This is a fun lexis lesson for B1+ teens and adults based around the topic of gossip. Students read a dialogue of two people gossiping full of phrasal verbs. Then they try to guess the meaning of the expressions from the context, practice them in gap-fill exercises then write and perform their own soap opera/gossip scenes. Download the handout below:
Lesson Plan
Introduce the topic of gossip, check students understanding of the word, ask CCQs: what do people gossip about? relationships, secrets, arguments etc.
Gist Reading
Give out the handout, have students read it in pairs and then think of a title for the scene. If students have issues with any lexis, tell them that you will look at it in detail later.
Meaning Match
Have sts work together to match the phrasal verbs underlined in the text with the meanings in box.
Testing/Memorising
After checking sts answers on the board, have sts test each other on the phrasal verbs: one says the definition, the other has to recall the phrasal verb or vice versa.
Gap-fill: Recall prepositions
Students turn the handout over and have to quickly remember all the prepositions.
Controlled practice: New contexts
Sts have to try to use the phrasal verbs in new contexts by completing a gap fill, remind them to be careful of the tense and form of the phrasal verbs. Key:
- fell out
- pick up
- cheating on
- ask out
- put up with
- hang out
- get on
- looking back
- looking forward to
- turned up
- broke up
Freer Practice
Students work in pairs to write their own, new dialogues, you could show them clips from classic UK soap operas like Eastenders or Coronation Street to give them some inspiration. Have students read their dialogues out in front of the class and vote on the funniest/most scandalous.
Dialogue
Read the dialogue below with a partner, then think of a title for it:
Title: ___________________________
A: Have you heard about Kate and Steve?
B: No, what happened?
A: They’ve broken up.
B: No way! When did this happen??
A: Yesterday. Apparently she’d been cheating on him for months with a guy from her gym.
B: Seriously?? That’s horrible, tell me more.
A: Well apparently she met this guy in her yoga class and they got on really well and started hanging out after class. Then the guy asked her out for a drink and she said yes, but then Sarah saw them in the bar where they went for the date and confronted her about it.
B: Woah! Is that why Kate and Sarah fell out?
A: Yeah, looking back it seems obvious now. So then, last week Steve and Kate were supposed to be going to a concert together, Steve had been looking forward to it for ages. Then on the night of the concert she just didn’t turn up! He was calling her and calling her and she didn’t pick up, because she was out on another date with the guy from the gym!
B: What a bitch! Steve is such a nice guy.
A: I know he shouldn’t have to put up with being treated like that. So anyway, he went straight to her house because he was really worried and he caught her coming out of her flat with the guy!
B: Oh my god! It’s like something out of a soap opera!
A: I know…
Meaning
Replace the underlined phrasal verbs in the text with the words/phrases in the box below:
| 1. Tolerate
2. Stopped being friends 3. Ended their relationship 4. Spend time together |
5. Have a good relationship
6. Be excited about a future event/thing 7. Answer the phone |
8. To be unfaithful
9. Request a date 10. Appear/arrive 11. Remembering/thinking about |
Memory Test
Can you remember the missing prepositions?
A: Have you heard about Kate and Steve?
B: No, what happened?
A: They’ve broken _____.
B: No way! When did this happen??
A: Yesterday. Apparently she’d been cheating _____him for months with a guy from her gym.
B: Seriously?? That’s horrible, tell me more.
A: Well apparently she met this guy in her yoga class and they got ______really well and started hanging _______ after class. Then the guy asked her _______ for a drink and she said yes, but then Sarah saw them in the bar where they went for the date and confronted her about it.
B: Woah! Is that why Kate and Sarah fell ________?
A: Yeah, looking _______it seems obvious now. So then, last week Steve and Kate were supposed to be going to a concert together, Steve had been looking _________ to it for ages. Then on the night of the concert she just didn’t turn up! He was calling her and calling her and she didn’t pick ________, because she was out on another date with the guy from the gym!
B: What a bitch! Steve is such a nice guy.
A: I know he shouldn’t have to put _______with being treated like that. So anyway, he went straight to her house because he was really worried and he caught her coming out of her flat with the guy!
B: Oh my god! It’s like something out of a soap opera!
A: I know…
Practice
Complete the sentences with the correct phrasal verb:
- I ____________ with my sister 2 years ago and we’re still not speaking now.
- I tried calling my parents but they didn’t ____________.
- I think my boyfriend might be ________________ me, he keeps texting some other girl.
- I really fancy this girl in my class, I want to _______ her ________, where should I suggest?
- There was a crying baby in the seat behind me on the train, I had to _____________ the noise for the whole journey.
- I just want to _____________ with my friends this weekend.
- I ______________ really well with my Dad’s new girlfriend, she’s really nice.
- ________________ on my childhood, I think I had an easy life.
- I’m really _________________ my holiday in Greece, I can’t wait!
- I was waiting for the bus for 2 hours but it never ________________.
- I’m so depressed, my girlfriend _____________ with me last night, she says she doesn’t love me anymore.
