Warm-Up (10 minutes): Idiom Matching Activity

1. Introduction: Display 5-7 idiomatic expressions (e.g., “hit the nail on the head,” “bend over backward”) on the board alongside literal or incorrect meanings.
2. Guess & Match: Students work in pairs to guess the correct meanings.
3. Class Share: Discuss meanings and context, asking:
   • “Have you heard these before?”
   • “Can you think of situations where you’d use them?”

Speaking Practice (20 minutes): Using Idioms in Scenarios

1. Topic Focus: Provide a themed list of idioms and collocations related to professional life (e.g., “burning the midnight oil,” “a steep learning curve”).
   • Idioms: “Call it a day,” “go the extra mile.”
   • Collocations: “Key decision,” “face a challenge.”
2. Role-Playing: Assign scenarios such as a team meeting, job interview, or casual workplace conversation.
   • Students role-play using the idioms naturally in context.
3. Feedback: Offer corrections on usage, fluency, and tone.

Vocabulary Enrichment (15 minutes): Interactive Learning

1. Visual Connections: Use images or metaphorical diagrams to explain figurative meanings (e.g., an image of someone pulling a rope to explain “pulling strings”).
2. Group Game:
   • Write idiomatic expressions and incomplete collocations on flashcards.
   • Students pick a card and form a sentence, ensuring it matches the context.
3. Challenge: Ask students to adapt these expressions to different scenarios (formal/informal).

Reading Comprehension (20 minutes): Text Analysis

1. Activity: Distribute a short text, such as an opinion piece or workplace anecdote, rich in idiomatic language.
   • Example: “Navigating a Steep Learning Curve in a New Role.”
2. Task: Students work in pairs to:
   • Highlight idiomatic expressions and collocations.
   • Discuss the meaning of each phrase and how it enhances the text.
3. Class Discussion:
   • “How do idioms make the text more engaging or precise?”
   • “Could you rewrite a section using simpler vocabulary?”

Listening Activity (15 minutes): Identifying Idioms in Context

1. Audio Segment: Play a podcast or speech clip featuring idiomatic expressions (e.g., a TED Talk or workplace discussion).
   • Example: A manager discussing team collaboration: “We need to get on the same page.”
2. Task: Students jot down idioms or collocations they hear and match them to meanings on a handout.
3. Debrief: Discuss as a class:
   • “What did these idioms add to the speaker’s message?”
   • “Did the speaker use them formally or casually?”

Writing Practice (20 minutes): Idiomatic Storytelling

1. Prompt Options:
   • Write about a challenge you overcame using idioms like “face the music” or “in the same boat.”
   • Describe a fictional character’s day at work using collocations like “tight deadlines” and “team effort.”
2. Guidance:
   • Provide a basic structure for narratives: Introduction → Conflict → Resolution.
   • Encourage at least 5 idioms or collocations in each piece.
3. Sharing: Students read their stories in pairs or small groups, noting their classmates’ creative use of expressions.

Wrap-Up (10 minutes): Idiom Quiz & Reflection

1. Quick Quiz: Display example sentences with idioms blanked out (e.g., “She ________ to finish the project on time.” Answer: “went the extra mile”).
2. Reflection:
   • “What’s one idiom or collocation you’re excited to use?”
   • Encourage students to identify contexts (e.g., work, casual chats) where they might naturally use idiomatic expressions.