General English - Intermediate level, Part 1 (20 Lessons)

General English - Intermediate level, Part 1 (20 Lessons) 

		Lesson 1. Artificial Intelligence The theme of this lesson is artificial intelligence. Students read an article on how technological progress over the next 20 years will result in the development of machines that are able to match the intelligence of human beings. In the grammar part of the worksheet, comparative forms and structures are studied and practised. The grammar exercises can be adapted for slightly more advanced learners (see the teacher notes for Exercise 5 and 6). At the end of the lesson, students discuss their opinions on the lesson topic.
		Lesson 2. Predictions The theme of this lesson is prediction. Students read an amusing article on eight embarrassing predictions made by well-respected experts at different periods of modern history. In the grammar exercises, structures for reporting a prediction made in the past are learnt and the use and omission of the definite article for talking in general is studied. At the end of the lesson, students practise making and reporting predictions.
		Lesson 3. At the clothes shop This lesson teaches common words and expressions for describing clothes (in British and American English), clothing material and shopping for clothes. Through listening and role play, the students learn how to ask to try on an item, enquire about sizes and colours, and decide whether or not to buy.
		Lesson 4. At the hotel This lesson teaches common words and phrases for describing hotel facilities, service and staff, as well as practical expressions to use with a hotel receptionist. Through listening and role play, students learn how to book a room, check in and check out.
		Lesson 5. At the restaurant This lesson teaches common words and expressions for describing food and drink, restaurant service and parts of meals. Through listening and role play, students learn how to order a meal in a restaurant as well as discuss menu options with a guest and decide who to pay.
		Lesson 6. Banking This lesson teaches useful words and phrases for describing banking products and services including types of bank accounts, loans, payment methods and foreign exchange. Through listening and role play, the students learn how to exchange money from one currency to another, pay in and withdraw cash, enquire about their bank balance and check their overdraft limit. The lesson plan includes an animated video version of the dialogues.
		Lesson 7. Common expressions 1 This short lesson filler teaches common social expressions that English speakers use in a variety of situations, including be careful, bless you, congratulations, cheers, good luck, never mind, etc. The students practise the expressions through a role play activity.
		Lesson 8. Common expressions 2 This short lesson filler teaches common social expressions that English speakers use in a variety of situations, including by all means, calm down, get well soon, what a pity, get well soon, it doesn’t matter, etc. The students practise the expressions through a role play activity.
		Lesson 9. For and against This lesson teaches useful expressions for giving opinions, agreeing and disagreeing. The students listen to or watch an animated video of three travellers discussing the impact of tourism on a historical European town and study the language used in the conversation. At the end of the lesson, the learners select from a list of discussion topics and practise sharing their own opinions.
		Lesson 10. Getting to know someone In this lesson, the students listen to two dialogues and study the questions that the speakers use to ask about each other’s background, work, hobbies, travel experience, etc. The students then practise getting to know one another using the language from the lesson. The worksheet also introduces terms for describing people you know, e.g. an acquaintance, a mutual friend, a flatmate, a colleague, etc. There are two animated videos which can be played as an interesting alternative to the audio dialogues.
		Lesson 11. Making a phone call In this lesson, students learn vocabulary for describing telephone equipment and using a telephone. Through listening and role play, students study and practise useful expressions for making and answering a phone call, as well as taking and leaving messages.
		Lesson 12. Making plans This lesson teaches vocabulary and expressions for making plans and arrangements. Through listening and role play, the students learn how to schedule, cancel and re-schedule a meeting. The use of the present continuous for stating future plans is also studied, as well as common phrasal verbs used when making arrangements. There are two animated videos which can be played as an interesting alternative to the audio dialogues.
		Lesson 13. Staying with people The lesson teaches vocabulary and expressions related to the topic of staying and living with other people. Through listening and role play, the students learn how to welcome a guest, make small talk, make offers and requests, as well as thank somebody for their hospitality. The lesson plan includes two animated videos which can be played instead of the audio dialogues.
		Lesson 14. Suggesting ideas This lesson teaches vocabulary for describing and discussing ideas. Students listen to a dialogue between two friends planning a weekend break and practise asking for, making and responding to suggestions. The lesson plan also includes an animated video version of the dialogue, which can be played instead of the audio file.
		Lesson 15. On the run In this lesson, students read an article about Dean Karnazes, a so-called ‘ultra-marathon runner’ who has run distances of up to 350 miles non-stop. In the grammar exercises, the differences between the gerund and infinitive forms in two-verb structures are studied and practised. At the end of the lesson, students share their reactions to the ultra-marathon lifestyle and talk about other feats of endurance.
		Lesson 16. Population science The theme of this lesson is education and the problem of rising global population. Students read an article about a proposed strategy to limit global population growth by putting more girls in the developing world through secondary school. The first and second conditionals are studied and practised. At the end of the lesson, students talk about population problems in their own countries.
		Lesson 17. Metro stress The theme of this lesson is transport and stress. Students read an article on the problems faced by commuters and workers on the metro in the Russian capital Moscow. The passive voice is studied and practised. At the end of the lesson, students talk about the transport systems in their own countries.
		Lesson 18. Longevity The theme of this lesson is longevity. Students read an article on the habits that can lead to a longer life and study common collocations for describing healthy lifestyles. Structures for speculating and explaining are also studied and practised. At the end of the lesson, the students discuss the article topic.
		Lesson 19. King of chess The topic of this lesson is sporting talent. Students read an article on an extremely gifted child chess prodigy from Ireland. In the grammar exercise, there is a review of the present simple, present perfect simple, past simple and used to + infinitive. At the end of the lesson, students talk about sporting talents in their own countries.
		Lesson 20. Extreme living The topic of this lesson is living in an extreme environment. Students read an article on how the inhabitants of Yakutsk in Russia cope with living in the world’s coldest city. Students share their reactions and discuss how the climate in their own countries compares.