LEVELS 0 TO 13

LEVEL 0
1.
Find pictures of people greeting each other formal and informally. Have pairs role-play dialogues for each picture. (hi, hello, good morning, I’m… , Nice to meet you).
Mixer to complete telephone lists : students ask each other name/surname/phone.

2.
Students role-play secretary/student completing course registration form:

Name:
Address:
Telephone:
Occupation:
Nationality:

3. Students role-play any of the situations below

Situation 1

Student A: You are at an English café. You are very hungry and thirsty. You want to drink a soft drink and a piece of pizza. Call the waiter and ask for the menu.
Student B: You are a waiter at an English café. Student A calls you to order. You do not have what she/he wants. Offer something else.

Situation 2

Student A: You are a tourist in London. You go to the bank because you want to change some traveler’s checks. Talk to the bank clerk and ask him/her questions.
Student B: You are a bank clerk in London. A tourist comes to you to change some traveler’s checks. Before changing the checks, ask for some personal information to complete the form. E.g. name, age, job, nationality, etc.

Situation 3

Student A: You are a student at an international school on New York. B is your room-mate. You two are in your room talking about your lives. Answer B’s questions. Ask and answer some questions too. E.g. age, family, hobbies, etc.
Student B: You are a student at an international school on New York. A is your room-mate. You two are in your room talking about your lives. Answer B’s questions. Ask and answer some questions too. E.g. age, family, hobbies, etc.

Situation 4

Student A: You want to buy a new house and you see an ad in the paper. Call B and ask questions about the house (description of the house, price, etc.)
Student B: You want to sell your house. A calls you. Answer his/her questions.


Situation 5

Student A: B shows you a photo of his / her family. Ask who the people in the picture are and what their relationship is. Ask about name, age, job, marital status, children, etc.
Student B: Show A a photo of your family. Answer A’s questions.


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LEVEL 2
1.
Students prepare mini presentations on celebrity of their choice. Rest of the class takes notes and then prepares questions to challenge other groups to a quiz show.


· Students role-play any of the situations below:

Situation 1: A stranger in town

1 A. You are from Germany. You arrived in B.A. two weeks ago because you want to travel around Argentina. Now you need to get to Retiro bus station to travel to Mar del Plata. Ask somebody in the street how to get there. Ask about buses to Mar del Plata (frequency of buses, price of tickets, duration of journey, etc.). Answer B's questions.

1. B. Help this stranger to get to Retiro bus station. You can show him/her the way on a map. Answer his/her questions on buses to Mar del Plata. in B.A. Ask the tourist if (s)he likes the city, when (s)he arrived, etc.


Situation 2: Eating out

2.A and B You are at a fancy restaurant and want to have dinner. Ask for a table for two and for the menu. Order something to eat and drink. Order some dessert. Ask for the bill.

2.C. You are the waiter/waitress. Bring the menu. Offer your customers today’s special dish. There is a problem in the kitchen and many dishes are off the menu. Explain what you have and what you don't have. Offer some dessert. Bring the bill. You don't accept credit cards.


Situation 3: Telephone conversation: the concert was great

3. A. You couldn't go to the concert last night because you had a wedding. Call your friend and ask him/her about it (songs, singers, duration, friends, etc.). Answer B's questions.

3. B. A friend calls you to know about the concert Answer his/her questions. You also want to know about the wedding (people there, food, music, etc)


Situation 4: How you met your best friend

4. A. Last January you travelled to Bariloche where you met your best friend. Tell your partner about that special month- activities you did together, the places you visited, sports you played, etc. Answer your partner's questions and ask him/her about her/his best friend.

4.B. Ask your partner when/where (s)he met her/his best friend (activities, sports, presents, etc). Answer his/her questions.


Situation 5: An interview with a musician

5. A You are the most popular musician in town. You began to sing at the age of fourteen. Later you formed a band with some classmates. Last year you gave your first concert and it was very successful. Answer the reporter's questions.

5. B You are a reporter. A is a famous musician. Ask him/her about his/her beginnings, his/her best concert, about his/her last hit, etc.

3. Further suggestions from Teacher’s resource book:
· activity 6.2: interview (past tense)
activity 7.1: talking about a classmate
activity 7.2: telling a story
activity 9.3: discussing meals and mealtimes

4.
Any of the Everyday English activities can be adapted for OOA.
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LEVEL 5
1.
‘Man from the South’:
retelling plus personal questions on the subject
role-playing - p.25 (CLASS: writing p. 25: continue the story).

2.
· retelling of any of the articles personal questions on the subject (CLASS: writing activity p. 27).

A Tale of Two millionaires.
What were Milton and Hetty like? Why were they the meanest / kindest people in the world? How did their childhoods affect them? How did they become rich? Who did they leave their money to?

