Do a lead-in using the past tense of the verb 'to be' and one or two other commonly used verbs, e.g. 'to do' and 'can', to ask students how their day went.

Elicit the simple past of the verb 'to be' and one or two more irregular verbs. Write these down on the WB. Contrast these with regular verbs in the past (done during the previous lesson). Hand students the irregular verb reference list from SB p.158. Tell them the list is important and they need to use it as a reference. Give out activity 1 as a handout and let the students work in pairs. Model pronunciation of the verbs and do drills. Check comprehension of the expression 'ups and downs'. Use OHP for visual help. Elicit a few examples of 'ups and downs' from students. Put up a picture of Ben Way and check comprehension of 'dotcom millionaire'. Pre-teach software program, village, dyslexic and entrepreneur. Briefly review 19__ dates. Have the class chant years from 1990 - 2000. Ask the students to provide predictions about the lesson using the previous lesson as a contrast.

Hand out activity 2 and ask the students to read the text and point out Ben's 'ups and downs'.

Give out activity 3. This activity tests students on both regular and irregular past forms. Read the first sentence and ask the students to complete the rest. Remind them to look at the list of irregular verbs on p.158 if they need help. Play the recording and let students check their answers. Drill the pronunciation.

Give students Ben Way's profile to complete. Read the first sentence of the profile and then elicit the missing verb for the second sentence. Let the students work solo to complete the profile, then ask them to check their answers in pairs. Play audio clip T6.8 (tell students the clip they are about to listen to is a Ben Way interview). Ask them to check their completed profile with the information provided in the interview. Check the answers with the class. Play the clip again. Make the students work in pairs to discuss any additional information they may have heard. Elicit examples in a brief feedback session.

Have the students do the 'Talk about you' activity on p. 49. Start with a brief demo. Let them mingle, asking each other questions in the simple past. Put up a few examples on the WB to get them going. Remind them that they can use the p.158 reference page for help if they want to. Check for accuracy and correct errors where necessary.

Have the students do exercise 2 from 109. Give a brief demo and talk about someone famous you know who is successful. Then give students time to write notes about their person using the questions as prompts. The questions can be displayed on the WB. Divide the class into pairs and have them discuss their notes in response to the questions on the WB.