Learning a Language

Language level: Intermediate (B1) – Upper Intermediate (B2) Learner type: Teens and adults Time: 90 minutes Activity: Speaking about reasons for and benefits of learning a language, and watching a short film Topic: Learning a language Language: Vocabulary related to language learning, present continuous and gerund as subject of a sentence Materials: Short film

www.film-english.com by Kieran Donaghy 2

Learning a Language

Overview

This ELT lesson plan is designed around a short film commissioned by Allegro, a Polish online shopping auction platform and the theme of learning a new language. Students discuss why they are learning English, come up with reasons why people learn a new language and the benefits of learning a new language, watch a short film and discuss ways to improve their language learning.

Step 1

Pair your students and ask them to explain to their partner why they are learning English. Give them some examples such as:

• I’m learning English to help me get a job.

• I’m learning English because I need it to get into university.

• I’m learning English because I need it when I travel.

• I’m learning English because I need it for my job.

Step 2

Hold a plenary discussion based on your students’ reasons for learning English.

Step 3

Put your students into small groups and ask them to come up with as many reasons why people study a new language as possible.

www.film-english.com by Kieran Donaghy 3

Learning a Language

Step 4

Hold another plenary discussion on the reasons people learn a new language.

Step 5

In their same groups ask your students to answer the following questions:

What are the benefits of learning a new language?

Give them some example answers such as:

• Learning a new language helps you to communicate with lots of different people.

• Learning a new language helps you to understand other people and their cultures.

• Learning a new language makes you more open-minded.

Step 6

Hold a plenary discussion based on the benefits of learning a new language.

Step 7

Tell your students they are going to watch a short film in which they see a man learning a new language. As they watch their task is to notice the different strategies and techniques the man uses to learn the language.

Show the film until 02:00.

Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tU5Rnd-HM6A

www.film-english.com by Kieran Donaghy 4

Learning a Language

Step 8

Pair your students and ask them to compare their answers.

Step 9

Get feedback on the techniques and strategies the man uses (he reads grammar explanations, he repeats the conjugation of verbs, he listens to and repeats short expressions, he labels objects with Post-it notes, he watches films and repeats expressions).

Step 10

Ask your students how effective they think each of these techniques and strategies are for learning a new language. Ask them to come up with any other strategies which they find useful when learning a new language.

Step 11

Ask your students why they think the man is learning English.

Step 12

Tell them they are going to watch the rest of the film in which they will see why the man is learning English. Show the rest of the film.

www.film-english.com by Kieran Donaghy 5

Learning a Language

Step 13

Elicit that the man is learning English because his son lives in Britain and he has a granddaughter he has never met before who he wants to communicate with in English.

Step 14

Explain that the short film was commissioned by Allegro, a Polish online auction shopping platform.

Step 15

Ask your students to discuss the following questions:

• What adjectives would you use to describe the film?

• How does the film make you feel?

• What is the film’s message?

I hope you enjoy the lesson.

Film English is a labour of love, it takes hundreds of hours and thousands of euros a year to sustain and provide free English language lesson plans. Keeping it a free, clean, ad-free experience means it’s subsidised by the generous support of readers like you through donations. So if you find any inspiration, joy and stimulation in these lessons or if they help you teaching English, please consider a modest donation — however much you can afford.