Lesson Plan: Past Simple and Present Perfect for Adults

Objective: By the end of the lesson, students will be able to differentiate between the past simple and present perfect tenses, and use them accurately in speaking and writing.

Level: Intermediate

Time: 90 minutes

Materials: - Whiteboard and markers - Handouts with exercises - Information gap activity worksheets - Speaking task prompts

Procedure:

1. Warm-up (10 minutes):
   • Begin the lesson by asking students to share a memorable experience they had recently using the present perfect tense. Encourage them to use time expressions such as “just,” “already,” or “yet.”
   • Write some of their responses on the board and highlight the use of the present perfect tense.
2. Introduction to Past Simple and Present Perfect (15 minutes):
   • Explain the differences between the past simple and present perfect tenses, focusing on their uses and time expressions.
   • Provide examples of sentences in both tenses and ask students to identify the differences.
   • Write the following on the board:
     • Past Simple: I visited Paris last year.
     • Present Perfect: I have visited Paris twice.
   • Highlight the time expressions used in each sentence and explain their significance.
3. Guided Practice (20 minutes):
   • Distribute handouts with exercises that require students to choose between the past simple and present perfect tenses.
   • Monitor their progress and provide assistance when needed.
   • Review the answers as a class and discuss any common mistakes or areas of confusion.
4. Information Gap Activity (25 minutes):
   • Divide the class into pairs and give each pair a set of information gap activity worksheets.
   • Each worksheet should contain a different set of information, such as a list of past experiences or recent events.
   • Instruct students to take turns asking and answering questions using the past simple and present perfect tenses to complete their worksheets.
   • Encourage students to ask follow-up questions to gather more information.
   • Monitor their conversations and provide feedback as necessary.
5. Speaking Task (15 minutes):
   • Provide each student with a speaking task prompt that requires them to use both the past simple and present perfect tenses.
   • For example: “Describe a memorable trip you have taken. Where did you go? When did you go? What did you do?”
   • Allow students a few minutes to prepare their responses, and then have them take turns sharing their experiences with a partner.
   • Monitor their conversations and provide feedback on their use of the target tenses.
6. Wrap-up (5 minutes):
   • Recap the main points of the lesson, emphasizing the differences between the past simple and present perfect tenses.
   • Encourage students to continue practicing these tenses in their daily lives and provide them with additional resources for further practice if available.

Note: Adjust the timing of each activity based on the pace and needs of your students.