Teaching ESL: K-12 Strategies and Resources
Targeted Language Activity
Targeted Language Feature: “Will” vs “Going to”
Explanation: “Will” vs “Going to” could also be called Simple Future. Sometimes the two forms
can be used interchangeable, but they can also express two very different meanings. These
different meanings might seem too abstract at first, but with time and practice, the differences
will become clear. Both "will" and "be going to" refer to a specific time in the future.
Examples:
I will send you it.
Will you make dinner?
You will not do your homework.
- You are going to meet Jane tonight.
- Are you going to meet Jane tonight?
- You are not going to meet Jane tonight?
Activity: Group or pair students up and have them match the cards with “will” and “going to” to the
sentences they belong to. Match so of the stronger students up with students that might need a
little more help with the activity. Then have each group read one of their sentences out loud to
the class.
Teaching Point: Explain the rules of each and work together as a class several sentences and
decide which ones to use “will” and which ones to use “going to”. Have the students give you
examples of sentences that will use each of these and write them on the board.
-
-
-
-
Will
Often suggests that a speaker will do something voluntarily.
o
Who knows what a voluntary action is? It is
when the speaker offers to do something.
To respond to someone else's complaint or request for help.
o
Yes, I will help you.
We also use "will" when we request that someone help us or volunteer to do something for
us.
o
Will you come to the school and pick me
up?
We use "will not" or "won't" when we refuse to voluntarily do something.
o
No, I will not come and get you.
Going To
Expresses that something is a plan.
o
In December we are going to Colorado.
It expresses the idea that a person intends to do something in the future.
o
We are going to the zoo this weekend.
Extension: Have the students complete the worksheet by circling the correct choice this could be
done as an individual basis or in their groups. You could also have the students answer their
worksheet and them go over it as a class to give those who are having a little trouble with it a
little extra time to work on it.
Merits: Students were taught the rules of how and when to use “will” and “going to”. Then they
practiced the rules in the activity and then again on the worksheet. Through reputation and
practice the use of “will” and “going to” will become easier to the students.
Name:__________________
Date: ______________
Learning “Will” vs “Going To”
Circle the correct answer
1.
I am going to write a letter to my friends back home in Texas.
2.
I will get you a cup of coffee. That will wake you up.
3.
I will turn it up so you can hear it.
4.
We are going to visit Paris, Nice and Grenoble.
5.
Sarah will come to the party. Oliver will be there as well.
6.
I will turn the air-conditioning on.
7.
I think he will be the next President of the United States.
8.
After I graduate, I am going to attend medical school and become a doctor.
9.
That man at the service counter will help you.
10.
As soon as the weather clears up, we are going to walk down to the beach
and go swimming.
http://www.englishpage.com/verbpage/simplefuture.html
Name:__________________
Date: ______________
Learning “Will” vs “Going To”
Circle the correct answer
1.
I am going to/will write a letter to my friends back home in Texas.
2.
I going to/will get you a cup of coffee. That will wake you up.
3.
I going to/will turn it up so you can hear it.
4.
We are going to/will visit Paris, Nice and Grenoble.
5.
Sarah going to/will come to the party. Oliver going to/will be there as well.
6.
I going to/will turn the air-conditioning on.
7.
I think he going to/will be the next President of the United States.
8.
After I graduate, I am going to/will attend medical school and become a
doctor.
9.
That man at the service counter going to/will help you.
10.
As soon as the weather clears up, we are going to/will walk down to the
beach and go swimming.
http://www.englishpage.com/verbpage/simplefuture.html