Leigh Davidson Leigh Davidson

Teaching Practice 6b - Past Simple Time Expressions
Elementary level

Description

This lesson will build upon the Ss' knowledge of the past simple verb aspect, introducing them to the functional language of time expressions that are commonly used with the past simple.

Materials

Main Aims

  • To provide clarification and practice of the past simple aspect, as well as practice (and possibly introduction) of associated time expressions.

Subsidiary Aims

  • To provide fluency speaking, in the context of communicating a snapshot of one's life, and accuracy practice of the past simple tense and its commonly associated time phrases.

Procedure

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

Project a photo of Kıvanç Tatlıtuğ on the WB. Ask the Ss if they know this person. Project another slide with highlights of the life of Kıvanç Tatlıtuğ. "Here is a timeline of this actor's life. Some things that happened in his life. For example, when he was born. In October 1983"

Test #1 (5-7 minutes) • To gauge Ss' prior knowledge of the TL

Distribute Test #1 HO. "In this HO, I have some questions for you to answer. Use this timeline to help. And use time phrases in your answer. For example, question #1: When was he born? From today to 1983 is 32 years ago. So the answer is, he was born 32 years ago, or, 32 years ago, he was born in Adana." ICQs: "Are we going to work together or alone?" "Where will you get the answers to the questions?"

Test #2 (3-5 minutes) • To gauge Ss' prior knowledge of the TL

Distribute the time expression phrases (Test #2). "Here are some time phrases you can use to answer your questions. See if you used any of these phrases; if not, add to your answers. Take just one minute to correct your answers please." Project the answers on the WB, trying to elicit from the Ss first. Note: If the majority of the Ss do not get Test #1 or #2 correct (i.e. they do not use past simple verbs to describe the events, they do not use proper past simple time expressions, or the time expressions are ordered incorrectly in the sentence), go on to teach the first controlled practice exercise (Grammar 3 Exercise). Note: If the majority of the Ss understand the past simple aspect and time expressions, elicit some of the time phrases from the Ss, practice pronunciation, introduce what a headline is, and then move immediately on to the freer practice. Note: If the majority of the Ss understand the past simple aspect, but the order of their time expressions are incorrect in the sentence (or they do not understand time expressions for the past simple aspect), clarify and review with the Grammar 3 Exercise, introduce what a headline is, and move on to the freer practice.

Teach -- If Ss Completely Misunderstand the TL (3-6 minutes) • To clarify areas of the target language where students had difficulty in the first test stage

Write on the WB, "He visits Paris, France" and "He marries Başak Dizer." Project the timeline slide back on the screen. "From February to April, how many months ago was that?" "April 2-3, how many weekends ago was that?" Elicit response from Ss and write on the WB. Hide projector. "So, how long ago did he visit Paris? How long ago did he marry Başak Dizer?" Turn the projector back on. Go through a quick pronunciation drilling exercise of the common time expressions.

What is a headline? (2-4 minutes) • Quick vocabulary lesson so Ss can complete part of Unit 7: Exercise 2 and the second half of the freer practice

Project the slide "What is a headline?" Try to elicit some answers from the Ss. Click on the slide and have the examples pop up. Underline the actual headline. "Here are some newspapers, one in Turkish and one in English. These are the headlines. What do you think a headline is?"

Teach -- Controlled Practice (5-8 minutes) • To clarify areas of the TL, specifically form and meaning

Hide the projector. Distribute a HO of Grammar Exercise 3. "I have a HO with some sentences. These sentences are in the present. Change the verb so that it happened in the past and use the time expression at the end of the sentence. Do this with your partner. We will do the first sentence together." ICQs: Are you working alone or with your partner?" Model one example with the Ss (sentence 1). Project the answer key, eliciting the answer from the Ss first. "Now with your partner, put the time phrases in order. Does yesterday happen before last Monday; do two days ago happen before last night." Distribute the HO. "We will do one together." Project the answer key, eliciting the answer from the Ss first.

Teach -- Pronunciation (3-5 minutes) • To clarify areas of the TL, specifically pronunication

"Do you know of any other time phrases from what we have seen earlier (i.e. yesterday, two days ago, last year, etc.)?" Try to elicit some answers from the Ss. Project the time phrases on the WB. Drill pronunciation of these common time expressions.

Teach -- Controlled and Semi-Controlled Practice (5-8 minutes) • To clarify areas of the TL, specifically form

Distribute Unit 7 Exercise 2 HO (pg 145). "Alone, fill in the blanks with the words at the top of the page. Change the words to be in the correct past tense." ICQs: "Are you working alone, or together?" "Are you using the verbs as you see them, or are you changing them?" Have the Ss peer-check and project the answer key on the WB, eliciting the answer from the Ss first. Then go back to the headline slide. "Remember what a headline is?" "Come up with a headline for this story. For example, my headline is..." (project the answer on the screen). Elicit some headlines from the WC.

Teach -- Semi-Controlled Practice (5-10 minutes) • To clarify areas of the TL, specifically meaning, and to provide preparation for freer practice

Project on the screen "Tell me about yourself..." slide and distribute associated HO. "Alone, answer only two of these questions. Pick which one you want to answer. Please answer in 4-5 sentences. Don't forget to use the time phrases (yesterday, 5 years ago, last weekend, etc.)." ICQs: "Are you answering these questions alone or with a partner?" "How many of these questions do you need to answer?" Nominate some of the Ss to provide their answers to the HO questions. Provide some time for EC (meaning, form, or pronunciation) during this step.

Test #2: Freer Practice (7-12 minutes) • To provide Ss with free practice of the TL

"Now I want you to share your answers with your fellow Ss. Share with at least 4-5 people. The other person must listen and come up with a headline for the story. [Please write it down.]" Model an example with one of the stronger Ss first. Then elicit some of the headlines from the Ss. If you skip to this stage, based off of good test results, you could also pair the Ss, then collect all of the headlines and have the Ss guess which headline goes with which story.

Web site designed by: Nikue