Look at the four photos. What do you know about the four places ?
What do you need to think about ?
They are all capital cities … will that make them cheap or expensive ?
Do they speak English there ? What is the temperature in winter and summer ? How would you find information ? What do you like to do on holiday ?
Extra activity – describe the photos in as much detail as you can. Use adjectives and make your voice sound excited (or unhappy).
Buenos Aires, capital of ArgentinaNairobi, capital of KenyaMoscow, capital of RussiaCopenhagen, capital of Denmark
Work in pairs – write or talk about these points:
Before I go – what do you need to do ?
While I’m in ________________, I’m going to _____________
Are there any places you don’t want to visit ? Why not ?
Pros and cons (good andbad points)
Buenos Aires:
Very colourful city with interesting buildings. Cheaper than some western cities.
In South America – could be a long flight (my class is in Vietnam). Language is Latin – American Spanish.
Nairobi:
National parks and museums. Some great food and can be cheap. English spoken.
Not very safe at night. Insects and bugs plus bad hygiene in some places.
Moscow:
Amazing culture and architecture. Generally safe for tourists. Lots to see and do.
Can be very expensive. Can be bitterly cold in winter. Most people have just basic or no English.
Copenhagen:
Friendly people, small city can be explored on foot. Great beer and healthy, fresh food. High quality standards. English widely spoken, like a second language. Safe.
Is notoriously expensive. Can be very cold and wet in winter. Very long flight (from Viet Nam).
Ask each other what they like best, where they would probably go, where they probably won’t go !
Advanced levels:
To practise complex sentences, make your own answers
The four cities are all interesting in their own way, but if I had to choose just one, I think I would probably select Nairobi in Kenya.
Firstly, I have never been to Africa and it look so different to Europe and Asia. Seeing those beautiful giraffes just walking past the window must be an amazing, unforgettable experience.
Secondly, I know that English is widely spoken in Kenya, so there should be no language barrier even though I expect a lot of culture shock.
However, I expect the heat will be a serious issue, so I must pack a lot of powerful sun cream, sunglasses and a hat. Additionally, i don’t really know much about the city, so I will have to read up.
In conclusion, I feel all cities offer something amazing but my choice would be Nairobi. I’m sure I will have an incredible time in Kenya.
I usually start a class with a review or warm up exercise, so here’s a selection of short activities.
Subject:
Adverbs (frequency & probability)
For / since / ago / already
Past Perfect & Past Perfect Continuous
Phrasal verbs
Re-writing sentences
Quick-fire corrections
Verbs into nouns
Vocabulary booster
Adverbs
Notice how a native speaker will alter the sound of the adverb, from a high ‘always’ to a deep ‘never’.
Encourage the construction of sentences with this exercise
always
usually / often
sometimes
rarely
never
Subject + adverb + verb + object …. when ?
I always drink coffee … in the morning
I usually read books … after work
I sometimes go swimming … in the afternoon
I rarely study Vietnamese … ever
I never play music … late at night (OK, maybe sometimes)
NOW … Your turn
Have students work in pairs, making their own sentences. Weaker students can copy the examples, but stronger ones are expected to introduce different vocabulary.
Listen out for the final -s sound, notably in sometimes
Similarly, introduce adverbs of probability
definitely
probably
possibly
unlikely
definitely not !
It will definitely rain soon
He will probably be late tonight
I will possibly go shopping after class
It’s unlikely that he will play for Barcelona, ever OR He is unlikely to play for Barcelona, ever.
I will never go back to that terrible restaurant.
Past perfect simple
Past <____X________X__________Present_________>Future
Something happened before another action BOTH in the past
Sub + had + past participle : I had seen the film before I read the book
She had finished the test before I was even half way through it !
Had you visited the museum before Jane arrived ?
BUT there is a time gap
past perfect continuous
something was happening when another thing started
Sub + had + been + verbing // I had been playing games when he called
I was playing games AND THEN the phone rang.
You had been laughing until she stopped you.
Had you been waiting long when she emailed you ?
NOW … Your turn
Write sentences using the past perfect continuous for these photos:
Man on Skype … then his daughter walks in
Just looking at the church … then a bird attacked
for / since / ago / already
I have lived in HCM … 4 years // She has been here … 2014
We came here 7 hours … // They have … seen the film
Students – make four sentences, using the four words
Quick fire corrections
Maths is / are very exciting and beautiful. History is / are fascinating
There is not many / much space in my car. Mr James has much / many fb friends
Can you buy a few / some milk and a few / some oranges ?
