Process writing/present passive video lessons

Process writing can show up as an IELTS writing task, so it's important for IELTS students to know how to describe a process. However, these videos are also handy for reviewing or practicing the present passive with intermediates and up.

Procedure

1. Warmer: I like to use the "X is made from X" warmer. Students in groups of 2-3 have to brainstorm sentences using this model, for example "Cheese is made from milk", "Pencils are made from wood", etc. The group with the most will be the winner.

2. Review the passive form: subject + is/are + v3. Check the meaning. Does the cheese make something or does someone make the cheese? Does it say who makes the cheese? Why not? (The subject does not do the action, but receives it. It is not necessary to say who does the action because we are more interested in the results.)

3. Explain that you are going to watch a video about how something is made. Elicit any predictions or prior knowledge from the students.

4. Students watch the video and take notes on the process, especially any passive sentences they hear.

5. Check unfamiliar vocabulary and watch again if necessary.

6. Students in pairs construct passive sentences describing the process.

7. Have students write their sentences on the board and correct errors with the class.

8. Students write up the process in full to be handed in and marked.

Videos to use

Processes are an ideal context for the present passive, so you can easily find lesson material by typing "how [anything] is made" into YouTube according to your students' interests. Here are some I've tried before.

1. How ice cream is made

A slightly dated educational BBC clip. My students weren't thrilled by it, but it worked for the lesson.

2. How orange juice is made

They liked this one more. Lesson I learnt: don't use clips that are older than your students. 

3. How bread is made

Weirdly hypnotic.

4. How olive oil is made

Delicious.

5. How glass is made

Quite interesting.

Happy process writing!

Grass skirt - a practice activity for any grammar point

This is an endlessly adaptable grammar practice activity for any level of ESL learners from pre-intermediate upwards. Just make up some prompts that lend themselves to the grammar structure that you want to practice. Print them up on some brightly-coloured paper and make cuts in the paper so that each prompt can be pulled off separately.

For example, here I wanted to practice modal verbs of deduction (could have, might have, must have, can't have):

The louder the colours, the more fun it is.

Model an example on the board and specify how many sentences you want them to write. For example:

My manager looks very tired.

• He must have been working all day.
• He might not have slept very well.
• He can't have had a break today.

Give each group of 3-4 students a grass skirt. You can blu-tack it to the edge of a desk, onto the wall near each group, or on the wall on the other side of the classroom if you want them to be running backwards and forwards. Instruct the students that you have to OK their sentences before they can get the next prompt. You can have each group appoint a writer, or require every student in the group to write one sentence.

This one is for past perfect.

The first group to get through all the prompts wins the game. You can adapt this for almost any grammar structure and it works with both young learners and adults.

Do you use any variations on this or have another favourite grammar practice activity?

Discovering sonnets (free printable worksheet) - intermediates and up

I decided to do something a bit different with my intermediates today and take a look at a Shakespearean sonnet. For most of them this was completely new ground and they had some wonderful thoughts about the nature of beauty. Some didn't like it, so it was good food for debate.

William Shakespeare - Sonnet CXXX

My mistress' eyes are nothing like the sun;

Coral is far more red, than her lips red:

If snow be white, why then her breasts are dun;

If hairs be wires, black wires grow on her head.

I have seen roses damasked, red and white,

But no such roses see I in her cheeks;

And in some perfumes is there more delight

Than in the breath that from my mistress reeks.

I love to hear her speak, yet well I know

That music hath a far more pleasing sound:

I grant I never saw a goddess go,

My mistress, when she walks, treads on the ground:

  And yet by heaven, I think my love as rare*,

  As any she* belied with false compare.

*rare = special, superb (old English usage)

*she = woman (old English usage) 

This is a great introduction to sonnets since most of the language is pretty accessible, and the concept is engaging. Maybe that's why it was on my GCSE English syllabus!

Since this was only an introduction and not an in-depth reading, I prepared a few simple questions to skim the surface of the form and meaning.

Click here to view or download the full worksheet.

Links open in Google Docs format and you can then download, edit, or print as required.

Have you ever tackled poetry with your class? If these worksheets are useful to you, please leave a comment.