Have you ever been addicted to something?
What are the most common addictions?
Most of your students can relate to the concept of having an addiction, so I find this is always a nice topic to use with a conversation class, and since there are lots of related news articles you can find it is also nice for a reading or listening class.
You can start with some of the questions above. I normally give my students a blank chart. On the board we discuss different things people can be addicted to, be sure to include some "soft" addictions like shopping or working out.
Students pick ten and write them down in their chart. Then we try to figure out how many times a
week makes it an addiction.
For example, does being on the internet for 10 hours a week make you an addict? What about 20? What about 40? Are there exceptions? What if your work requires the internet?
How many alcoholic drinks can you have a week before you become addicted?
How many video games can you play before you become addicted?
etc. etc.
As a class have the students defend their answers and keep tally of the amounts (showing the class average at the end is always fun!)
I tend to pick one news article to read in class depending on their maturity level and interest. One my students normally like is about the boy who died playing video games.
After the reading we come up with solutions. How can we help people with addictions? Students answers tend to be very interesting!
In the end I have students pick an odd addiction (the TV show "My Strange Addiction" is available on YouTube and has some great examples). They then pretend to interview that person and write a news article.
You can learn more about Internet addiction and other process addictions by reading through the following infographic. Created by Valiant Recovery, treating the roots behind addiction not just the surface problems. For more ideas check out the infographic below.
You can also see some possible topics for mini-debates. Have students argue both sides of the topics that follow (be sure they know the vocabulary first!):
You can start with some of the questions above. I normally give my students a blank chart. On the board we discuss different things people can be addicted to, be sure to include some "soft" addictions like shopping or working out.
Students pick ten and write them down in their chart. Then we try to figure out how many times a week makes it an addiction.
For example, does being on the internet for 10 hours a week make you an addict? What about 20? What about 40? Are there exceptions? What if your work requires the internet?
How many alcoholic drinks can you have a week before you become addicted?
How many video games can you play before you become addicted?
etc. etc.
As a class have the students defend their answers and keep tally of the amounts (showing the class average at the end is always fun!)
I tend to pick one news article to read in class depending on their maturity level and interest. One my students normally like is about the boy who died playing video games.
After the reading we come up with solutions. How can we help people with addictions? Students answers tend to be very interesting!
In the end I have students pick an odd addiction (the TV show "My Strange Addiction" is available on YouTube and has some great examples). They then pretend to interview that person and write a news article.
You can learn more about Internet addiction and other process addictions by reading through the following infographic. Created by Valiant Recovery, treating the roots behind addiction not just the surface problems. For more ideas check out the infographic below.
You can also see some possible topics for mini-debates. Have students argue both sides of the topics that follow (be sure they know the vocabulary first!):
THE BEST WAY
TO GET OVER AN ADDICTION IS TO GO “COLD TURKEY.”
|
WORKAHOLISM IS A SERIOUS DISEASE AND SHOULD BE TREATED AS SUCH.
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ALL ADDICTIONS ARE BAD.
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ADDICTIONS ARE A SIGN OF WEAKNESS.
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ADVERTISERS ARE GUILTY OF MAKING PEOPLE ADDICTED TO THEIR PRODUCTS.
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NO ADDICT CAN EVER BE COMPLETELY CURED.
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COCA COLA IS JUST AS DANGEROUS AS COCAINE
|
I hope you enjoy these ideas in your class! My students usually find the concept that you can be addicted to something that isn't a drug really interesting and they enjoy talking about it.
Thanks for the inspiration, I'll use your ideas to create my own lesson plan. Yoyr blog is amazing and very useful, congrats!
ReplyDeleteI am so glad you find it useful! Let me know how your lesson goes ::)
DeleteLOVE IT!!! About to teach this topic and will give feedack after my lesson.
ReplyDeletePlease do! My students usually get really into it.
DeleteSo did mine! They had so much to say about this - especially talkling about themelves.
DeleteI had some additional picures on different addictions, which we discussed and it made them so interactive.
On reading 'the boy who died playing video games', I would say job well done! There are so many comparisons, vocabulary phrases and possible questions for the students.
The video was ok - I let them write down new/difficult words and phrases, which was funny and lead to more discussion - it is amazing how many students learned these same Eng words by playing comp games!
Before we knew it, our 90min were up!
HW; choose an addiction from 'My strange addiction' show, write down new voc and tell the class about it next time.
I also had additional worksheets on addiction vocabulary (these I downloaded from another website).
A BIG thank you!
Marge
I am so glad you made the lesson your own Marge! It seems like your students are very lucky to have you!
DeleteI've been given a class of 30 rowdy 13 year olds... This could be the perfect topic to get them talking! Than you so much!
ReplyDeleteIf you try it let me know how it goes!
Delete