Summary
This downloadable PDF lesson plan for English teachers provides C1 ESL class material on political analysis. Students watch a news report about a Polish election to learn advanced vocabulary, practice hedging language, and develop discussion skills.
Based on a news report about a pivotal Polish election, this lesson plan guides students through a series of engaging activities. Students start with a political vocabulary matching exercise, watch a video for comprehension, and analyze idiomatic phrases. The lesson culminates in a grammar focus on hedging language and a dynamic role-play where students act as political commentators, applying all the language and concepts learned throughout the class.
Activities
- Vocabulary building: Students match key political terms such as 'pivotal', 'incumbent', and 'veto' with their definitions. This pre-listening task ensures they understand the core language needed for the authentic news report.
- Video comprehension: Learners watch a news report about the Polish presidential election and answer detailed comprehension questions to check their understanding of the key events and their political implications.
- Grammar practice: This section focuses on hedging and speculation. Students learn to use modal verbs and adverbs to make their political analysis sound more natural, rewriting definitive statements to reflect uncertainty.
- Speaking and role-play: Students participate in a simulated political news panel. Taking on roles like news anchor and political analyst, they use the lesson's vocabulary and grammar to discuss the election's impact.
Vocabulary focus
The lesson focuses on advanced vocabulary for political analysis. Key terms include 'pivotal', 'setback', 'incumbent', 'to stymie', 'veto', 'in the ascendancy', 'liberalizing', and 'combative'. Students also analyze idiomatic phrases like 'cementing its place' and 'a thumbs up photograph'.
Grammar focus
The grammar section targets hedging and speculative language, crucial for nuanced political discussion. Students practice using modal verbs (will likely, may, could), adverbs (reportedly, probably), and speculative verbs (seems, appears, is expected to) to avoid making absolute claims.
