• Would you have studied more English?
• Would you have looked for a new job?
• What would you have done differently if you'd had other choices?

Do you have any regrets in life?

• What would you have changed if you'd had the chance? If I'd had the chance I would have...
• If you had known a year ago what you know now, what would or wouldn't you have done differently in the last 12 months? If I'd known 12 months ago that ..., I would have...
• What would you have changed in your childhood or when you were at school / college / university ? If I had studied music, I would have learnt to sing
• What things wouldn't you have done? If I had known .., I wouldn't have...
  

7) Reading

Who are the top 10 most popular inventors?
What did they invent?
Find out here http://inventors.about.com/od/inventorsalphabet/tp/popularinventor.htm

Here's a list of inventors and their inventions. Find 5 which you think are the most useful.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_inventors
Can you make some sentences in the 3rd conditional?.
Imagine...

If Tim Berners Lee hadn't invented the world wide web, they wouldn't have sold so many computers

If John Logie Baird hadn't invented TV, we wouldn't have been able to watch so many TV programmes

How many UK children think the Queen invented the telephone?
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/education/8565258.stm





8) More practice
More practice on 3rd Conditional 
http://www.englishgrammarsecrets.com/thirdconditional/exercise2.swf

http://www.englishgrammarsecrets.com/thirdconditional/exercise3.swf

More All Time 10s
http://www.facebook.com/alltime10s

http://www.youtube.com/alltime10s
Many thanks to All Time 10s who provided the video in this post with incredible speed when I asked about the idea on their facebook page. If they hadn't provided the video, this post would not have been possible!