Underwater Hockey
(VID 2010-010) This is the first video in what will be a series called “My Passion” where teenagers from Cairns talk about something they feel passionate about. In My Passion: Underwater Hockey, teenager Jordan takes your students to the pool where her team practises a sport she loves – underwater hockey! She shows each piece of equipment and teaches your students its name & what it’s used for. Then she explains the basic rules of the game and talks about the team winning medals at a recent national competition. Made by a teen, for teens – your class will love it!
Soon on this Teen English website – downloadable printables: vocab, exercises & lesson plan for teaching the lesson
Bonus! – here’s a link to a very recent news article (600 words; upper-intermediate level, but intermediates could probably tackle it with a little guidance) which you could use as a follow-on reading text, about why underwater hockey is a great sport for the tropics.
Our Favourite Music!
elementary level
Do your students like music? Yes, of course! – so let them listen to this video (VID2021-006) as 7 Australian teens answer a series of simple but interesting questions; then they can talk to each other using the same language.
This is a slightly easier version of the Intermediate Music I video (VID2021-007). Although the video just has a few changes, you’ll find that the tasks & worksheets in this lesson plan (PLAN2021-006) are very different.
Another lesson from the expert teacher & teacher trainer Isobel Morris, with student tasks, a vocabulary list, detailed teaching guide and more.
These newer printable packages are in pdf form to make printing easier. Lessons are colour-coded for ease of use: red for Elementary, green for intermediate.
Who’s your favourite singer?
Our Favourite Music!
Intermediate level
In this video, Our Favourite Music (VID2021-007), 7 teenagers from Queensland talk about their favourite songs, singers & bands. Follow it with part II, Learning & Playing Music (VID2021-009), in which the same teens answer questions about their musical abilities.
The pdf lesson package (PLAN2021-007) includes key vocabulary, worksheets for the 6 questions and a very detailed lesson plan. Recommended for CELTA trainees as a sample lesson plan.
If this video’s too hard for your students, the Elementary version (VID2021-006) is easier, having been edited for elementary & pre-int students with easier tasks & worksheets.
LEARNING & PLAYING MUSIC
elementary level
Specially edited for elementary and pre-intermediate students, this red-coded version of Learning and Playing Music (VID2021-008) is similar to but easier than VID2021-009 above. Students hear 7 genuine answers to each question about learning music in Australia.
The detailed set of printables + lesson plan (PLAN2021-008) provides everything you need to teach this lesson: worksheets for writing questions & listening to the video and for speaking afterwards, and a detailed CELTA-style lesson plan. These newer printable packages are in pdf form to make printing easier.
Do you study music?
LEARNING & PLAYING MUSIC
Intermediate level
In Learning & Playing Music (VID2021-009), students watch 7 Aussie teens answer questions about their musical abilities. You may recognise a few faces from earlier Teen English videos.
Download the lesson plan (PLAN2021-009), which includes key vocabulary, 3 worksheets with the 6 questions and a very detailed lesson plan. If you’re a CELTA trainee, it’s an excellent model of most elements of a CELTA lesson plan.
If this video’s too hard for your students, try the Elementary version (VID2021-008) – a shortened version omitting the last question and edited slightly differently, with amended worksheets & plan.
our 3 favourite places
(VID2021-005) As your students watch this video they’ll hear Emm and Paige, two teens, each describe their 3 favourite places to hang out, and what they do there. They’ll see glimpses of Aussie life in and around Cairns: creeks, parks & a library.
Download the lesson plan (PLAN2021-005), which includes key vocabulary and listening questions, to guide them and you. Then use this video as a model for your students to make a similar ones about their own city – in English, of course! – using their mobile phones and practising phrases from the video.
Our 3 Favourite Places (VID2021-005) can either follow on from or precede the stand-alone pronunciation video, One of my Favourite Places (VID2021-004).
Pronouncing ~es plurals
” It’s One of my Favourite Places”
(VID 2021-004) Our 19-yr-old pronunciation queen Anna helps your teenage learners pronounce “beaches” and “places”, where the plural form has an extra syllable. They listen and repeat – first a few words, then phrases. She gradually builds up their ability until they can say a couple of sentences & 4 complex phrases with natural sounds, rhythm and intonation. Examples: “one of the best hamburger places in this street” & “One of my favourite places is the beach“.
Designed for use in a high-school English ESL/EFL/ESOL class; suitable for pre-intermediate, intermediate & upper-intermediate level teenagers. To get the most out of it, download the printables – a worksheet with 5 exercises for before & after the video, an answer key & a detailed lesson plan (PLAN2021-004).
Most Teen English videos are not suitable for self-study, but this one actually could be used alone at home.
If you want your students to film their own My Favourite Places in English, make sure they watch and practise these phrases first!
Talking about food
Four teenagers from Queensland ask and answer some common, useful questions connected with food, e.g. Do you prefer ice-cream or yoghurt? Have you ever eaten crocodile? (VID2021-003) Some of their answers may surprise you!
Using the associated Teen English lesson plan (PLAN2021-003), the video becomes the central section of an stimulating 1 hr+ lesson in 9 stages, plus a 3-stage extension activity for a future lesson. Activities include guided question writing; listening & note-taking; a class survey; an information-gap speaking and built-in revision of vocabulary and several question forms.
Filmed and written from scratch by Isobel Morris, the experienced CELTA tutor (teacher trainer).
This is Food I; Food II has been filmed and will be uploaded in the future.
How Aussies Speak
(VID2021-002) Teenager Anna introduces two aspects of how Australian teens speak. She explains some slang words like arvo, describes how /ei/ is pronounced and gives your students the chance to practise some useful Aussie phrases. Anna’s clear delivery makes her a favourite with teen learners.
The detailed 8-stage lesson plan (PLAN2021-002) provides a 45-60 min skills lesson suitable for pre-intermediate, intermediate and upper-intermediate learners. Exercises provided include listening/note-taking, dialogue, discussion & paragraph writing. There are 2 student worksheets and an answer key. It’s all been done for you: just add your students!
introducing yourself
In this 1.5 minute video (VID2021-001), a number of teenagers from Cairns introduce themselves to you for the first time. Students watch, listen & practise introducing themselves.
For a memorable “benchmark” lesson, you need to use the Teen English lesson plan (PLAN2021-001) – otherwise the video might seem a little pointless by itself. Also provided: students’ worksheet with note-taking exercise and discussion questions, plus teacher’s answer key.
Leo’s Day
(VID2021-000 AVAILABLE SOON) Meet Leo the dog, who lives with his humans in sunny Queensland. Find out where he goes and what he does in a typical day. Then practise talking about your own day.