This short lesson plan is designed around a Christmas advert. It is mainly aimed at upper-intermediate and advanced students because these are the groups I usually teach, but can be used with any other level with little adaptation.
STEP 1 WARMER
We start by discussing in small groups and brainstorming some (as many as students can think of):
1.- reasons why people learn a second language (to find a job, for pleasure, to enhance brain activity, to travel/ live abroad…)
2.- reasons why people decide to go and live in another country (looking for better working conditions, for love, weather/climate/ health issues, political reasons…)
3.- strategies/ useful tips for learning a foreign language and improving: grammar, pronunciation, listening, speaking, vocabulary etc. at both a beginner and at a more advanced level
4.- the main advantages and disadvantages of learning a language at a young/ old age
English for BegiNNers Scribd by Eva Gutiérrez on Scribd
STEP 2 POOLING THEIR IDEAS AND TIPS
Go through the students’ answers. After conducting feedback and sharing their ideas and recommendations with the whole group, tell them they are going to watch the start of a short film entitled “English for beginners” in which they will see the difficulties of learning a foreign language at advanced age.
STEP 3 WATCHING AND PAUSING
Pause the video after 1:46 and comment on those difficulties most of us have gone through.
Ask Ss what they think is the reason why this old man is trying to learn English. Let them take guesses while predicting what happens next. Give them some time to come up with an interesting and original ending for the video.
STEP 4 AFTER WATCHING
Hope you enjoy the activity!
E.
