IELTS - Introduction to Reading - Off2Class Lesson Plan

This lesson plan introduces the reading test, which is also different for academic and general test writers. This lesson plan focuses on the test format, but also allows you to identify the student’s reading habits. Some activities will even help the student improve their reading skills outside of the classroom!

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Transcript

1. IELTS Reading INTRODUCTION Off2Class Lesson Plan LESSON PLAN 1/8 1 © 2014-2021 Global Online Language Services Inc.
2. Thank you for downloading your FREE Off2Class lesson plan! This teacher-led lesson plan is designed using the communicative approach - perfect for teaching students online or in any screen-enabled classroom. To access the Teacher Notes and Answer Key, or to assign homework, click here to set up your FREE Off2class account. Don’t forget to join the discussion on Facebook to get access to other great tools for online ESL instruction. *IELTS is a registered trademark of University of Cambridge ESOL, the British Council, and IDP Education Australia. Global Online Language Services Inc 'Off2Class' is not affiliated, approved or endorsed by the University of Cambridge ESOL, the British Council, and IDP Education Australia. All other trademarks on this website are the property of their respective owners. © 2014-2021 Global Online Language Services Inc.
3. IELTS READING AT A GLANCE The IELTS Reading exam lasts 60 minutes. It comprises three parts, with 40 questions in total. You are given no extra time to transfer your answers to the answer sheet. In the Academic Module Parts I, II and III have texts of an academic nature, such as an article on history or an examination of scientific research. The texts become progressively more difficult. In the General Module the texts are not academic, but instead feature aspects of daily life, such as advertisements, reviews or ‘How to’ articles. 3 © 2014-2021 Global Online Language Services Inc.
4. WHAT YOU WILL READ Which of these texts would be in the Academic Module and which would appear in the General Module? Why? 1. How to be successful in a job interview. 2. Why humans have different eye colors. 3. Research about drugs that will extend human longevity. 4. A review of the things to visit while at the Bancroft Museum. 5. How the world’s oceans are becoming warmer. 4 © 2014-2021 Global Online Language Services Inc.
5. WHAT ARE YOUR READING HABITS? You will naturally have certain tastes in reading material. What kind of materials do you read on a regular basis? How often do you read for pleasure? For work or study? When you read, what sort of information are you looking for? 5 © 2014-2021 Global Online Language Services Inc.
6. THE SKILLS THAT YOU NEED You will need to find specific information in a text. You already have skills to locate specific information in a text – and probably use them often to scan for specific dates, times, costs, etc. Much of the time we read texts quickly to find exactly the information we need. When we look at short texts, we are often searching for a price, a date or a name. In longer text, we might be looking for a particular reference, or perhaps a quote, or even to understand the gist of the article. 6 © 2014-2021 Global Online Language Services Inc.
7. LOCATE THE ANSWERS In the text below, find the name of the lawyer and the location of the hearing. Michael was extremely nervous on the day of his court appearance. He left his house on Sherbrooke Ave and walked for half an hour to calm his nerves. While he was talking to his wife on the phone, he received an incoming call. On the other end was Michelle from Edwards and Coppel. She asked Michael to call Peter as soon as possible. Peter would represent Michael in court that morning, and so Michael called him immediately. During the call, he learned that the hearing had been postponed to another day, and that it would now take place in the court at Vauxhall, rather than at the one in Heathcote. The hearing would take place in a week. 7 © 2014-2021 Global Online Language Services Inc.
8. FINDING THE PURPOSE OF A TEXT Why do we write? Why do we write? What is the purpose of an article in a scientific review? Or in a daily newspaper? Everyone writes with a purpose, whether just to recall information later, or to persuade a reader on a certain point of view. Read the article below. In your opinion, what is the author’s purpose here? The ability to vote should never be underestimated. People often forget that the right to vote was still being fought for in recent times, and in fact, in some countries not all people have the right to cast their vote. Democracy may seem like a stable, long-term form of government to many people, yet we should not become complacent. If we don’t vote, we don’t use the voice that we have been given. And if we lose that voice, we should be aware that there are others who are more than happy to speak for us, and perhaps more dangerously, speak for us without consulting us. 8 © 2014-2021 Global Online Language Services Inc.
9. WHAT’S THE BIG IDEA? When you read more ‘serious’ articles, it is important to know how to distinguish the main idea from other ideas. In a large body of text, there will be a main idea, followed by other ideas that support or detract from it. Below is an excerpt of a text. Scan it quickly. What is the main idea presented? What other ideas are presented which support the main idea? We should not allow people to keep exotic wild animals as pets. Though we domesticated the wolf thousands of years ago, the dogs and cats we have as pets today are no longer wild. It is both dangerous and cruel to keep a wild animal as a pet. Dogs and cats can exist with humans – yet a wild animal from a far-flung place doesn’t deserve its human owners – wild animals should roam free. 9 © 2014-2021 Global Online Language Services Inc.
