C1-Level Lesson: Unit 1 - Advanced Communication Skills

C1-Level Lesson: Unit 1 – Advanced Communication Skills

Objective: By the end of this lesson, students will be able to engage in debates, express opinions effectively, discuss current events using advanced opinion phrases and nuances of agreement and disagreement, comprehend opinion pieces, editorials, and scholarly articles, listen to TED Talks or podcasts on controversial topics, and write opinion essays and argumentative pieces.

Materials Needed:

  1. Opinion pieces, editorials, and scholarly articles
  2. TED Talks or podcasts on controversial topics
  3. Writing materials for students
  4. Visual aids or images related to the topics discussed

Duration: 90 minutes

Warm-Up (10 minutes): Start the lesson by asking students to share their opinions on a controversial topic or current event. Encourage them to express their views openly and respectfully.

Speaking Practice (20 minutes):

  1. Divide the class into pairs or small groups and provide them with debate topics or current events to discuss.
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  2. Encourage students to express their opinions, engage in debates, and practice using advanced opinion phrases and nuances of agreement and disagreement.

Vocabulary Enrichment (15 minutes):

  1. Introduce advanced opinion phrases and nuances of agreement and disagreement to the students.
    1. C1-Level Vocabulary: Unit 1 – Advanced Opinion Phrases and Nuances of Agreement and Disagreement
  2. Provide examples and explanations of how to use these phrases effectively in discussions and debates.
  3. Engage students in interactive activities or role-plays to practice using the new vocabulary in context.

Reading Comprehension (20 minutes):

  1. Distribute opinion pieces, editorials, or scholarly articles to the students.
  2. Have students read the texts individually or in pairs, focusing on comprehension and identifying key arguments and perspectives.
  3. Lead a class discussion about the readings, asking students to share their interpretations, reactions, and opinions on the topics discussed.

Listening Activity (15 minutes):

  1. Play a TED Talk or podcast episode on a controversial topic related to the readings or current events.
  2. Have students listen actively and take notes on the speaker’s arguments, evidence, and conclusions.
  3. Discuss the audio content as a class, focusing on comprehension and analyzing different viewpoints presented.

Writing Practice (10 minutes):

  1. Assign students to write an opinion essay or argumentative piece on a topic of their choice, using the advanced vocabulary and nuanced expressions learned in class.
  2. Encourage students to structure their writing logically, provide evidence to support their arguments, and address potential counterarguments.
  3. Provide writing prompts or templates to guide students in organizing their thoughts and constructing persuasive arguments.

Wrap-Up (10 minutes): Conclude the lesson by reviewing key vocabulary and phrases learned during the lesson. Encourage students to continue practicing their advanced communication skills both inside and outside the classroom.

Homework: Assign students to research and analyze another opinion piece, editorial, or scholarly article on a topic of their interest. Have them write a summary of the text, highlighting key arguments and providing their own reflections and critiques.

Assessment: Assess students’ speaking skills through observation of their participation in debates, their ability to express opinions clearly, and their use of advanced vocabulary and nuanced expressions. Evaluate their reading comprehension based on their responses to comprehension questions and their contributions to class discussions. Monitor their listening comprehension through their notes and participation in the listening activity. Assess their writing skills based on the coherence, persuasiveness, and depth of their opinion essays or argumentative pieces. Provide feedback to help students improve their language skills and achieve their learning objectives.