Megalopolis.
What is Shenshen like? What was it like in the past? What will it be like in the future? Does it take people a lot of time to get to the office / back home? In what ways is China changing?

Man from the South.
Explain where the story takes place / who the characters are / what the bet consists of / explain if the ending is predictable or unpredictable.

Las Vegas Takes a Gamble.
What was Las Vegas like before? Has it changed? How? What helped Las Vegas hold the monopoly in the 40s ? Is Las Vegas making the same amount of money as in the past?

Weak Men , Strong Women.
What about Shimomura’s beginnings? Did she feel discriminated at work? Why? How did her husband react when she was sent to New York?
Have men’s roles at home changed? Do men and women have the same opportunities in our country / in your working place?

The Dope.
Which are the arguments listed in the article about the decriminalization of pot? What is Chief Hellawell’s opinion? What is your opinion?

Into the Wild.
What was important to Chris? What wasn’t important? What do you think he was trying to do? Why do young people feel the need to break away from their parents?

The Japanese Ageing Suit
Who was the suit designed for and why? What did it consist of? Would you like to try it on?

3.
Teacher’s resource book:
activity 6.2: role-play
activity 7.1: interview
activity 7.2: retelling
activity 9.2: role-play
activity 10.1: free-speaking activity based upon feelings.

4.
Any of the Everyday English activities can be adapted for OOA.

5.
Students role-play any of the situations below:

Situation 1

1.A: You are a famous pop star. Answer the reporter’s questions. Ask the reporter about his/ her experience as a journalist: how long (s)he has been a journalist, number of interviews in her / his carrer, famous people interviewed, worst experience.

1.B: You are a reporter. Interview a famous pop star. Ask her / him about her/ his experience as a musician : bands (s)he has played with / hit records / countries / best performance.

Situation 2

2.A: You are at a party. You meet someone who has just moved to Buenos Aires. Ask him / her where he/ she lived before , which place he/she likes better and why.

2.B: You have just moved to Buenos Aires. You like it better than Brasilia. You like the weather and the nightlife but you think transport is really a problem. Answer A’s questions. Ask him/her where he/she would like to live and why.


Situation 3

3.A: You are mum/dad. Your son/daughter is telling you about his/her plans for the next holiday.Tell him/her what you think (s)he should/should not do to be safe. Ask him/her what she/he will do if the weather is bad, if there is a strike.

3.B: You have just decided to go camping to the south of Argentina. Tell your parents how much time you would like to travel, where you will stay, what you will do if it rains, where you will go if the area is flooded. Ask them about their plans and who to phone if you need help.


Situation 4

4.A: You are a police officer who is strongly against the decriminalization of the use of pot. (marijuana). You are talking to a politician who is in favour of legalizing the use of marijuana. Give him/her the reasons you have to oppose it. Try to convince him/her of your point of view.

4.B. You are a politician who is in favour of decriminalizing the use of pot (marijuana). You are talking to a police officer who strongly opposes the legalization. Give him/ her the reasons for legalizing the use. Try to convince him/ her of your point of view.


Situation 5

5.A: You are a wife and you have been offered your first job.You are fascinated with the idea.Tell your husband what the job is about, your working hours, your salary, what you are planning to do with your children, the housework, etc. Try to convince your husband that it will be wonderful.

5.B: You are a very conservative husband. You believe that the place of a wife and mother is at home. Reject your wife’s ideas of starting a job. Give her your reasons. Your salary is good enough to support a family.

Situation 6

6.A: You are at a school reunion.You have not met your schoolmates since you graduated five years ago. Ask B what he/she has done all these years. Ask her/him what she remembers best, if she remembers anything about the graduation ceremony.

6.B: You are at a school reunion. Answer your friend’s questions. Ask him/her what he/she has done since you graduated. Ask him/her if she remembers what you used to do in high school, what you used to do when you missed classes.
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LEVEL 8
1.
· Role-playing.

Situation 1

(After Cutting Edge, module 5 and Skills Unit 1)
Each pair is presented with photocopies of different ads. They have to decide which position to apply to and role play the situation.

Writing: At the same time the rest of the students write an application letter to another ad

Situation 2

Parent and teenager at home
The teenager wants to go out and borrows his father’s car.
The father is not willing to do it because it’s a dangerous night because …
The youth tries to persuade his father giving different reasons until they come to an agreement.
The teenager promises to … in the future.


