1. ESL Lesson Plans
  2. Intermediate

Obligation, prohibition and advice

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Low-resource ESL lesson plan
Intermediate/B1
Low-resource ESL lesson plan
Grammar
Low-resource ESL lesson plan
45-60 min
Low-resource ESL lesson plan
Low-Resource
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Overview

This intermediate ESL lesson will focus on the modal verbs we use to express obligation, prohibition, and advice, such as must, have to, and should. By understanding these, students will be better equipped to discuss rules and offer personal guidance in their conversations.

The lesson plan starts with a boardwork suggestion, demonstrating the contexts in which we use these modal verbs. After that, there are several classroom activities where the students will eventually participate in debates over contentious arguments. To wrap things up, we've included a fun classroom game idea, offering an enjoyable way for students to review the lesson's content and end the session on a high note.

Lesson Outline
Activities
Low-resource ESL lesson plan
Boardwork
1Dinner party bore
2A word of caution
3Classroom debates
Games
120 Questions
2Pictionary
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Classroom activities

Low-resource ESL lesson plan

Use of the board

Students review the common modal verbs we use for expressing obligation, prohibition and advice.

Step through each of the headings on this board. Students at this level should already be familiar with most of these constructions, so elicit examples that use these modals, and add the best ones to the board.

Low-resource ESL lesson plan
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Low-resource ESL activity

Dinner party bore

A group work activity where the students have to prioritise laws and advice.

Low-resource ESL lesson plan
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Low-resource ESL activity

A word of caution

Students have to work in pairs to come up with advice on topics related to society.

Low-resource ESL lesson plan
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Low-resource ESL activity

Classroom debates

For this speaking activity, students will debate some hot-button topics.

Low-resource ESL lesson plan
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Classroom games

Low-resource ESL activity

20 Questions: Obligation

Students have to use the target language to determine which occupation their classmate has been assigned.

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Low-resource ESL activity

Pictionary: Obligation

Players have to use images to represent statements of obligation on the board while their teammates attempt to guess what they are.

Low-resource ESL lesson plan
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