Lesson 2






The following lesson is the first in a cluster of lessons related to the use of public and private notes, signs, forms and letters.  This cluster will deal with timetable, notes and signs, private notes and letters.

The aim of this lesson is to familiarize students with a timetable and public notes and signs.  This is important because they are not familiar with the language and some cultural situations when this is needed.  The goal of the lesson is to teach students how to read, understand and produce some short notes in real life situations.

All activities in this lesson are built around reading and writing for a task.  Lesson incorporates all four language skills:  listening, speaking, reading and writing.  Grammar is not in focus.  Language errors and mistakes are therefore corrected only if that is necessary (in some cases when errors change the meaning of a phrase or a sentence).

Reading is constructed of : a) reading for a task
                                        b) reading of instructions
                                        c) reading public signs
                                        d) reading for homework

Writing is constructed of:   a) writing for a task
                                         b) writing for a pre-task (drafting)
                                         c) writing for homework

Material used in the lesson

1) A timetable for any familiar train.
2) Pictures - signs (authentic).
3) Notes and invitations (authentic and commercial).
4) Activity sheets.
5) OHP transparencies.
6) Power Point slides.

Objectives

1. Background

The lesson has been carefully designed with focus on reading and writing even though all language skills are incorporated.  New language phraseology needs to be explained (for example 'departure', 'BYO', 'timetable', etc.).  Little new language is involved, because students are only at the low intermediate level.  Tests are in simple present and simple past tense.

2. Objectives:

a) Students will listen to an explanation of the timetable.
b) Students will be able to find the required train departure time on the timetable.
c) Students will read public and private signs and notes and discuss their necessity.
d) Students will read simulated real life situations.
e) Students will write an appropriate note.
f) All notes are going to be presented on OHP.



The teacher starts a lesson by talking about her/his trip to the city.  Students are encouraged to tell about their trips and the means of transport used.  The discussion should focus on the timetables.  The teacher should have some examples of train timetables ready on OHP.  The discussion should come to the messages and notices in which one runs while in the city/town.  Students are put in groups of four.  Each group is given an exercise, where students are to be put in a particular situation (see below).  This will require writing a note or a short message on paper first and then on OHP transparencies.  After the activity all student's work is displayed on OHP and discussion follows.

Activity 1 (group work).

Group No. 1

You are the owner of a local take-away food shop.  You are the only person working in the shop.  You need to go to see a medical specialist on Wednesday afternoon.  The shop will have to be closed from 12 noon to 7pm.  Write a notice for your customers.

Group No. 2

You work in the theater's cloakroom.  The patrons and theatre visitors don't know that cloakroom service is not for free.  Write a note to inform them that a cost for storing is $5 per coat and $1 per an umbrella or a bag.  Their valuables can be stored in the cloakroom as well.  The cloakroom is open 6pm - 12am every night, seven days a week.

Group No. 3

Your restaurant has employed a new chef, who specializes in Italian cooking.  Put a notice on every table in the restaurant stating that new Italian meals are available since you have a new cook.  List some dishes, for example a seafood pizza, vegetarian lasagna, gelatti, etc.  Make a notice appealing to customers.

Group No. 4

You found a black and white, about eight weeks old female kitten on your driveway last Tuesday.  You live in Sunshine Drive in West End.  You decided to put a notice on the gate of a nearby park for people to ring you after 6pm every weeknight or anytime on weekends.

Group