Teaching Used to to ESL students
Below is a MRR and PLR article in category Reference Education -> subcategory Other.
Teaching "Used to" to ESL Students
Introduction
Introducing the structure "used to" to ESL students can be both engaging and informative. Here’s an effective approach to help your students grasp this language concept.
Step-by-Step Guide
1. Set the Scene
Begin by displaying an image of someone who seems to have recently come into wealth, such as a person driving a luxury car or relaxing in an opulent setting. Assign this person a name, like Jane, and encourage students to speculate about her lifestyle changes. Ask questions like, "Why is Jane driving an expensive car?" or "How did she afford her luxurious clothes?"
2. Compare Life Before and After
Invite students to imagine Jane's life post-lottery. Prompt their creativity with questions: "Where does she live now?" "Does she work?" "Is she happy?" Then, shift focus to Jane's life before winning. Ask about her previous circumstances: "Where did she live?" "What was her job?" This helps build a contrast between the past and present for Jane. Set this scenario aside for revisiting later.
3. Discuss Historical Changes
As a class, brainstorm significant historical inventions. Select one and discuss life before and after its invention. For example, with the internet: "Before the internet, people wrote letters; now, they send emails."
4. Pair Work on Inventions
Have students form pairs to identify three more key inventions. They should discuss life before and after each invention. When they share with the class, rephrase their descriptions using "used to":
- Student: "Before airplanes, people traveled by ship."
- Teacher: "Great! So, people used to travel by ship, but now they fly."
5. Practice the Structure
During feedback, encourage students to use "used to" in their explanations. By the third round, they should confidently form sentences with the structure.
6. Highlight Written Form
Use students’ ideas to illustrate the written form of "used to" on the board, including question and negative forms.
7. Revisit Jane’s Story
Return to Jane's scenario. Ask students to describe her life changes using "used to": "She used to live in a small flat, but now she owns a mansion." Encourage questions and negative forms for varied practice, like asking a classmate, "Did she use to work?" or answering, "She didn’t use to have much money."
8. Personalize with a Questionnaire
Create a questionnaire for students to discuss their childhoods in pairs. Include prompts like "go to school" or "live." One student asks questions, such as, "Where did you use to live?" while the other responds, "I used to live in Paris."
Conclusion
This approach provides a comprehensive and interactive way to introduce "used to" to ESL students, combining creative thinking with practical application.
You can find the original non-AI version of this article here: Teaching Used to to ESL students.
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