Morgan Morgan

TP6 - Functions
Upper Intermediate level

Materials

Main Aims

  • To provide exposure to functional language for interrupting someone politely.

Subsidiary Aims

  • To give students an opportunity to practice discussion in a city hall-like setting.
  • To minimize TTT.
  • To encourage students to learn proper manners during group discussion.

Procedure

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

T shows Ss a video from the comedic sketch web channel, College Humor, in which a person rudely interrupts a colleague at work. T elicits gist-related questions to Ss, emphasizing the importance of polite interruption during conversation in a professional setting.

Exposure (5-5 minutes) • To provide context for the target language through a text or situation

T provides Ss with a listening exercise in which individuals are debating the pros and cons of developing a new food quarter in their neighborhood. T asks gist-related CCQs regarding the topic of the listening exercise.

Highlighting (5-10 minutes) • To draw students' attention to the target language

T gives students a slate of clauses which are used to interrupt in both professional and casual conversation. T and Ss participate in a brief repeat after me exercise. Ss are given a quiz to match the prepared clauses in their appropriate category, loosely, "formal" and "informal."

Clarification (10-10 minutes) • To clarify the meaning, form and pronunciation of the target language

T goes through MFPA with Ss for the provided phrases. T explains the differences in severity between the different clauses. T hosts another repeat after me exercise with a focus on intonation. T opens up a group Q&A session where Ss try and think of other phrases they may be able to use for interruptions.

Semi-Controlled Practice (8-10 minutes) • To concept check further and prepare students for free practice

Ss listen again to the Town Hall meeting listening exercise. Ss are presented with a group roleplay session - each student is given a different character to play. T, as the host of the Town Hall meeting, hosts a discussion in which students use their provided character to engage in an argumentative discussion re: the new food quarter. Ss are encouraged to use the provided clauses for interrupting. T always uses the provided clauses while interrupting.

Free Practice (8-10 minutes) • To provide students with free practice of the target language

Ss are sent to breakout groups and asked to discuss relatively controversial topics with their groups. Ss are asked to use the day's target language to push these conversations forward. T observers and joins in on the conversation as necessary.

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