INSTRUCTIONS to teachers and students:
ENGLISH: These English lessons are designed to be used either by students to help themselves improve their English or by teachers to use when delivering lessons to their students. Every lesson has six sections. Common idioms and expressions, a gap fill exercise, a reading text with new vocabulary, a grammar section, a speaking section and a writing section. These six sections help students and teachers cover the main elements of the English language.
Grammar included: ‘Received Pronunciation’ and ‘The Correct Pronunciation of “ED” in a regular verb.
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Remember that during the lesson we are continuing our RP practice to be able to improve our pronunciation and diction.
READING (Concentrate on your pronunciation of the ‘ed’ sounds. You will find the ‘ed’ lesson at the end of this English lesson.
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Intermediate English Lesson Plan: John Williams, the Classical Guitarist
Lesson Objectives:
- Improve reading comprehension skills.
- Enhance vocabulary related to music and biographical texts.
- Practice answering comprehension questions.
- Review and practice grammar focusing on past simple and present perfect tenses.
Materials:
- Text about John Williams
- Comprehension questions
- Grammar exercises
- Briefly discuss who John Williams is.
2. Reading Activity (15 minutes)
Reading Passage:
John Williams: The Classical Guitar Virtuoso
John Williams was born in Melbourne, Australia, on April 24, 1941. He is renowned worldwide as one of the greatest classical guitarists of all time. His father, an accomplished guitarist, started teaching him guitar when he was just six years old. By the age of twelve, Williams had already performed his first public concert.
In 1958, Williams moved to England to study at the Royal College of Music in London. His exceptional talent quickly became evident, and he was soon performing in prestigious venues all over the world. Over his illustrious career, Williams has recorded numerous albums, many of which have won awards.
Williams is not only known for his technical proficiency but also for his ability to bring emotion and depth to his performances. He has collaborated with various musicians and composers, expanding the repertoire of classical guitar music.
Despite his fame, Williams remains humble and dedicated to his craft. He continues to inspire new generations of guitarists with his masterful playing and enduring passion for music.
3. Comprehension Questions (10 minutes)
- Where was John Williams born?
- Who taught John Williams how to play the guitar?
- At what age did Williams perform his first public concert?
- Where did Williams study music after moving to England?
- What are some of the characteristics that make John Williams’s performances unique?
- How has Williams contributed to the world of classical guitar music?
4. Grammar Focus: Past Simple and Present Perfect Tenses (15 minutes)
Explanation:
- Past Simple: Used to describe actions that happened at a specific time in the past.
- Example: “John Williams was born in Melbourne.”
- Present Perfect: Used to describe actions that have occurred at an unspecified time before now or actions that started in the past and continue to the present.
- Example: “Williams has recorded numerous albums.”
Video Exercise:
Questions:
- What does ‘to pluck a string’ mean?
- Can you name other stringed instruments in English?
- What kind of an accent does John Williams have?
Exercises:
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Fill in the blanks with the correct form of the verb (Past Simple or Present Perfect):
a. John Williams (perform) ____________ his first concert at age twelve. b. Williams (record) _ many award-winning albums. c. He (move) _____________ to England in 1958. d. Williams (collaborate) _____________ with various musicians over his career. e. His father (teach) ______________ him how to play the guitar.
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Rewrite the following sentences using the Present Perfect tense:
a. John Williams started playing the guitar at age six. b. He studied at the Royal College of Music. c. Williams remained dedicated to his craft. d. He inspired many young guitarists.
5. Discussion and Wrap-Up (5 minutes)
- Discuss the answers to the comprehension questions and grammar exercises.
- Encourage Danilo to share his thoughts on John Williams and his music.
- Recap the lesson objectives and what students have learned.
Optional Homework:
- Write a short paragraph about another famous musician, using both Past Simple and Present Perfect tenses.
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SECTION TWO (REVISION)
How to pronounce the ‘ed’ sounds in regular verbs.
‘ED’ practice text
In this text remember that we are practicing our RP but at the same time we are going to practice how to pronounce the ‘ed’ in regular verbs. Here is an explanation.
In English, the pronunciation of the past tense suffix “-ed” varies and is determined by the final sound of the root verb:
1. /t/ Sound: We use this sound when the root verb ends in voiceless consonants (except for /t/), such as /p/, /k/, /s/, /ʃ/ (sh), /ʧ / (ch), and /f/. For example:
– “walk” becomes “walked” and is pronounced as /wa: kt/
– “laugh” becomes “laughed” and is pronounced as /laugh: ft/
2. /d/ Sound: We use this sound with root verbs ending in voiced sounds, which include all vowel sounds and voiced consonants (except for /d/), such as /b/, /g/, /v/, / z/, etc. For example:
– “call” becomes “called” and is pronounced as /ca lld/
– “rob” becomes “robbed” and is pronounced as /rob bd/
3. /ɪd/ or just /d/ Sound: We use this sound distinctly when the root verb ends in either a /t/ or a /d/. This additional syllable makes it easier to pronounce. For example:
– “want” becomes “wanted” and is pronounced as /ˈwant: id/
– “need” becomes “needed” and is pronounced as /ˈneed: id/
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