A Personal Note Writing with a twist
Level(s): (B1) Intermediate/(B2) Upper-Intermediate/C1 Pre-Advanced
Aimed at: Teenagers/young adults/adults
Aims: Speaking/Authentic reading/A personal note writing
Materials: Handouts 1&2
Time: +/- 60 min
The personal note used in this lesson plan was published in the following article:
http://elitedaily.com/humor/husbands-note-wife-seems-awful-read-part-2-photo/797863/
1. Brainstorming/Things we write
Have students work in small groups and make a list of different things we have to write every day:
– At school
– At work
– At home
Have their ideas listed on the board and add some of your own ideas to their lists. Take it as an opportunity to introduce vocabulary, e.g. eulogies or minutes. At the end of this activity you should have something similar to this on the board:
+/- 10 minutes
2. Tell the students that they are going to look at an example of authentic written text in more detail now. Distribute Handout 1 to each student and ask them to read it individually. Have them work in pairs to discuss the following questions:
What type of text is it? (A personal note)
What is the realtionship between the writer and the reader? (Husband and wife)
What is the message of the text?
How do you think the reader reacted?
Have you ever written a personal note? What was it about? Who was it for?
Have you ever received a personal note? What was it about? Who was it from?
Handout 1
Dear Stefanie
Dinner tasted awful
And it smelled
So I am leaving you
I have to just go
I have taken all my things
Just can´t stand you
I won´t be back
I have had enough
Enjoy your life
Goodbye.
Max
+/- 10 minutes
3. After a brief class feedback explain to the students that Max, who thinks he’s crafty, left a second, hidden part to the letter. Distribute Handout 2 now (the complete version) and ask the students to read it individually.
Handout 2
| Dear Stefanie | |
| Dinner tasted awful | ly good. |
| And it smelled | great! |
| So I am leaving you | a note. |
| I have to just go | to the library. |
| I have taken all my things | I need to study |
| Just can´t stand you | r being alone. |
| I won´t be back | until 8 p.m. |
| I have had enough | dinner. Thanks. |
| Enjoy your life | cereal as a snack. |
| Goodbye. | |
| Max |
*”Life Cereal” is a name of an American breakfast cereal.
+/- 5 minutes
4. Have a brief class feedback again and ask the students to work in small groups and write a reply note to Max! Have them read out their notes and vote for the best one! My students have come up with some amazing ideas and I am sure yours will, too!
+/- 30 minutes
Have fun!
Katarzyna Piotrowska