Situation 3

· Two friends/colleagues at work
· A needs help with a report due the following day and he’s worried
· B is in a hurry and not willing to help A because A always waits until the last minute to get things done.
· B refuses to help but very politely
· A offers help in some other thing in the future
· They come to an agreement

Situation 4

Boss and employee at the office
A needs to take a week off to visit …
B says it is impossible because …
A insists and offers to …
B considers the option and they come to an agreement
A makes a promise about the future and expresses his intentions about working more hours

Situation 5

Husband and wife at home
A has a problem with one of their kids
B asks for details, he never suspected anything
A asks for advice
B offers advice and calms A down.
They make plans about how to deal with the problem

Situation 6

Teacher and student at university
The student wants to change the date of an exam because…
The T. gives some advice on the St.’s problem
The T. says it’s impossible because …
The student says he can´t come the day of the exam
T. offers other days, possibilities.
They come to an agreement

2.
After CE module 6 and Skills Unit 2.
Students can choose between presenting a movie review or a book review taken from The Herald, nytimes.com or guardian.co.uk
The rest of the students are supposed to interact, react, ask questions, etc.
3.
Any of the tasks in each module in Cutting Edge can be used for OOA (the T’s book suggests alternatives)

4.
Any of the real life activities in Cutting Edge can be adapted for OOA.

5.
Resource pack:
· activity 5B: planning & retelling
· activity 5C: interview
· activity 7C: making social arrangements
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NIVEL 11
1.
· Skills:
a. pag. 7. "The 8 o'clock news"
b. pag 33. Roleplay basado en "Raiders of the Lost Art"
c. pag.91. Debate sobre el reading "New Trends and Old Techniques"

2
· Debate sobre Kevorkian: un grupo defiende el punto de vista de Kevorkian y otro grupo el del autor del texto.

3.
Funciona ya a este nivel organizar presentaciones por parte de los alumnos, en las cuales (individualmente o de a pares) preparen una exposición sobre un tema de su interés y que involucre al resto de la clase (sólo en una de las instancias)

4. Discuss any of the situations below:

1* A MULTINATIONAL CHEMICAL COMPANY FAILED TO MAINTAIN ADEQUATE SAFETY STANDARDS AT A FACTORY OWNED BY ITS SUBSIDIARY IN A DEVELOPING COUNTRY. A POISONOUS GAS LEAKED TO THE DEATH OF 500 PEOPLE AND A FURTHER 5,000 PEOPLE WERE SEVERELY DISABLED. ARE THEY, IN YOUR OPINION, LEGALLY AND / OR MORALLY RESPONSIBLE? DISCUSS.
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2* AN ELECTRICAL COMPANY BRIBED A GOVERNMENT OFFICIAL IN ORDER TO GET A CONTRACT TOWIRE A NEW PUBLIC BUILDING. ARE THEY, IN YOUR OPINION, LEGALLY AND / OR MORALLY RESPONSIBLE? DISCUSS.
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3* FIVE LARGE AIRLINE COMPANIES REACHED AN AGREEMENT THAT THEY SHOULD REDUCE THEIR PRICES IN ORDER TO DRIVE A SMALLER COMPETITOR OUT OF BUSINESS. ONCE THEIR COMPETITOR WAS BANKRUPT THEY INCREASED THEIR PRICES AGAIN. ARE THEY, IN YOUR OPINION, LEGALLY AND / OR MORALLY RESPONSIBLE? DISCUSS.


4* . A PHARMACEUTICAL COMPANY MARKETED DRUGS WHICH HAD NOT BEEN TESTED SUFFICIENTLY. AS A RESULT OF USING ONE OF THEIR PRODUCTS 5,000 PREGNANT WOMEN GAVE BIRTH TO BABIES WITH MALFORMATIONS. ARE THEY, IN YOUR OPINION, LEGALLY AND / OR MORALLY RESPONSIBLE? DISCUSS.
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5* A CREDIT INFORMATION COMPANY WRONGLY BLACKLISTED THE OWNER OF A SMALL BUSINESS. AS A RESULT OF THEIR ERROR, HIS CREDITORS FORECLOSED AND HE WENT BANKRUPT. HIS TEN EMPLOYEES LOST THEIR JOBS AND THE MAN SHOT HIMSELF. ARE THEY, IN YOUR OPINION, LEGALLY AND / OR MORALLY RESPONSIBLE? DISCUSS.
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6* A MANUFACTURER OF MICROWAVE OVENS SOLD HIS GOODS WITHOUT WARNINGS THAT LIVE ANIMALS SHOULD NOT BE PLACED IN THE OVENS. SOMEONE CLAIMS TO HAVE LOST A MINIATURE DOG WORTH $2,000 WHILE TRYING TO DRY ITS HAIR. ARE THEY, IN YOUR OPINION, LEGALLY AND / OR MORALLY RESPONSIBLE? DISCUSS.
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7* DESCRIBE DR KEVORKIAN PHILOSOPHY AND PRACTICE. HOW MUCH DO YOU AGREE WITH THEM? DISCUSS.
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8* DESCRIBE AND ANALYSE A COMMERCIAL THAT YOU CONSIDER TO BE GOOD.
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9* DESCRIBE AND ANALYSE A COMMERCIAL THAT YOU CONSIDER TO BE BAD.
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10* WHAT KIND OF COMMERCIALS SHOULD, IN YOUR OPINION, BE PROHIBITED? JUSTIFY YOUR ANSWER.

