Andrea Cabrera Andrea Cabrera

TP5 LP Maria Andrea Cabrera Aquino
Upper intermediate level

Description

In this lesson, students develop their speaking fluency by summarising short newspaper articles and asking follow-up questions about them. The lesson begins with a discussion based on headlines to generate interest and predictions about the content. This is followed by exposure to short texts and language clarification using the Useful Language boxes for summarising and reacting. Students then complete controlled and freer speaking tasks, finishing with content and language feedback to reinforce accuracy and fluency.

Materials

Main Aims

  • To provide students with fluency practice through summarising short newspaper articles and asking/answering follow-up questions using natural summarising and reaction language.

Subsidiary Aims

  • To clarify and practise functional phrases for summarising, reacting, and giving opinions (e.g., This article is about.../ I was surprised that.../ What happened was...). To raise pronunciation awareness of sentence stress and connected speech in these expressions. To build confidence in speaking spontaneously with clear structure and natural rhythm.

Procedure

Warmer/Lead-in (4-5 minutes) • To engage students and set the context of newspaper articles.

1. Show the four newspaper headlines and images. 2. "Look at these headlines. Which one seems most interesting or surprising? What do you think it’s about?" 3. Ss discuss in pairs (2 min). 4. ICQs: Are we reading now? No. Are we guessing? Yes. 5. Brief OCFB (share one or two ideas). Rationale: Activates schema and creates curiosity before reading.

Exposure (6-7 minutes) • To provide a model of production expected in coming tasks through reading/listening

1. Show the four short articles (same from SB). 2. "Read quickly. Match each article to its headline." (2 min silent reading) 3. Pair check; then OCFB to confirm matches. 4. Ask: "Which one is the most interesting or shocking?" 5. Collect key vocabulary on the board (e.g., stardom, addicted, banker, pop star). Rationale: Provides authentic context for the later speaking task.

Useful Language (7-9 minutes) • To highlight and clarify useful language for coming productive tasks

Target Language: This article is about... / It describes how... Basically, what happened was... The main point of the article is... According to the article... I was surprised that... / It made me think about... / I’d be interested to know whether... Procedure: 1. Display the phrases; elicit meanings. CCQs: "Do these give all details?" No. "Are they short summaries?" Yes. 2. Highlight form on screen (This article + is + about + noun / clause). 3. Model pronunciation and stress. Mark rhythm ( This ARticle IS aBOUT...). 4.Choral then individual drilling. 5. Brief pair practice: Ss choose one headline and make one sample sentence. Rationale: Clarifies meaning/form/pronunciation before freer production.

Controlled Practice (5-6 minutes) • To provide an opportunity to practice target productive skills

Task: Complete each gap with the correct phrase. 1. ______ a woman who stole money from her bank. 2. ______ a story about famous singers. 3. ______ it's interesting because she spent it all on clothes. 4. ______ it reminds me of the movie Confessions of a Shopaholic. Procedure: 1. Ss work individually (3 min). 2. Pair check. 3. T displays answer key and drills again. Rationale: Reinforces accuracy and prepares learners for freer speaking.

Freer Speaking (12-15 minutes) • To practise summarising and reacting fluently.

Procedure: 1. "Now choose one of the articles. Summarise it in your own words and ask your partner one question." 2. ICQs: Do you read? No. Do you use your own words? Yes. 3. Pair work (6-7 min); then change partners and repeat. 4. T monitors quietly, noting useful and incorrect language. Rationale: Fluency practice applying all TL; repetition improves confidence.

Feedback & DEC (5-6 minutes) • To provide feedback on content and language.

1. Ask: "Which article did your partner summarise? What was interesting?" 2. Show board with student sentences. 3. Praise good examples; elicit corrections for errors. 4. Drill corrected pronunciation if needed. Rationale: Consolidates learning and corrects recurring issues.

Optional Reflection (2-3 minutes) • Learner self-assessment

Google Forms 1. Which article did you like most? 2. Which new phrase did you use? 3. How confident did you feel speaking today (1-5)? Rationale: Encourages reflection and supports continuous improvement.

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