This is a conversation topic for B2+ students in which they discuss things that annoy them. First they study some expressions related to annoyance and anger, then put them to use in a discussion about different annoying habits. Download the student handout, key and Powerpoint below:
Warmer
Start by writing “Pet hates/peeves & Bugbears” on the board and give examples of some of your personal pet peeves using some of the expressions from the student handout.
Vocabulary Focus
Give out the handout and have students complete the expressions. Check answers in open class.
Instruct students to cover the handout, then show the first slide from the Powerpoint, students now need to remember the expressions using the words from the exercises on the handout:
STAND – I can’t stand it when…
The sentences are animated on the Powerpoint so you can reveal them one at a time.
Repeat for the expressions about anger.
Discussion
Put students in pairs or groups of three.
Go through the slides on the Powerpoint showing different annoying habits and behaviours.
For each slide encourage students to discuss their feelings about the topic and also think of a specific time in their lives when they’ve witnessed such behaviour, and how they reacted. If they can’t think of a specific time, encourage them to speculate about how they would react: “If I saw someone throwing litter out of a car window, I would lose my rag!”
Encourage students to share their opinions and experiences in open class.
Wrap up the activity by having students write a definitive list of 3 pet peeves/bugbears that they have.
For adult students or groups that you know well, you may want to teach slightly more explicit versions of the expressions:
Lose one’s shit
It fucks me off
Homework
Have students listen to our episode of 2Ts in a Pod on the topic of Pet Hates:
