Diploma in TESOL 2012

DAILY LESSON PLAN

Lesson Details

How to teach present simple versus present continuous Level: Elementary to Intermediate (could also be useful for higher levels as a revision exercise) Time: 30- 90 minutes (depending on the group) Language Focus: Functions of present simple and present continuous and how they contrast with each other. Skills: Speaking, Listening, Reading and Writing

Materials Needed : blackboard, textbook, work-sheets, images Lesson Objectives : To highlight uses of Present Continuous To contrast Present Continuous and Present Simple To give students practice in using Present Continuous and Present Tense
Simple To develop Ss' speaking competences

Starter The teacher draws a set of boxes showing activities that express daily habits or usual activities .Then the teacher asks Ss to describe what they do Everyday. For eg: I eat breakfast in the morning I brush my teeth I usually eat lunch at the cafeteria. I dont feel very well. Then the teacher asks the students to describe what they are doing at the moment .Ss give answers such as: I am writing in my note book.
By Azra Ilyas Page 1

Diploma in TESOL 2012

We are learning English grammar. I am studying for my IELTS Presentation The teacher then presents examples such as: The Present Simple is used for: regular actions or events He plays tennis most weekends. facts The sun rises in the east. facts known about the future We leave at 8.30 next Monday thoughts and feelings about the time of speaking I don't feel very well. The Present Continuous is used for: the time of speaking ('now') Shh, I'm trying to hear what they are saying . things which are true at the moment but not always We're looking for a new flat. present plans for the future We're having dinner with them next week . Look at these examples : I don't usually have cereals for breakfast but I'm having some this morning because there is nothing else. I often cycle to work but I'm taking the car this morning because it's raining very hard. I'm thinking about having my hair cut short but I don't think my husband will be very happy about it. My parents live in Washington but I'm just visiting. Note how, in all these examples, we use the present continuous to talk about events which are temporary/limited in time and the present simple to talk about events which are habits/permanent. Differentiated Task 1. Look at everyone and everything in your English class. Write four sentences to describe anything that is happening now using the present continuous. The sentences can be about the students/their personalities/ the activities youre doing/what someone is wearing, saying or doing.
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Diploma in TESOL 2012

2.

1 ____________________ 2 ____________________ 3 ____________________ 4 ____________________ Write four sentences to describe anything that usually or sometimes happens in the class using the present simple. 1 ____________________ 2 ____________________ 3 ____________________ 4 ____________________

Encourage students to observe what is happening around them by asking them to describe what people are doing etc. Go around the class monitoring carefully to make sure students are writing full sentences and correct if necessary. Elicit answers from various students and use these to help students think about now, what is happening and maybe what usually happens and the related tenses. Plenary Getting students to think about now, what is happening and maybe what usually happens. Ask students to compare their sentences and to correct each others if necessary. Get feedback from various students. Self Assessment

Reflection on the lesson Think about grammar! Are the sentences true or false? a) When you talk about a habit or a routine, you use the present simple. b) The present continuous is for actions that do not finish. c) When the subject of the sentence is he, she or it, add -s or -es. Teacher : Azra Ilyas

By Azra Ilyas

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Diploma in TESOL 2012

Worksheet
A.) SIMPLE PRESENT VS. PRESENT PROGRESSIVE
Use either the SIMPLE PRESENT or the PRESENT PROGRESSIVE of the verbs in brackets.

1. Diane cant come to the phone because she (wash) .................................... her hair. 2. Diane (wash) .................................. her hair every day. 3. Kathy usually (sit).......................in the front row during class, but today she (sit) .......................in the last row. 4. Please be quiet. I (try) ................................ to concentrate. 5. I wrote to my friend last week. I (wait, still)....................................for a reply. 6. After three days of rain, Im glad that the sun (shine)..................................... again today. 7. Every morning the sun (shine).............................. in my bedroom window and (wake)...................................me up. 8. Mike is a student, but he (go, not)..................................... to school right now because its summer. He (attend).................................college from September to May every year, but in the summers he (have, usually)........................................a job at the post office. In fact, he (work).................................. there this summer. 9. I (work, only)................................here for a couple of months because Im going abroad in the summer. 10. His only bad habit is that he (talk).................................. too loudly. Cross out any improbable answers. (C & D)
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Diploma in TESOL 2012

1 Im understanding/ I understand biology a lot better now that weve got a new teacher. 2 I went to see a Formula One race last week, but I admit/ Im admitting that I dont know much about cars. 3 Do you find/ Are you finding it difficult to concentrate on your work with this music on? 4 Well do our best to get the computer repaired by next week, but were not guaranteeing/ we dont guarantee it. 5 Ive just started to learn how to drive. Now Im knowing/ I know how difficult it is, Ill never criticise your driving again. 6 She says that she wasnt in the kitchen when the bottle smashed, but I refuse/ Im refusing to believe her. 7 Im certainly agreeing/ I certainly agree with you that people shouldnt drink and drive. 8 I know the company has made a loss this year, but Im not apologising/ I dont apologise for that.

By Azra Ilyas

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