Rewriting sentences
Tony started in 2010. will By 2025, Tony will have been working here for 15 years.
Pam went to Japan and is returning in June. the It’s the second time that Pam’s been to Japan
Sometimes the best way to learn is just to see mistakes … and correct them. Look at this letter:
Check for:
spelling
grammar – simple or continuous form ?
tenses – are verbs in the right tense ?
Right phrases or idioms
new vocabulary
Every days I wokes up at between 6.00 am and 6.15 am. I always usually do the same thing namely get up, brush my tooth, put the kettle in and make coffee. Nowever, on last yesterday I getted up at 5.00 because I must to go to the airport to meeting my friend.
I had a hard time get a taxi because it was cats and dogs raining. On the airport there was so much people, all looking exhausted and depressed by the weather bad. I have never come on a plane without one time when I flyed to Ha Noi.
I seemed to wait forever for my friend. Maybe she had a problem immigration. But no I seed her and she looked very cute but also exhausted and also a little smelly.
Instead of wenting to home, we came to a nice coffee shop with great coffees and good music and also so many people so we having to waited for a sit. The coffee made us to wake up so then we came to home but first she wants to doing some shop.
I taked her to Diamond plaza and we saw many shops, a whole multitude of things to see and do. We saw beatiful dress from silk made but it was too very expensive; it cost a leg and an arm. So instead we did window shopper which is more cheaper.
Class activity. Assign each student, or group, a paragraph and see who can correct the mistakes first. Other teams listen to make sure the answers are correct.
Email correction
Hi Thay Paul
I want to talk about our next class schedule. Handy for the rest of you on Sunday. I think we can study on Saturday night. I finish work at 5pm and go back home. Therefore, we can start studying English at 7pm.
How do you think about that schedule? May you think and get back to me anytime?
Thank you and hope you have a great day!
This is a real email I received.
Can you write a better version ?
Plan
“I want” = can be too strong … “I would like” sounds better, more polite
“Handy for the rest of you on Sunday.” What does this mean ?
Ask a question rather than tell the time.
Reply to me but don’t write “anytime” – give me a time (“before tonight.”)
OK … you try:
Hi Paul
I would like to ask about our lesson time tonight.
Today, I finish work around 5 so would it be possible to have our lesson at 7 ?
I hope this is more convenient for you so you can rest on Sunday.
Could you get back to me before tonight?
See you later
Ms Na xo
(xo in the west is a friendly way to end a letter between close friends; it means kiss and hug)
The American singer-songwriter Elliott Smith wrote a song called ‘XO’.
Text correction
Correct this text: a young lady is talking about her likes and her best friend.
For higher level students, try to rearrange making complex sentences, using clauses, relative pronouns and discourse markers.
I very like pineapple and all fruits. Because it are healthy. Today was wet very, it rained cat and dog. Sometime I read book and watches movie. My work is very boring, same thing, day out, day in. I wants to play badmington with my friend. She am very good, she play for the school team. Together, we is the bestest. She is more tall as me but I am pretty more. We likes to see movie Korean on cinema.
Upper – Intermediate Level
A teacher writes to his HR manager recommending a new teacher.
Activity 1:
How would you reply ?
What do you think of the email ?
Could you improve it ?
Dear HR, this is John Smith. I wanna let you know of a super cool friend of mine who would be a brilliant teacher here She’s 24 full of energy and enthusiasm. I know she will be well good. Her names Agnieshzska … Agneeszka … or something like that and she’s from Poland, but her english ain’t bad. She went to high sChool and got sum exams in geography and cooking. I hope you take her on the students will love her like, yer know, lots. See ya
Johnny
Activity 2: you don’t feel the candidate is suitable. Write an email back to Johnny
CORRECT THE MISTAKES IN THIS EMAIL:
[A sample answer follows the photo.]
Dear Johnny,
Thank you for your introduction.
Unfortunately, We need experience teaching teacher, over 2 years. Beside, they must have degree, Tesol,… Especially, native speakers.
It’s so sorry. Ms Agnieshzska is not suitable for this position.
If you have any friends, who satisfy necessary conditions as above, please introduce to us.
