This is a fun lesson plan for A2+ students. It can be adapted for different levels.
Here are the handouts you will need:
Discussion questions:
https://skydrive.live.com/redir?resid=79CFF252BEEA0A7D!431&authkey=!AAlHxxKilDRy890
Role cards:
https://skydrive.live.com/redir?resid=79CFF252BEEA0A7D!430&authkey=!AMxbkbpkHybUhS8
Part 1 – discussion
Start by telling students to get there mobiles out. Encourage each student to talk about their phone. When they got it, what they use it for, if they like it or not.
You can either go through the following conversation questions as a class or split the class into groups of 2 or 3.
Phones
What phone have you got?
How many different things can your phone do?
Do you know how to use all of the functions on your phone?
How often do you speak on the phone?
When do you switch off your phone?
When do you think phones should be switched off?
What annoys you about mobile phones?
What are the advantages and disadvantages of mobiles?
At what age should a child have a mobile?
What effect do you think they have had on society?
Have you ever spoken in English on the phone? Where? Why? How was it?
Have students report back their opinions and ideas to the class. Focus especially on the last question. Encourage students to share their experiences of speaking English on the phone.
Part 2 – phone role plays
Put students in pairs and tell them to swap phone numbers with their partners in English.
Assign letters A/B to to the students.
Tell all As to imagine that they have just arrived in the UK, they have moved to the country to live in and work. They are looking for a flat / house. They have seen an advert on the internet for accommodation, they are going to call the landlord / lady to ask for information.
Tell all Bs that they are landlords/ladies, they are expecting calls from potential tenants. Give all Bs one of the role cards from the handout.
Tell A’s that they will need a pen and paper. They have to call B and take down the following information:
- Landlord / lady’s personal details – Full name, address, telephone number and email address. Correct spelling!
- Information about the house they are letting.
- The price of the rent and whether or not it includes bills.
- Any rules that the house has.
On the board go over the following:
- How to read phone numbers (o not zero, 77=double 7 etc.)
- How to read email addresses (@-at, .-dot, _-underscore etc.)
- Vocabulary – bills included, fully furnished, €300 a month, deposit, no pets allowed etc.
- Polite phrases – could you repeat that please? Could you spell that please? Could you speak slower please? etc.
Now send the landlords / ladies out of the classroom. Encourage the tenants (As) to think of some extra questions to ask about the house.
Tenants call landlords / ladies and take details.
When they have finished ask Bs to come back in and check the details for spelling the winning pair is the one who made the least mistakes. Now rotate the role cards to the left and As and Bs swap roles and repeat.
Afterwards students feed back to class. Was it difficult? Which bits were most difficult? etc.
Here are the role cards:
| Mr Smith
Address: 13 Waterloo road, Exeter, Devon EX2 9DT Tel:07816395666 Email: ssmith@gmail.com House information: Small flat sharing with two other people. Small bedroom with a single bed. Price: €400 a month bills included House rules: No pets, no smoking, no parties. |
| Mrs. Davis
Address: 17 Park view, Swansea, Wales, SW1 4FG Tel: 07655423152 Email: j.davis@yahoo.co.uk House Information: Large private apartment next to the park. 2 bedrooms with double beds. Price: €700 a month bills not included House rules: No pets, no students, |
| Miss Johnson
Address: 15 winterbrook park, Bradford, Yorkshire, YO4 4RC Tel: 01566 344987 Email:juicyjohnson@gmail.com House information: 1 bedroom flat on the 8th floor. No furniture included. Price: €500 a month bills not included House rules: Maximum 2 people living in flat, no smoking, pets allowed. |
| Mr. Brown
Address: 16 Clinton avenue, Exeter, Devon EX1 5GG Tel: 01392 211345 Email: brownbear222@gmail.com House information: Large bedroom in shared student house. Sharing with 3 19 year old students. Price: €250 a month bills included. House rules: There are no rules!!! |
| Mrs. Folkstone
Address: 1 Green avenue, Newcastle, NW3 9RG Tel: 01298 600999 Email: folky.2002@outlook.com House information: Small room in a family home. Sharing with a family of four. Price: €500 a month bills and meals included. Rules: No parties, no partners sleeping in the house, no pets, no noise after 9pm. |