English Lesson: Present Continuous Tense

English Lesson: Present Continuous Tense

Level: Beginner/Intermediate

Objective: Students will be able to form and use the present continuous tense correctly to describe actions happening now or around now.

Materials: Whiteboard or projector, markers or pens.

Lesson Procedure:

(1) Introduction (5 minutes):

• Teacher: "Good morning/afternoon, everyone! Today, we're going to learn about the present continuous tense. Who can tell me what we use tenses for?" (Allow students to answer, guiding them towards the idea of describing time.)
• Teacher: "The present continuous tense helps us talk about actions happening right now, or around now. We use it to describe things that are in progress." Write "Present Continuous" on the board.

(2) Form (10 minutes):

• Teacher: "The present continuous tense is formed using the present tense of the verb 'to be' (am, is, are) + the present participle (verb + -ing)." Write the formula on the board: am/is/are + verb + -ing
• Examples:
  • I am reading a book.
  • She is playing the piano.
  • They are watching TV.
• Practice: Write several simple sentences on the board with blanks for the verb "to be." Have students fill in the blanks with the correct form (am, is, are). Example: "He ____ (walk) the dog." (Answer: is walking)

(3) Irregular Verbs (10 minutes):

• Teacher: "Some verbs have irregular present participles. This means they don't just add -ing. For example, the present participle of 'go' is 'going,' not 'go-ing.'"
• Examples:
  • Go - Going
  • Do - Doing
  • Have - Having
  • Be - Being
• Practice: Provide a list of irregular verbs and have students write their present participles.

(4) Application (15 minutes):

• Activity 1: Picture Description: Show students a picture depicting several actions (e.g., a busy street scene). Have them write sentences describing what is happening in the picture using the present continuous tense.
• Activity 2: Role-Play: Divide students into pairs. One student describes an activity they are currently doing (e.g., "I am making a sandwich"), and the other student asks questions to get more details.

(5) Review and Assessment (5 minutes):

• Teacher: Review the key points of the lesson: the formula for the present continuous, regular and irregular verb participles.
• Quick Quiz: Ask students to write 3 sentences using the present continuous tense about their current activities or observations.

Homework: Students write a short paragraph (5-7 sentences) describing what they are doing today.

This lesson plan provides a framework. The teacher can adjust the pace and activities based on the students' level and needs. Remember to incorporate visual aids and interactive activities to keep the students engaged.