In this lesson students will discuss issues related to identity and what the future will be like.

Author
Cath McLellan

In 2017 the V&A Museum in London in association with the Goethe Institute and the British Council launched a project where it commissioned 12 artists to imagine Europe 2000 years in the future, and how people would look back on the Europe of today.

As part of the project an online interactive quiz was launched, called Collecting Europe. In this lesson, students will look at some of the issues highlighted in the quiz around identity and what the future will be like.

Students will speak about identity issues, watch a short video about how people identify themselves and make predictions about their own future and the future of society. The downloadable plan can be used as a single lesson or divided into two shorter 45 minute classes.

Aims:

  • To practise speaking skills on the topic of identity.
  • To practise listening comprehension with a short video.
  • To review different ways of talking about the future and probability.
  • To practise speaking in a discussion on the future.

Age:

Adults and older teenagers

Level:

CEF level B2 and above

Time:

90 minutes for one lesson or divided into two 45-minute lessons

Materials:

The lesson plan and student worksheets can be downloaded below. Internet access is required, but online activities can be done as a homework activity.

Looking for more content like this?

The lesson plan 'Robot relationships' looks at the themes from this lesson and can be in a follow-up class to extend discussion around the future and the theme of relationships.

Downloads
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Comments

Submitted by James Styring on Wed, 03/27/2019 - 11:31

Glad I was forewarned about 'religious' and 'self-confident' being opposites. Actually my (ESOL) students kind of got it - perhaps 'free-thinking' or sthg would be more apt? The rest of the material worked rally well, my students enjoyed the video. It's a great topic.

Submitted by willcunliffe on Tue, 01/15/2019 - 22:32

Hi Cath, I am afraid I have to agree with Peter Carlton who posted above. I taught the lesson today and was a bit surprised by 'religious' and 'self-confident being opposites. To think that Wilberforce, Martin Luther King and Mahatma Gandhi were not 'self-confident' is plainly wrong and not open to discussion. Anyway, love the rest of your resources!

Submitted by petercarlton on Wed, 05/10/2017 - 09:48

Are "religious" and "self-confident" really opposites? Hmmm. Otherwise, a fascinating lesson, thank you.

Submitted by Cath McLellan on Thu, 05/11/2017 - 13:30

In reply to by petercarlton

Hi Peter, Glad you like the lesson and thanks for your comment. I agree that it is an interesting comparison - I suppose some people see these two as opposites - it could be an interesting talking point for your students as to why people might think this! Best wishes, Cath TE Team

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