Job Discussion Forums

[johnslat]

Dear Stephen,
Both - that's why I wrote:

" . . . a modal helping verb (requests/offers/promises, when its use tells about present/future time) . . ."

Regards,
John

P.S. By the way, since so many texts use the term "future tense", (at least in my experience), I'd say that explaining to students why this is NOT correct might prove to be even more of a not "useful distraction."

[Betti]

I feel we're getting woefully off-track here. If this lesson is a review session then, presumably - but not necessarily - the students will be able to distinguish between present and past forms of 'to be'. When using a future meaning there are a myriad of structures that could be used - off the top of my head - prediction, intention, offer etc. In essence, t'would be better to revise the first two tenses and then... the marvellous thing about teaching is that a lesson can go in so many directions. Make your plan and stick to the point - relevant questions and answers can make a 'lesson' a LESSON!

[ssjup81]

Okay everyone. I've finally come to a decision. lol All the input here has been very helpful. I decided to do a quiz game. I guess I'll let you know how it goes. I'm supposed to do this review game for class tomorrow evening.

Anyway, I decided to set up two teams. Each team member will have a sheet with the "to be" verb on it. Showing how we use it in English, and also to reemphasize how we do not have two verbs for "to be", just one. I'll also go over a sentence that may have present and past tense in it...like, "He was short but he is now tall (El fue bajo, pero ahora es alto) *I might be wrong with that sentence (in Spanish).* It's the first thing that came to my head just now.

Anyway, I'll have a fill in the blank type set up, for the most part and have the sentence written up on the board. For example...

She ____ short.

The person will then raise his/her hand and give me the answer (or maybe have a bell for each team; I haven't decided yet). Of course the answer here is "is" (to be, present tense). Each question right, the team receives a point. First team to reach a certain amount of points wins the game.

I'm curious if I should do a prize, though, but I can't really think of one. I'm also tempted to just let them look over their sheets and review the verb chart for "to be" and then have them put it away and then play the game.

Oh yeah, the format I'm going to focus on for the future tense will be "will". I know that in Spanish they do have that Ir + a + infinitive which can mean "going to do". For example...

My friend and I are going (will be going) to the big party!
Mi amigo y yo vamos a ir una fiesta grande! (Ir = vamos + a + ir = infinitive verb form)

I'm getting more and more excited about doing this now that the ideas are coming to me. This will be the first time I've ever had to set up a game specifically for verbs. Nouns, pronouns, adjectives, etc., are easier, imo, than verbs. I just hope I do okay with this for them.

[Jetgirly]

[Justin Trullinger]

The hassles of cloze as a test of language ability.


If I said "fell" was I wrong?

How about "stopped?"

"Wasn't?" "Looked?"




Best,
Justin

[ssjup81]