Teacher Notes
Objectives & Sequence: This lesson is intended to be used as a preview of Grammar - Making Comparisons #1.
The following vocabulary words are used in this activity:
Part One: Warm Up
Discuss the following questions with a partner or group:
- What is a pet-peeve? Do you have any?
- Do you know any tricks or simple things to make your life easier?
- What does the word "hack" mean?
- Usually we use "hack" when we are talking about computers. Can you think of what a "life hack" might be?
Part Two: Listening
Exercise
Open the exercise to begin the activity. Follow the instructions in the document.
Transcript
Today on the program we're talking with Sandra Malone. She runs a very popular website called lifehackers.com
She's here to tell us about life hacks.
Good morning, Sandra. Welcome to the show.
Sandra: Good morning. It's great to be here.
Person 1: So first off what exactly is a life hack?
Sandra: Well, a life hack is simply any trick or cool idea that makes your life easier or more convenient.
Person 1: Could you give us a few examples?
Sandra: Sure, you know when you're out on a rainy day and your shoes get wet.
Person 1: Oh, that's the worst. It always takes so long for the shoes to dry, right?
Sandra: But if you fill your shoes with newspaper, they will dry quickly. It's much faster than just leaving them.
Person 1: That's a good idea. Can you give us any other examples?
Sandra: Sure, I don't know about you, but I always forget to bring a shopping list to the supermarket when I get there.
Person 1: I can't remember what I need to buy. It's pretty easy to forget a piece of paper.
Sandra: Yes, a better way to remember what you need to buy is to take a picture of your refrigerator with your phone's camera.
Person 1: Oh awesome, that will make shopping more simple. Can you give us one more?
Sandra: Of course. Everyone knows that onions are the most annoying vegetable to cut.
Person 1: Right because they make you cry.
Sandra: Yes. Did you know that if you chew gum when you cut onions you won't cry?
Person 1: Is that true? That would make things a lot easier when I'm cooking.
Person 1: Thank you for all the great life hacks. How can we learn more?
Sandra: Come to my website lifehackers.com. We have hundreds of hacks to make your life more convenient.
Part Three: Follow-Up
Once you have finished the exercise, do an internet search for life hackslife hacks. Spend some time looking at examples and see if you can find one you think would be useful. Then, work with a group of three to four and describe the life hack to them.
Part Four: Grammar
Unlock full access by logging in. Registered users can explore the entire lesson and more.