Space tourism: debating innovation and ethics

Space tourism β€” a C1 English lesson. Practise advanced conditionals and concession, and expand vocabulary around innovation and ethical debates.

Space tourism: debating innovation and ethics
Photo by SpaceX / Unsplash

Summary

This ESL lesson for C1 English students explores Space tourism and commercialization. Using a real audio as the basis for discussion, students develop listening comprehension, vocabulary, and grammar skills across a 90-minute class.

The grammar focus is Inverted Conditionals and Words of Concession. Key vocabulary includes burgeoning (adjective), hurdles (noun), exorbitant (adjective) and more, all drawn directly from the source material. The practical English section gives students useful phrases for real-life situations: Participating in a formal debate or a high-stakes business meeting where you need to present a nuanced argument..

Activities

Vocabulary focus

The vocabulary section introduces C1-level words and phrases related to Space tourism and commercialization. Key terms include burgeoning (adjective), hurdles (noun), exorbitant (adjective), suborbital (adjective), allure (noun). Students practise using these terms in context through exercises drawn from the source material.

Grammar focus

This lesson focuses on Inverted Conditionals and Words of Concession. In formal English, we can make conditional sentences more sophisticated by inverting the subject and the auxiliary verb and omitting 'if'. This is common with 'were', 'had', and 'should'.

CTA Image
Space tourism and commercialization
Access lesson

Related

Workplace chat: mastering small talk
B1 Business Work Lifestyle Practical English Audio

Workplace chat: mastering small talk

Workplace communication β€” a B1 English lesson. Practise the Past Simple and future forms while expanding your vocabulary for making small talk at work.