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Why bother?
Paul Kaye, British Council, Syria
This is a speaking exercise to practise clauses and infinitive of purpose:
- to ...
- in order to ...
- so ...
- so that ...
Preparation
You will need to explain the question 'Why bother?' - which is used to mean why fight against troubles or problems, why make an effort etc.
Before the class, prepare enough photocopies of the worksheet for each learner to have a copy.
Warning: Learners may notice the abbreviated form of the questions, i.e. no auxiliary and no subject. Acknowledge their concerns and tell them this is a form native speakers use when talking generally.
Procedure
- Ask the learners the question 'Why learn English?'. They will have lots of answers. Try to elicit some examples of the target language, e.g.'So that I can get a better job'.
- Give out a copy of Worksheet A to each student. Tell learners to ask each other the questions and complete the worksheet, asking a different person each question.
- Give out a copy if Worksheet B to each student. Tell learners to add three more questions, then ask each other as above.
- Monitor as the students work and try to make notes of any errors of form.
- Elicit any interesting answers open-class.
- Put up some examples of errors you have heard while monitoring (don't say who made the error) and see if the students can correct them.