5.
Crear y presentar un comercial (en grupos) para que el resto de la clase decida qué técnicas de propaganda se utilizaron y evalúen si el comercial es convincente.
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LEVEL 13
1.
· Class debate on the influence of TV: say what you think about the following assertions
ü Everyone knows that violence on TV is not for real
ü Family members no longer communicate anymore
ü People become envious of the lifestyles shown on TV
ü People copy crimes shown or described on TV
ü Violence on TV is bad for children

2.
· Material in the Skills about political correctness as a discussion topic: different students prepared different articles, summarized them for the rest and then they compared the importance the issue here in Argentina compared to US.
3.
· Students prepared individual presentations on topics of their choice which were related to the novel they were reading. (The Remains of the Day)

4.
· Presentaciones por parte de los alumnos, en las cuales (individualmente o de a pares) preparen una exposición sobre un tema de su interés y que involucre al resto de la clase.

SURVIVAL: SOME HUMAN BEINGS WOULD DO ANYTHING IN ORDER TO SURVIVE. IF THEIR LIVES WERE THREATENED, THEY WOULD FEEL JUSTIFIED IN DOING ANYTHING, EVEN MURDERING ANOTHER HUMAN BEING. HOW FAR DO YOU THINK THEY SHOULD GO? HOW FAR DO YOU THINK YOU WOULD GO? DISCUSS. ILLUSTRATE YOUR POINT WITH GOOD EXAMPLES, IF POSSIBLE FROM YOUR OWN EXPERIENCE.
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WORLD TRAVEL: THE WAY WORLD TRAVEL IS ORGANIZED TODAY ONLY HELPS DESTROY CULTURES AND THE ENVIRONMENT. MOST PEOPLE TRAVEL TO SAY: ‘I’VE BEEN TO...’ ‘I BOUGHT THIS IN...’. HUNDREDS OF MILLIONS OF PEOPLE TRAVEL AROUND THE WORLD EVERY YEAR AND THIS DOES MORE HARM THAN IT BRINGS BENEFITS. DISCUSS. ILLUSTRATE YOUR POINT WITH GOOD EXAMPLES, IF POSSIBLE FROM YOUR OWN EXPERIENCE.
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WORLD MUSIC: WORLD MUSIC IS MOSTLY A SNOBBISH THING. IT’S A CREATION OF MULTINATIONAL RECORDING COMPANIES TO EXPLOIT SOME PEOPLE’S NEED TO BE INTELLECTUAL AND DIFFERENT FROM THE REST. MOST PEOPLE ARE PREPARED TO APPRECIATE ONLY SOME MUSIC, ESPECIALLY THEIR OWN. DISCUSS. ILLUSTRATE YOUR POINT WITH GOOD EXAMPLES, IF POSSIBLE FROM YOUR OWN EXPERIENCE.
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ENTERTAINMENT (FILMS, SHOWS, CONCERTS, ETC.): ENTERTAINMENT ONLY HELPS A MINORITY TO SATISFY THEIR NEED TO BE RICH AND/OR FAMOUS, AND A MAJORITY TO ESCAPE REALITY, NOT TO CHANGE IT. DISCUSS. ILLUSTRATE YOUR POINT WITH GOOD EXAMPLES, IF POSSIBLE FROM YOUR OWN EXPERIENCE.
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POLITICAL CORRECTNESS: POLITICAL CORRECTNESS IS THE CREATION OF BIASED PEOPLE. IT’S JUST A WAY TO HIDE OUR PREJUDICES AND NARROW-MINDEDNESS. IT DOESN’T MAKE PEOPLE MORE BROAD-MINDED, BUT FOSTERS SUBTLE SEGREGATION, WHICH IS HARDER TO FIGHT AND DO AWAY WITH. DISCUSS. ILLUSTRATE YOUR POINT WITH GOOD EXAMPLES, IF POSSIBLE FROM YOUR OWN EXPERIENCE.
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THE GOOD OLD DAYS: FORMER TIMES WERE FAR BETTER. DISCUSS. ILLUSTRATE YOUR POINT WITH GOOD EXAMPLES, IF POSSIBLE FROM YOUR OWN EXPERIENCE.
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PRESS: IS THERE SUCH THING AS INDEPENDENT JOURNALISM? DISCUSS. ILLUSTRATED YOUR POINT WITH GOOD EXAMPLES.
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THE PRESS: HOW FAR SHOULD FREEDOM OF THE PRESS GO? DISCUSS. ILLUSTRATE YOUR POINT WITH GOOD EXAMPLES.
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