Here is a quick and effective technique to share with your students who are getting ready for the writing part of their exams. I have been using it with my Cambridge Advanced students who struggle with using in practice all the grammar they have crammed. Used regularly, this technique substantially boosts the students’ confidence and speeds up the planning process before they begin to write. Continue Reading …
adults
Effective communication lesson plan
I created this lesson plan with my C1/C2 students in mind. It deals with the topic of effective communication and helps practicing reading, speaking, and collaboration. It might also be used when discussing narrative tenses. You will need 90 minutes to complete this lesson.
A low-prep icebreaker: time travel
This icebreaker requires virtually no preparation from the teacher but is guaranteed to involve all the students and help them discover the things they have in common. A great option for groups at all levels, especially B1 and higher.
Cambridge Advanced reading hack: part 6
In this post, I am sharing an activity which helps students deal better with the Reading and Use of English part 6 (cross-text multiple matching) tasks in the Cambridge Advanced exam.
Conditional structures fun activities
What types of exercises can help your students wrap their heads around more complex conditional structures they often encounter when preparing to exams (B2 and C1)? Keep reading to find out.
Six YouTube channels to use with curious students
In this post, I am sharing my favourite YouTube channels which I use during lessons with adult students. You might find them appropriate for older and more mature teenagers as well. The only prerequisite is for both you and your students to be curious, open-minded and eager to learn new things about the world. Take a look at my list.
Word formation activities: -ence and – ance suffixes
In this post, I am sharing two activities which help practice forming nouns ending in -ence and -ance suffixes. They are suitable for levels B2 and higher especially for exam course (Cambridge First and Advanced).
A betting game icebreaker
This was my go-to icebreaker activity this summer when I spent four weeks working with teens aged 14-17. It works best with groups but might also be used during 1-1 lessons with teens and adults. The activity combines a tried and tested “Two truths and a lie” with the concept of any betting game. Keep reading to find out more.
Throwaway culture lesson plan
This lesson plan focuses on the issue of combating throwaway culture by giving tax breaks to people who decide to repair their broken possessions instead of throwing them out. It is based on an actual initiative of the Swedish government and is based on the article published by The Guardian and the video issued by World Economic Forum. I would recommend it for B2/C1 students, especially adults. The lesson takes around an hour to complete and it comes with a worksheet for the students and an answer key for the teacher. Continue Reading …
What they say vs what they mean: grammar revision
This short activity shows how to use different viral posts to revise grammar structures. I have tried it with students around B2 and C1 level, during both individual and group lessons.
