LESSON 2 : BACK TO THE FUTURE
Conversation : (interchange 2)
Tanya : This Neighborhood sure as changed!
Matt: I know. A few years ago, not many people lived here. But the population is growing so
fast these days.
Tanya: yes, it looks like there is a construction site on every corner
Matt: Remember how we used to buy candy at that little grocery store? Now it’s a multiplex
Cinema.
Tanya: yes, and they are tearing down our high school. They are going to build a shopping
mall. Soon, there will be just malls and parking lots.
Matt: That’s because everyone has a car! Fifty years ago, people walked everywhere.
Nowadays, they drive .
Practice the Conversation and answer the questions:
1.What do you think is the relationship between Tanya and Matt?
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2.What are they talking about?
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3.What are the expressions used in the conversation that refer to……?
The past:……………………………………………………………………………………………...................
The present: ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………
The Future: ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………..
4. How has your own neighborhood changed so far:
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Language: Time Contrasts
Past: A few years ago, not many people lived here
People used to shop at grocery stores
Fifty years ago, people walked everywhere
Present: These days, the population is growing so fast
Today, people shop at supermarkets
Nowadays, people drive their cars instead
Future: Soon, there will be a lot of shopping malls
In twenty years, people might buy groceries by computer
In the future, people are going to use cars even more
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Exercise: Match the letters with the numbers:
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1.Before the automobile,………. a.People used to shop at small stores
2.Before there were supermarkets,……….. b.Pollution is becoming a serious problem
3.About five hundred years ago,…….. c.Most people are going to work at home
4.In most offices today, ………… d.People didn’t travel as much from city to
city
5.In many cities nowadays, ………… e.There will probably be cities in space
6.Soon, ……………. f.people work more than 40 hours a week
7.In the next hundred years, ………… g.people played the first game of golf
8.Sometime in the future,……………. h.Doctors might find a cure for the common
cold
Exercise: Complete the statements about yourself:
1.As a child, I used to ………………………………………………………………………..
2.Six years ago, I ……………………………………………………………………………………………
3.Nowadays, …………………………………………………………………………………………………
4.Next year, I’m going to ………………………………………………………………………………….
5.In five years, I will ………………………………………………………………………………………….
6. In ten years, I might ………………………………………………………………………………………..
Listening: (Interchange 2)
Listen to people discuss changes. Check the topic each person talks about and write down the
change
1.population/ environment : change …………………………………………………………………………
2.Transportation/ cities: change ………………………………………………………………………………
3.Families/ shopping: change: …………………………………………………………………………………
Speaking: Make a presentation (World pass: Advanced)
Answer the following questions:
1.Did you ever speak to a group in English? In internet? Or between friends?
2.Did you ever give a presentation in English in front of your classmates?
3.How do you feel about speaking in front of a group? And why do you feel that way?
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Read this student’s presentation:
Today, I would like to tell you about a person who has a very big influence on my life. My
Aunt Rita. Her husband died when I was very young, and she came to live with my family.
She was like a second mother to me and my brothers.
One thing Aunt Rita did was to teach me to love books and reading. Every year, on my
birthdays, she took me to a bookstore and let me choose any book I wanted. She read
stories to me every night when I was little, and helped me learn to read when I started
school. She also taught me to love nature. My parents both worked very long hours, so Aunt
Rita took us to the Zoo or the park, and helped us plant a flower garden. But most
importantly, Aunt Rita encouraged my dreams, even when they seemed hopeless.
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In conclusion, my Aunt had a very important influence on my life, and my future. If she did
not encourage me, I would not be a students here today. Thank you
Practice:
You are going to give a short presentation (2 minutes) about a person who has an important
influence on you…..
Plan:
Person’s name: ………………………………………………………………..
Words describing this person:
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Ways this person influenced you:
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Tips:
Introducing a presentation:
Today, Iam going to talk to you about ……………………
I would like to tell you about ………………………………………………………
In this presentation, Iam going to ………………………………………………………………
Ending a presentation:
Before I finish, let me say ……………………………………………………………………………
So in conclusion …………………………………………………………………………………………
To conclude ……………………………………………………………………………………………..
Eye contact is very important………………………….
Make your voice clear ……………………………………
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Reading: (World pass: Advanced with modifications)
Changing Gears
“ I often loved to cook” says newscaster Peter Alvarez with a twinkle in his eye. “I remember
having aspirations to grow up and become a chef. Somewhere along the way, I got
sidetracked, and I fell into broadcasting”.
Peter Alvarez is the only child of working-class parents. He started at the bottom and
worked his way to the top to become one of the most watched TV reporters on the evening
news. Cooking came back to his life in an unexpected way. He bumped into an old high
school friend of his on a flight to Mexico City. As it turned out, his friend was attending
cooking classes and invited Peter to join her.
From that first class, Peter was hooked. Soon he was juggling his busy day job at the TV
station along with his full-time studies in pastry cooking at night. He was exhausted with
time. It is not easy to wear three hats: being a broadcaster, pastry student and a parent.
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After few years, Peter finished his studies, had the opportunity to work with some renowned
pastry chefs. He then quit his job at the TV station and started his own pastry project.
Vocabulary:
Read the text and match the words in bald with their possible meanings:
To be sidetracked- to fall into- to start at the bottom and work one’s way to the top- to
bump into- to be hooked- to wear three hats- to be renowned
1.to do many things at the same time ………………………………..
2.to be famous and respected …………………………………………….
3.to meet unexpectedly …………………………………………………..
4.to be distracted or diverted ……………………………………….
5.to be in love with ……………………………………………….
6.to end up doing something unexpectedly …………………………………………………
7.to work hard with nothing and reach one’s goal at the end ………………………………………
Mark the statements True or false about Peter Alvarez:
1.Peter’s dream and Aspirations was to be a broadcaster……………
2.Peter got sidetracked by becoming a cook chef ………………..
3.It was hard for Peter to reach his goal. …………………
Answer the following questions:
1.Do you think changing gears is good all the time?
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2.Would you like to change gears or are you happy with what you are now?
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