The Worst Matchmaker Ever! - Lesson Plan - Intermediate

Love is in the air with Valentine's Day approaching. Here's a listening lesson that deals with these themes.  Just off of the top of my head, I can think of a dozen of different variations of this, so play around with it if you want to. If you want a lesson created for you, just give me any grammar, language point or topic and I'll get one to you.

Topic: Dating.  Students listen to Frank Sinatra's 'How about You' (lyrics below). Students then create 'the worst dating agency in the world' where they pair up the most unlikely of people.


Materials needed: Frank Sinatra's 'How about You', Audio (speakers), pictures of different celebrities and horrifically ugly people. You're going to want about 10 or more photos total.

 Introduction: about 3 minutes. Enter into the class looking depressed. When the students ask you what's wrong, tell them that you're lonely in the city and want to meet someone. Try to elicit how you could do this and a few places where you could meet someone. If you can elicit the concept of a dating agency, go for it.

Lead in: 10 minutes  Have these questions preboarded. Students ask you the questions and then put them in groups. Make sure to monitor and error correct.

1. Do you often date?
2. What's the best place/way to meet someone? What's the worst place/way?
3. What qualities do you look for in other people? Name 3.
4. What are 3 of your turnoffs (pre-teach this probably)

Aux Vocab: about 7 minutes Board these and go over them.

a tune
a fireside
to be due
a motor trip
to get ones fill
a thrill
to be mad about something
James Durante
someone's 'looks'

Prediction: 2 minutesHave the first line of the song 'I like New York in June, how about you?' Ask students what they think the song is going to be about.

Focus 1: 4 minutes Tell students to listen to the song and list 3 things that the singer likes, loves or is mad about. You've already given them 1 so it's really only two more.

Focus 2: about 7 minutes Blanks. Create a sheet where you have a missing word per line and pass it out to the students. Students listen to the song and fill in the blanks. Play it twice and then correct. Briefly review the song with students and go over the things that Sinatra likes, loves and is mad about. Find out if students feel the same way about any of these.

Bridge: about 4 minutes After the listening, go back to the concept of a dating agency. Ask students to think of some positives and negatives of using a dating agency and if they have or would ever use one.


Follow up: 20 minutes or more Break the class into two groups (more if you have a class over 8 people). Tell the class that they are the owners of a dating agency and have to find matches for their people. Tell them that they have beautiful clients and extremely ugly and horrible clients as well, but ALL clients need to be matched with someone.

Pass out the pictures and tell the groups, who are separated from each other, that they can't show the pictures to the other group. Instruct them to create profiles of all of the different people based on the questions below.

Unattractive People

Here's some examples of pics I'm talking about. Have about 5 of each. Randomly pass out Attractive and Unattractive pics to the different groups.

Attractive Celebrities

Have the following questions pre-boarded
1. What is this person's job?
2. What type of relationship are they looking for? ( you might need to pre-teach long term, casual...etc.
3. What type of person are they looking for?
4. What do they like in June?
5. What do they love to do when there's a storm?
6.  Is there anything that they are mad about?
7.  What do they like to do at the movie theater when the lights are low?

Note: If you think your students will need a demo, pick up a picture of one of the celebrities and demo the questions out with them first before having them do anything. Use an attractive pic example.

Now that each group has a number of different pictures, have them create profiles (answer the questions) for the different people. Monitor the activity and make sure that their output is going well. You can help train for the speaking activity by asking them the questions while monitoring.

Once they have their profiles of their daters ready, bring the two groups together where they have to ask each other these questions and find the best suitable partners for their clients. When they create a match, have them put the photos FACE DOWN on the floor and move to the next match.

Note: Make Sure That They Don't See The Photos! It will ruin the reveal at the end when they get to see how people were matched up.

Once everyone has a partner, flip over the photos and watch as your class erupts in laughter.

Board and correct mistakes. Wish students a good day. End the class with a joke.

Variations: If you have a longer class, have them write up or speak about a few of the different matches and their first date. 


 Song Lyrics 'How About You'

Youtube Link  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jgoG5o7Jsk4

I like New York in June, how about you?
I like a Gershwin tune, how about you?
I love a fireside when a storm is due
I like potato chips, moonlight, motor trips, how about you?

I'm mad about good books, can't get my fill
And James Durantes looks give me a thrill
Holding hands in the movie show
When all the lights are low may not be new
But I like it, how about you?

I like New York in June, how about you?
I like a Gershwin tune, how about you?
I love a fireside when a storm is due, how about you?

I'm mad about good books, can't get my fill
And James Durantes looks they give me a thrill
Holding hands in the movie show
When all the lights are low may not be new
But I like it, and I like it, I like it, how about you?

   *****

Thanks!
If you like the lessons and want your own, send me a message and I'll create something tailored for you.


Cheers,
Chris Westergaard
The Language House TEFL