This is the writing assignment I used with World English 2 for a writing assignment. It took most students about 40 minutes to complete this assignment, including a planning stage. The assignment begins with an example paragraph that asks students to identify things the writer “has and has not done,” and then students write their own paragraphs using the present perfect about things they have and have not done yet in their lives. >>Writing Unit […]
Category: Writing: Intermediate – Advanced
World English 2 Unit 1 Writing Assignment and Teacher’s Example
This is the in-class writing assignment I used with Unit 1 of World English 2. I found it took most students around 40 minutes to complete this paragraph, including a planning stage. I also have attached an example writing that I personally wrote for the students as an example. Students write about their favorite food after looking at the example paragraph that I wrote. The emphasis is on using description and simple present tense. >Writing […]
Interview Icebreaker
I like this icebreaker because the students enjoy it. On the first day of class, I have students pair up and interview one another for twenty minutes. They really enjoy getting their cell phones out to show the class their photos. The students will pair off and then they have to introduce their partner to the class. I will have a one minute timer on so we stay on pace. After the introductions, I have […]
Writing a Well-Developed Paragraph: Intermediate
This activity takes place after an initial lesson on topic sentences, concluding sentences and supporting details. As a warm-up activity at the start of class, students do a quick interview where they ask three classmates what their special skill is that makes them great to work with (see handout). Divide students into groups of four or five. Once in groups, ask students which person in their group said they were a good leader or always […]
Infinitive of Purpose
>>WCC INFINITIVE OF PURPOSE VISUALS<< (edit as necessary, the pictures moved a little in posting this!) >>WCC INFINITIVE OF PURPOSE<< This is an activity I use to introduce the Infinitive of Purpose, i.e. “I went to the ocean to relax“. The first attachment is visual, with pictures to elicit a story about a WCC student who is taking ESL classes to improve her English. She also wants to take a computer class […]
The Cultural Iceberg
This always seems to make it into my intermediate/advanced classes at some point! It is helpful for students to have a little understanding of cross-cultural communication since they are studying another language/culture. I will add this activity into a unit that covers food, festivals or fashion. It has been most successful with my advanced classes. The idea is that what is visible in a culture (food, fashion, festivals, games, and music) has deeper roots to […]
Grammar Fun with Poetry/Songs
When we are in a “dull” grammar lesson, I try to add some excitement though the arts, poetry, or music. I usually start the lesson off very slowly, then introduce a song or poem. I find that this prompts the students to be more engaged (as they know the alternative is a grammar worksheet). This is a format for a poem that I have used in my intermediate/advanced classes. I have students write their own […]