Have a nice day!
Penny Lane English School
Dear Mr John (Johnny could be a little too informal)
Thank you for your introduction.
Unfortunately, we only employ teachers who have at least two year’s experience. In addition, they have to hold a degree and a recognised teaching certificate. Finally, we only hire native speakers.
As such, your friend would not be suitable for this position.
If you have any friends who satisfy the necessary conditions, please feel free to introduce them to us.
Have a nice day!
Penny Lane English Centre
NOTES: see ‘year’s experience’ – possessive
I didn’t use the friend’s name because John couldn’t write it properly !
Job – // What do you do ? // What line are you in ? // where they work
where they live
how long they have lived there (present perfect)
are they married ? If so, do they have children ? How old are they ?
the weather- // Do you think it will rain later ?
NOT about money, religion, why NOT married, or don’t have children.
To answer:
Oh, really // You don’t say right ! // That sounds interesting // Tell me more
Wow, fascinating // Do you like your job ? // How long have you been married ?
How old are your children ? Do you have a photo ? // What are you studying ?
Practice:
In a new class, ask each other some general questions. This is best done in pairs, so students don’t feel embarrassed speaking in front of the class. See how long you can keep the conversation going.
Fell free to add new questions.
Clothes
Which clothes do you like ?
Express what you feel about these clothes, whether or not you would buy them, or do you know someone who would like them ?
Vocabulary:
I choose the because it’s …
stylish // cool // beautiful // colourful // great quality // chic // really suits me
fashionable // trendy // so modern // really with it // I feel a million dollars //
however, you may feel it is …
expensive // ugly // gaudy // bad taste // not my style // old-fashioned // hideous //
Today’s blog, or activity sheet, is about persuasion; the ability to change someone’s opinion or make them do what YOU want THEM to do. This is known as having ‘the gift of the gab.’
This skill is mostly associated with salesmen who, without cheating or lying, make their product sound so wonderful that you simply HAVE TO buy it … and then you get home and realise you have parted with your hard-earned money for something you don’t want, don’t need and will never use.
Before we kick off, let’s roll out some new expressions:
One born every minute = negative, means that the person is an idiot, who bought something useless.
He/She saw you coming = negative, means the seller thought you would buy the poor quality item or pay too much for it.
Paid over the odds = negative, means paying too much for something.
Could sell sand to an Arab = positive, means the seller is so persuasive, he could sell anything to anyone (here, people who live in the desert do NOT need to buy sand).
Unique = positive, only one or something totally different and special.
Examples:
You paid £50 for that shirt ? He must have seen you coming !
The hotel was $75, I think I paid over the odds.
She’s such a great seller, she could sell sand to an Arab.
I can’t believe he though it was a real Rolex watch … for €30. Oh well, there’s one born every minute !
Activity
Welcome to
Mr Paul’s Wonderfully useful store
Here, you can find all sorts of incredibly useful and wonderful items.
The students have to practise their selling and persuasive skills, in order to sell these … ‘wonderful’ … items. As always, an example:
One grey sock
A truly wonderful sock (one), almost nearly perfect
Ladies and gentlemen, step right up, I have an absolute unique items for you. As you see, I have, just today ONLY, one beautiful delightful almost never-used silver-coloured sock, perfect for men, women or even children, yes, they can grow into it !
This amazing item, one of a kind, can be used for so many things, for example … have crying children ? Simply put the sock on your hand and … a PUPPET ! Guaranteed to stop all tears. Been shopping and have so many dirty, heavy coins ? No problem, simply put the coins in the sock. Having a party ? What would look better than this magnificent sock hanging proudly above the door ? Can use it for Christmas, Thanksgiving, Tet Holiday, Easter, Passover, Ramadan, Birthdays, Weddings … you name it … You CANNOT live without it …
You can have this priceless item for just £100 … OK, to you, today only … £75
Now … your turn
Write a ‘sales pitch’ for one of these items, think of some uses for it, then set a price. Try to convince your classmates to buy your unique item.
Some ideas for uses are at the end of the blog
One old Tea-bagOld wine bottle corkOld banana skinBroken old umbrellaLovely old T-shirtA flea market where people can sell … anything. One person’s junk is another person’d treasure
Tips and ideas:
teabag – mint tea – gets rid of spiders & mice : put on eyes to reduce puffiness
