That's English! - Module 8 - Unit 1: Lifelong learning

This is an issue in fashion as many people think that you learn along your life and not only when you were at school. This is connected to the ability of learning at any age, of changing your career or  adapting yourself to changes or even that's a way of taking advantage of changes. It is also related to how to impove your free time by learning things you like.

As usual, let's start with general questions. Here you are some to work with your partner:

• What does lifelong learning mean for you? Is this course an example for you? Why are you doing this course?
• Have you tried to learn some other things such as knitting, playing an instrument or so on?
• If you could go back to college, what would you like to study? Give reasons for your answer
• Have you ever had to learn something when you were an adult such as driving, using a computer or a mobile, and so on? Tell us your experience.
• Have you ever tried to take up a sport or to do an activity? How did you feel?
• If you had the time and the chance to learn something, what would it be? Why?

Activity 1

Imagine you are a new student and you want to enrol a course of English. Ask questions to your partner who works at the registration office about:

• what kind of course you need
• what skills to improve
• ask details about when, where, how many hours, how much it costs ...
• ask for other extra activities

    Now swap roles with your partner, but now you are in a community centre and you want to join a course of              painting/tennis/History lessons... Use the previous chart to do the activity.

Activity 2

This exercise is a revision of conditional sentences. The game is very simple: one starts with a conditional sentece and the other student has to chain another sentence with part of yours, like in the example:

     A: If I have enough money I'm going to buy a new car

     B: If you want to buy a new car, you'll need a lot of money

     C: If you need money, you should ask for a loan

     A: If I ask for a loan I'll have to pay it back and that means more money

     B: If you don't ask for a loan, you may borrow the money from your parents

     C: But if your parents can't lend you the money, you won't be able to buy a new car

Then do the same with second (hypothetical or improbable conditional) and third (imposible conditional, complaints and regrets) types of conditional sentences.

Activity 3
We should start to prepare our final exam, the one offered by Comunidad de Madrid. I firmly recommend doing the samples which are on the internet. They are in the links of this blog but here is the page you need: click here

Activity 4
Do you think education and learning are necessary? In what ways? How did you start your career? Do you regret your choice?
Here is a listening exercise about learning: click here
This is a listening comprehention about education at university: click here

Activity 5
As I've told you above, this topic is really "trendy" nowadays. I've found some videos about lifelong learning; some are a bit "technical", but you may have a look if you fancy or you're interested in this:

• video 1 (the one we saw in class)   video 2    video 3    video 4

Next classes we'll start to prepare this oral exam in class. We'll also work with written and oral mediation in order to prepare the official exam for B1. Hope to see you in class!