Summary
This downloadable PDF lesson plan for English teachers explores the impact of internet slang on language. This ESL class material, suitable for a B2 level, uses a video to spark discussion on modern communication, memes, and linguistic evolution.
This English lesson plan helps students discuss how the internet has changed the way we speak and write. Activities include a warm-up on acronyms, vocabulary matching, and video comprehension tasks. The class material also features a targeted grammar practice on past participles and culminates in a fun role-play debate on the pros and cons of internet slang.
Activities
- Students start by discussing common acronyms before watching a video about internet slang. They test their understanding with true/false statements and comprehension questions about concepts like memes and "linguistic accommodation."
- Students learn key vocabulary like 'to coin a term,' 'mutate,' and 'nuance.' The grammar focus helps them use past participles as adjectives to write more concisely (e.g., "a term coined by..."), making their language more sophisticated.
- After learning useful phrases for debating, students engage in a role-play. They take on different personas (a linguist, a teacher, a grandparent) to argue whether internet slang is good or bad for the English language.
Vocabulary focus
This lesson focuses on vocabulary related to change and invention. Key terms include verbs like to coin (a term), to mutate, and to homogenize, as well as nouns such as ubiquity, workaround, and nuance. This allows students to discuss the topic with greater precision and academic rigor.
Grammar focus
The main grammar point is using past participles as adjectives to combine sentences and add descriptive detail (e.g., "The slang, inspired by character limits..."). This helps students create more complex and formal sentences. A short note also clarifies the common error of writing "might of" instead of "might have."