10. CAN YOU FOLLOW THE ARGUMENT? Often a text will contain a statement by the author. Afterward the author will present evidence for and/or against the statement. Supporting, contrasting and contradictory information may be presented. It’s important that you understand where the argument is going. In the text below, what is the statement made by the author? What is the key argument here? As wonderful as my country is, we have a number of important social issues. For many years, the dominant section of the population simply ignored the rights of minority groups. Later, attitudes changed and government departments were set up to assist minorities. However, the government projects did not involve the minorities and instead decisions were made on behalf of minorities by the dominant section of society. While government projects are intended to improve lives, the minority itself must determine its own future; self-determination is important above all else. 10 © 2014-2021 Global Online Language Services Inc.
11. ATTITUDE AND OPINION A wide vocabulary helps you to understand the author’s feelings on a topic. strongly for for neutral impartial against strongly against What is your opinion on the topics below? The death penalty is necessary for some crimes. Climate change has most certainly begun. New diseases may kill many of us in the future. It’s likely that we will make contact with an alien life form at some point this century. 11 © 2014-2021 Global Online Language Services Inc.
12. DIAGRAMS AND TABLES Every day you come across information presented in different ways. Tables and diagrams are used for specific purposes. A diagram provides visualization, while a table presents information for quick analysis. In the IELTS exam, you will need to backfill a diagram or table. That is, you select text from an article to complete the missing information. Can you guess what is missing in the table to your right? Average results for Classes by Subject (End-of-Year Exam) 6A ? French ? 73 Literature 82 78 History 80 86 ? 78 69 12 © 2014-2021 Global Online Language Services Inc.
13. SUMMARIES AND NOTES Much of what we read is notes or a summary. The main difference between notes and summary is one of grammar: a summary contains full sentences while notes are often groups of words, linked to a subject heading. The film takes place in the late 19th century, in the seedy backstreets of central London. Murder after murder takes place, and we are still left wondering who committed the crimes at the end. The plot twists and turns so much that you won’t even notice that the film is almost three hours long. Definitely go see it! 14th century • 1267 birth of Giotto • Birth of Donatello 1386 15th century • Leonardo da Vinci, Michelangelo, Raphael and Correggio born • Lorenzo De Medici takes Florence 1469 16th century • Work commences on Sistine Chapel • 1519 Birth of Cosimo de Medici What is the summary about? What were the notes taken on? 13 © 2014-2021 Global Online Language Services Inc.
14. FEATURES OF A TEXT How well do you know the individual features of a text? When talking about texts, it’s useful to know this vocabulary. heading caption subheading paragraph figure footnote Rise of the Superbug Many doctors are quick to prescribe antibiotics, but should we be taking them? Bacteria are small single-celled organisms that live everywhere around us. Some of these bacteria are good for us, while others are harmful. In some cases, these germs can lead to illness and disease. However, while we now possess antibiotics to fight bad bacteria, this does not mean we should become too reliant1 on them. One of the main problems with the dependence on these pharmaceutical products is that they can actually worsen the problem. 1to need or depend on sth or sb in order to be able to do sth Right: a microscopic view of bacteria 14 © 2014-2021 Global Online Language Services Inc.
15. TEXT LENGTH An IELTS Academic text may surpass 1,000 words. General Module texts are shorter but you will still be pushed to read and understand every word. You have 30 seconds to read the following text. Skim read the text to find the subject, and main points. Take note of any numbers and names too. Afterward your teacher will ask you questions about it. Canada is the second-largest country in the world. It has an area of almost ten million square kilometres. It is made up of ten provinces and three territories. Canada became a country in 1867. Many events led to confederation in 1867. In the 1500s explorers from Europe came to North America. They realized that this land was rich in resources. Soon settlement began, with people seeking a new life in the new world. Britain and France had the largest presence in North America. They met Aboriginal Nations that had been living in Canada for thousands of years. These First Nations and Britain and France often had difficult relations. They often went to war with each other. 15 © 2014-2021 Global Online Language Services Inc.
16. FROM NOW UNTIL THE EXAM From now, think about using a strategy with every long text that you read. First, choose a variety of publications and styles. You should be reading a popular science journal, a journal about nature, and articles about history. And of course, general interest articles too. When reading, try to capture the following: What is the main idea of the article? What is the author’s purpose? How does the author feel about the subject? What are the key takeaways? 16 © 2014-2021 Global Online Language Services Inc.
17. TRY THIS ONE What is the subject? What is the author’s purpose? How does the author feel about the subject? What are the key points made by the author? Gothic architecture is a style of building design, first pioneered in Western Europe in the Middle Ages. It began in France in the 12th century. The Gothic style grew out of Romanesque architecture. Gothic lasted until the 16th century. By that time the Renaissance style of architecture had become popular. The important features of Gothic architecture are the pointed arch, the ribbed vault and the flying buttress. Gothic architecture is best known as the style of many of the great cathedrals, abbeys and churches of Europe. It is also the architecture of many castles, palaces, town halls, universities, and also some houses. Many church buildings still remain from this period. Even the smallest Gothic churches are often very beautiful, while many of the larger churches and cathedrals are thought to be priceless works of art. Many are listed as World Heritage Sites. 17 © 2014-2021 Global Online Language Services Inc.