Summary
This downloadable ESL lesson plan helps students discuss online safety and scams. This class material is perfect for teaching practical English skills for recognizing online fraud, with vocabulary, grammar, and speaking activities.
Based on a news report about travel scams, this lesson engages students with a variety of practical tasks. Activities include a vocabulary matching exercise, video comprehension questions, a gap-fill with useful phrases for giving advice, and a grammar focus on using the imperative mood for warnings. The lesson culminates in a role-play where students must decide if an online offer is a scam, solidifying their understanding in a communicative context.
Activities
- Students start by discussing their online shopping habits and how they determine if a website is safe, activating their existing knowledge and vocabulary on the topic of e-commerce.
- A vocabulary matching exercise introduces key terms essential for understanding online fraud, such as 'copycat site,' 'red flag,' 'fine print,' and 'legitimate'.
- Students watch a short news report about common travel scams and answer true/false questions to check their listening comprehension and understanding of the key warning signs.
- Learners practice giving advice and warnings by completing sentences with phrases like 'watch out for' and 'double check,' preparing them for the grammar and speaking tasks.
- The lesson provides clear instruction on using the imperative for giving advice, followed by a practice exercise where students respond to different scam scenarios.
- A final role-play activity allows students to apply all the language from the lesson. One student presents a 'too good to be true' deal, while the other gives advice.
Vocabulary focus
The lesson focuses on practical vocabulary for identifying and discussing online fraud. Key terms include: scam, legitimate, copycat site, suspicious, fine print, refundable, a red flag, and third party. These words empower students to describe deceptive online practices and protect themselves.
Grammar focus
The main grammar point is the imperative mood, used for giving direct advice, instructions, and warnings. Students learn to form both positive (e.g., 'Check the URL') and negative imperatives (e.g., 'Don't click the link') to provide clear, actionable advice about online safety.
