PRACTICAL SKILLS WORKSHOP, PRE-INTERMEDIATE, WEEK 07 ______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Objectives of the lesson: After the lessons students can: describe a popular event write an essay about a popular event Target learners: Pre-intermediate students Materials: Slides Pictures: Downloaded from: https://www.pexels.com/ http://finda.photo/ https://pixabay.com/pl/service/terms/ http://www.freedigitalphotos.net Methods: Individual, group work Types of interaction: T-S, S-T, S-S Time: 60 min.
The lesson revolves around describing events. Procedure: 1. Slide 1. Teacher greets SS and asks them how they are. Time for small talk. 2. T explains the aim of the lesson. 3. Slides 2-11. T asks SS to describe the event in the photo. 4. In turns SS complete the task. Each time a S has described the event. T asks a few questions, e.g.
Have you ever taken part in this kind of event?
If yes, describe more details. When did it happen? How was it prepared? How did you feel during this event?
If not, would you like to take part in it? Why? etc. The events are as follows:
In this exercise SS practise their reading skills reading about Royal Regatta as well as learn new vocabulary connected with the topic. Procedure: 1. Slide 12. T presents the slide and explains the task. 2. T tells SS to read the text and find out what kind of celebration is described there and how often the event is celebrated. 3. SS complete the task. 4. T checks the answers and asks SS. KEY: The Royal Regatta. It is celebrated every year. 5. Next, T asks SS to underline the correct form of the verbs. 6. SS complete the task. 7. T checks the answers and asks SS. T does not explain much about Passive Voice here as this is explained on slide 14. KEY: (1) The Royal Regatta is one of the most famous events in the world of rowing. The Regatta takes place every year in Henley, a small town in the south of England. The event is usually held at the end of June and continues for 5 days. Teams of rowers from all over the world come to compete for the Grand Challenge Cup. (2) Preparations for the event start in May. First of all, huge grandstands are put up alongside the water and rows of colourful deckchairs are placed along the edge of the river so that spectators can watch the boat race in comfort. Then, tents are set up in which delicious food and drinks are served. Rowers come to practise with their teams for days before the races begin. (3) During the days of the Regatta, many spectators dress smartly to attend the races. Others prefer to have a picnic on the river bank. The highlight of the event is the final. As the finalists speed forward to the finish line, everyone stands up and shouts for their team. They wave and cheer loudly as the boats rush past the finishing line. Soon
In this exercise SS learn the difference between Active and Passive Voice as well as practise it. Procedure: 1. Slide 14. T presents the slide and explains the task. 2. T elicits/explains the difference between the two sentences and when to use Active Voice and Passive Voice. T also elicits which form of the verb is used in both sentences They serve drinks. – Active Voice, 1st form of the verb Drinks are served. – Passive Voice used when we do not know the agent, to be + 3rd form of the verb
3. Slide 15. T asks SS complete the sentences with the correct form of the verbs. 4. SS complete the task. 5. T checks the answers. KEY: 1. This event takes place every four years in Brighton. 2. People always sing with the artist. 3. A lot of people arrive at the party. 4. The event is held in the large concert hall. 5. The best runner is awarded the cup. 6. The stage is put up two day before the event. 7. Around 200 people come to this event every year. 8. Music is played really loudly. 9. A lot of teenagers dance to the music. 10. People usually watch this ceremony on TV.
In this exercise SS fill in the gaps with adjectives and decide on the function of each paragraph. This exercise prepares SS to write their own description of an event (slide 18). Procedure: 1. T presents the slide and explains the task. 2. T asks SS to fill in the gaps with suitable adjectives. 3. SS complete the task. 4. SS check their answers with T KEY: 1. Several days before 31st October, children go to (1) fancy-dress
shops and decide which (2) colourful costumes to buy. Others, who are more (3) creative prefer to make their own costumes. These can be anything from (4) scary monsters to (5) well-known characters from fairy tales. Children also go trick-or-treating and make (6) hand-carved lanterns from pumpkins. (annual event)
2. At the end of the concert, I felt very (1) disappointed. Not only was the sound quality (2) poor, but also the lighting was so (3) bad that we could hardly see the stage. I don’t think I’ll be attending next year’s Jazz Festival. (past event)
3. The Oscar Academy Awards take place once a year at the end of February in Los Angeles. This (1) glamorous event is eagerly awaited by millions of fans all over the world. (2) Glittering film stars, musicians and directors gather under one roof to see who will be the (3) lucky ones to take home an Oscar. (annual event)
5. T asks SS which paragraph refer to annual (1, 3) and past events (2). 6. T asks SS to name the paragraphs. KEY: 1. main body paragraph; 2. conclusion; 3. introduction
This is exercise SS match the beginning to the endings. Procedure: 1. T presents the slide and explains the task. 2. T asks SS to match the endings to the beginnings. 3. SS complete the task. 4. SS check their answers with T. KEY: 1. About 2 years ago, my parents organised a party in honour of my
grandfather, who was retiring from work at the age of sixty-five…// B. In the end, it was a great success. All the effort was worth it just to see a broad smile on his face when he was surrounded by all his family. I had never seen him so happy. (past event)
2. Every year, on February 14, thousands of people send each other cards to celebrate St Valentine’s Day… // C. It is usually a day of surprises and, unavoidably, of disappointments. Most of all, however, it is a day for romantic people of all ages. (annual event)
3. Last October, for my eighteenth birthday, I invited a few of my friends to come over to my flat for a party. // A. After I cleared up all the mess, I went to bed, exhausted but delighted that it had been such a success. I’m sure everybody will remember it for a long time. (past event)
5. T asks SS which paragraph refer to annual and past events. KEY: 1. Past event, 2. Annual event, 3. Past event
In this exercise SS read prompts about the Dominica Festival and write a main body paragraph using them. The lesson finishes with feedback from T. Procedure: 1. T presents the slide and explains the task. 2. T asks SS to read the prompts about the Dominica Festival and label them B (for activities happening before) and D (for activities happening during it). 3. SS compete the task. 4. SS check the answers with T. KEY: 1. D mouth-watering Caribbean food / sell at street stalls 2. B brightly-decorated floats / build 3. B local musicians / practise hard / big event 4. D streets / fill with / people / dance and sing /to live music 5. B everybody / work enthusiastically / get ready /carnival 6. B designers / make colourful / masks / costumes 7. D tourists / line / streets / watch / parade 8. B night before / carnival / people go / lively street party 9. D carnival queen / choose / award a prize 5. T asks SS to write a main body paragraph for a composition describing the Dominica Carnival. They use the prompts from the previous exercise. 6. SS complete the task (on a separate piece of paper). T helps if necessary. 7. For feedback, T asks a few SS to read out their extracts. 8. T elicits what SS have learnt during the lesson and gives feedback on SS’ performance. 9. T asks if there are any questions.
