English Firsthand 1 unit 9: Future / Predictions

The pair work activity in the textbook is rather weak, so I made this as a possible substitute / supplementary activity.

1. Elicit / teach target language onto board, and have students copy it into the space provided on the worksheet.

2. Students work in pairs: Predict >> Ask why >> Give reason

3. Follow-up mingle: Walk around the room making predictions based on students’ own ideas.

Predictions pair work 

This is an activity that can be used in both Listening and Speaking or Writing classes to work on sequence markers. I started the activity by brainstorming cooking vocabulary on the board, then gave the handout the students. I explained the pasta recipe, and drew attention to the sequence markers. Students wrote out their favourite recipes, then in pairs or groups took turns explaining them to each other.

Let’s Talk Unit 6 Recipe Worksheet

A simple “Find someone who” activity for unit 4 of English Firsthand 1. It’s a Word file so you can change the items as you like.

Find someone - room

This is not rocket science, but it may help you with page 20 of Unit 2.

A worksheet to help your students sort out, and use, the vocabulary on page 20.

unit 2 appearance

This worksheet contains 9 questions about English Firsthand. To answer the questions students need to quickly scan the book.

After you have checked the answers you can get the students to work in pairs and write a few extra questions about the book. >> Followed by mixed pairs or a mingle for students to ask each other their new questions.

The worksheet:
get to know Firsthand.pdf

The answers:
get to know Firsthand Answer.pdf

Hidden deep in the official English Firsthand web site are some ‘Language Check’ activities for students.

• Each unit has a page for reviewing grammar and vocabulary.

• They are intended for self-study.

• Could be done in-class (with a laptop and projector)

• Could be done during a ‘Computer Class’

Link to web page:
http://www.efcafe.com/onyourown.html

Links to individual units are on the Resources site:
http://elpweb.com/resources/slevel1listspeaking.php?id=menu

The answers are actually given on each page, so students will have to discipline themselves not to to peek before answering!

Students can design their own living room by selecting different kinds of furniture and wallpaper and so on at the following website:

See My Design

For level 1 classes, it might be a useful resource for:
- unit 4 of English Firsthand 1 (Listening & Speaking course)
- the second spring writing cycle, “Describing a room” (Writing course)

Featured vocabulary includes: texture, floor, wallpaper, blinds, rug, wall art, sofa, chair and table.

NB: This website can also be accessed through the following site, which has links to online activities and tests for English Firsthand 1:

English Firsthand Activities

Looking for extra ideas or material for English Firsthand? Well look no further…

Go to the following website and click on “Teacher Resources”:

English Firsthand Cafe

Click on “Supplementary Activities for English Firsthand” and you can find lesson plans, extra listening activities and supplementary materials for each unit of English Firsthand 1 (as well as the other books in the series).

Click on “English Firsthand 1 Supplementary activities” for online activities and tests for units 1-9 of the textbook.

Do let us know how these activities go, and which work best. Cheers.