Language Analysis for 3rd conditionals
Form
If clause
If + subj + had + past participle
Conditional clause
Subj + would have + past participle
Example
If I had known about his condition I would have phoned for you earlier.
Pronunciation
If I /IfaI/ If I’d //IfaId/ If you’d /Ifju:d/
I would’ve /ai wədəv/ would have /wədə/
Meaning/Use
 speculating about the past
 expressing regrets
 excusing our own actions
 criticising others.
CCMs (Concept Checking Methods)
Is it in the past? Yes.
Are they happy? No.
Is it real? No.
Problems
The if can be omitted leading to the subject and auxiliary verb being inverted. E.g. Had I known about his condition….
Solution: CCQ them to make sure they understand the meaning stays the same then make ss practice this form by transforming regular 3rd
conditional clauses into it.
Drill any difficulties they have with pronunciation, especially with weak forms, connected speech etc.
LESSON PLAN
TRAINEE’S NAME: Chris Whalley
Lesson aim(s): By the end of the lesson…the students will be better
able to use the 3rd conditional (especially using them to express
unreal past or regrets) recognising when to use them and the
differences between them.
How aim(s) will be achieved: Dictogloss, completion tasks, free if
clause creation task
Brief class profile: multilingual, mid 20s
Materials required: PP
Personal Target (based on previous experience): Firstly I would
like to revisit the dictogloss as although I feel it went well last time
it was more of a dictation. Secondly, this is the first lesson where I
ignored the syllabus and created a lesson from scratch. Also, I
would like to try to use the Smartboard.
DATE: 19/01/15
Lesson sub aim(s): the students would have practiced their
listening skills, especially in regards to weak forms, connected
speech and contractions
Class level: C1
Anticipated problems: difficulties with weak forms and connected
speech, difficulties understanding when to use conditionals and
how to create them
Suggested solutions: second reading of dictogloss will be slightly
slower, colour coordinate form in order to see how it is built, ccqs
for meaning
Lesson duration: 50mins
TIMING
STAGE
ACTIVITY AIM(S)/Rationale & ACTIVITY (Teacher Activity & Student Activity)
INTERACTION
E.g. 3
mins/12.05
E.g. ‘Pre-listening’
E.g. Prediction from visuals to raise ss’ awareness and interest in the topic
E.g. ss-ss (pairs)
0-5m
Warmer
Put SS in pairs and get them to discuss their Christmas holidays, what they did and
what would they have changed about it. First lesson back so it’s good to build
rapport and activate the schemata
ss-ss
6-7m
Feedback
Get ss to tell the class what their partner did, helps me build rapport with new class
ss-t
8-18m
Dictogloss
Read a passage out relating to my Christmas and my hopes for the new year. This
paragraph will be focussing 3rd conditionals so it will be useful input for the ss.
Secondary function of this task is for the SS to practice listening out for weak forms
and connected speech. Paragraph will be spoken twice then SS will compare, then
we will compare as a class.
t-ss, ss-ss
19-24m
Grammar task
Show ss mixed up sentences on PP and get them to create the correct sentences using
IF clauses. Get them to look into…
 Form
 Time
 What the sentences are being used for
ss-ss
25-30m
Feedback
Go over the language eliciting the form/meaning and use of both conditionals. Also
make sure they don’t misunderstand anything.
t-ss
31-38m
Sentence
continuation task
Show ss the beginning of 4 if clauses on PP, get them to discuss in pairs how they
would finish them with conditional clauses (to practice the form). Get feedback from
ss and choose the best ones and put them up on the board. Erase the if clauses and
get ss to try and remember them by reciting the whole sentence (to practice weak
forms and connected speech) *monitor ss and help them if they struggle with
pronunciation*
ss-ss
t-ss
Get ss in pairs and get them to write a sentence using 3rd conditional, taking turns
with every sentence and making sure that one follows on from the other thus
creating a little story. Show them PP slide with example before starting to make sure
that they understand what they need to do. Monitor and get a couple to read out
their completed story.
ss-ss
t-ss
39-48m
Free practice
49-50
Recap
t-ss
CCQ form meaning and use of
and connected speech
3rd
conditionals and pronunciation of weak forms
***********************Finish****************************