Brenda Brenda

Aternative path, conditionals lesson plan review
Upper-Intermediate level

Description

• Students will demonstrate the ability to confidently use all types of conditional sentences accurately and appropriately in different contexts. • Students will significantly expand their vocabulary related to key themes presented in the lesson. • Students will enhance their speaking skills and apply grammar and vocabulary in realistic scenarios. • Students will be able to analyze and create original dialogues based on the provided contexts. • Students will demonstrate an awareness and understanding of the nuances in conditional usage.

Materials

Main Aims

  • Activate prior knowledge of conditionals and get students speaking comfortably.

Subsidiary Aims

  • Students will be able to accurately identify and differentiate between all types of conditional sentences (zero, first, second, third, and mixed) in written and spoken English.
  • Students will be able to form grammatically correct conditional sentences of all types, including mixed conditionals, with minimal errors.
  • Students will accurately use key subordinators in conditional sentences, such as "unless," "provided that," "as long as," "otherwise," "even if," and “in case”, demonstrating an understanding of their subtle differences in meaning.
  • Students will be able to appropriately apply new vocabulary (e.g., *turning point, trajectory, moral compass, risk assessment*) in various contexts related to choice, consequences, and business.

Procedure

Warmer/Lead-in (3-5 minutes) • To set lesson context and engage students

Image Prompt: Show a picture of a fork in the road. Question Prompts: “What would happen if you chose the left path?” “What if you chose the right one?” “Has a difficult choice like this ever changed the direction of your life?”

Useful Language (8-10 minutes) • To highlight and clarify useful language for coming productive tasks

This is when key vocabulary, grammar structures and functional language are highlighted, which will be used in the productive tasks. xample: Vocabulary Focus: Present new vocabulary (e.g., turning point, moral compass, risk assessment, trajectory) using flashcards, definitions, or example sentences. Grammar Focus: Quick recap of conditional structures (zero, first, second, third and mixed). Functional Language: Introduce common conditional sentence starters, such as "If I were you..." and "Had I known...". Activity: A quick gap fill activity using target language to check understanding.

Productive Task(s) (18-20 minutes) • To provide an opportunity to practice target productive skills

To provide an opportunity to practice target productive skills Description: Students are given a task to practice using the target language, working in pairs, groups or as individuals. Example: Task: "If I Were You": Students work in pairs, with each pair receiving a different card with a dilemma or situation to analyze. One student will then give advice using 2nd or mixed conditionals and new vocabulary. Cards Example: "Your friend is feeling very unmotivated at his current job and is thinking of doing something different, but he doesn't know what he wants to do. What would you say?" "A friend is thinking of starting their own business, but has no prior experience. What would your advice be?" "A student has to decide which University they want to go to, but have two very different options. What would you advise?" Activity: Students work together to discuss their options and to come to a conclusion.

Feedback and Error Correction (8-10 minutes) • To provide feedback on students' production and use of language

To provide feedback on students’ production and use of language Description: The teacher gives feedback to the students focusing on the use of target language in productive tasks. Example: Peer Correction: Students offer feedback on their partner’s language usage in each group. Teacher Feedback: The teacher will provide praise where appropriate and focus on specific areas of improvement. Activity: The teacher focuses on the usage of mixed conditionals, focusing on errors and correcting students. Example: "Remember, when we talk about a past situation affecting a present consequence, we usually use a mixed conditional"

Warmer/Lead-in (3-5 minutes) • To set lesson context and engage students

Description: A brief activity to engage students and focus their attention on the new area to explore. Example: Activity: Begin with the “Butterfly Effect” idea, and ask the students to think of all of the possible, and impossible, consequences of a simple action. Prompt: “Think about a time when you did something that had unexpected consequences…what were those consequences?”

Exposure (8-10 minutes) • To provide a model of production expected in coming tasks through reading/listening

Students will hear or read a model of language usage related to the next task they will perform. Example: Listening: Listen to a short clip of two people discussing different business strategies and use of conditional sentences to explain their possible outcomes. Activity: Students underline the conditional clauses and identify what type of conditional is being used.

Useful Language (8-10 minutes) • To highlight and clarify useful language for coming productive tasks

This area highlights new vocabulary and functional language which will be needed for coming activities. Example: Vocabulary Focus: Introduce key business-related vocabulary, such as "strategy", "risk assessment", "investment", "competitive edge". Grammar Focus: Quick recap of use of all key subordinators "unless," "provided that," "as long as," "otherwise," "even if," and "in case". Functional Language: Introduce "In order to…", "to ensure that…", "as a result of…" to use for cause and effect, with an emphasis on conditional clauses. Activity: A quick sentence making activity using the new language to check understanding.

Productive Task(s) (18-20 minutes) • To provide an opportunity to practice target productive skills

The students now use their new knowledge in the productive task, focusing on the new area of focus (here, business scenarios). Example: Task: "Contextual Practice": Present several business-related scenarios on cards. Students in small groups will then discuss different actions and outcomes using the appropriate conditional clauses and vocabulary. Cards Example: "A new company does not make profit in the first few months. What could happen next? " "A CEO makes a bad decision. What could happen next?" "An employee does not follow the rules at work. What could happen next?" Activity: Students will analyze and discuss the various scenarios, using conditionals to explain cause, effect and potential outcomes.

Exposure (8-10 minutes) • To provide a model of production expected in coming tasks through reading/listening

Students will hear or read another example of authentic language use related to their next productive task. Example: Reading: Students will read a series of text messages or notes between two friends, planning a trip, using conditional clauses. Activity: Students will analyze how they use conditional structures in their texts, highlighting the various use cases.

Feedback and Error Correction (8-10 minutes) • To provide feedback on students' production and use of language

Teacher will feedback on students’ language usage from the productive task. Example: Focus: Focus on specific errors that have occurred frequently, and correct these using real examples from the students’ work. Grammar Feedback: Highlight common errors in conditional sentences such as incorrect tense choices. Vocabulary Feedback: Give feedback on accurate or inaccurate use of vocabulary and suggest alternatives if needed. Functional Language Feedback: Highlight areas where students need to develop their understanding of functional language, or use more complex language in their dialogues.

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