Web International Lower Intermediate Salon 2

Lower Intermediate Salon 2

At the Auction

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Goal of the Lesson
• test students understanding of grammar
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involve students in bidding and informal language practice

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Materials
You will need one Auction sheet per pair of students.

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Classroom Activities:

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Warm-up : Introduce Auctions
• Ask students what they know about auctions:
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o What do we usually sell at auction?
o Who is at an auction?
o How do auctions work?
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o Why do we use auctions to sell things?
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o What kind of language do we use at an auction?

 auctioneer
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 going, going, gone

 bid
 opening bid
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minimum raise
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Main Activity: Sentence Auction

• Divide students into pairs and hand out the sentence sheet to each pair
• Explain to students their goal: they should try to buy the most correct sentences while
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spending the least amount of money.

• Each pair has $5000 to spend on sentences.
• Give students a while to look at the sentences and talk about which ones they want to try to
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buy.
• Some of the sentences on the sheet are correct and some are incorrect.
• Remind students that they aren’t punished for buying incorrect sentences.
• The opening bid is $200 and the minimum raise is $100.
• Remember the ideal bidder gets the most whilst paying the least!

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 Web International Lower Intermediate Salon 2

Start the Auction.

1. Make a chart of sentences on the board and groups so you can keep track of who buys what
for how much.
2. Read out a sentence in a lively persuasive way and then ask for bids. NOTE: Be sure to start
with a sentence that is correct to get students bidding.
3. Read the sentences randomly. ‘And now sentence 13…’ as this will keep up expectations.
4. Keep the bidding moving along at a fair rate.
5. When you come to going, going, gone! Be ready to accept last minute bids. ‘Anymore for this

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fine sentence!’
6. Highest bidders win the sentence.
7. When a sentence has been sold, make a note of the buying pair on the board with the amount

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spent. This will be settled at the end. Only good sentences are worth anything.
8. Finally go through all the sentences, getting the students to correct mistakes before totalling

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up the amount spent and calculating the winning group (i.e. the group that bought the most
correct sentences for the least outlay).

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Teacher Key.

Sentences 2,3,5,7,10 and 15 are correct.

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The other sentences should be: on
1. I wanted you to know what happened.

4. I’ve always wanted to visit Spain.

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6. Were you pleased to see your mother again?
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8. Oh dear, I must have caught a cold.

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9. Did you both meet each other yesterday in town?

11. I have a nice warm bath every day.

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12. Yes, it’s true, I agree with you.

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13. Excuse me, can / could I have a meal.

14. If I want to learn the language, I must go to France.

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NB: With only one or two students you can change this from an auction to a kind of ‘gameshow’ idea
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where the student(s) has to gamble a stake / buy sentences etc. in order to reach a set target or prize

(elicit from them what prizes they would like to win perhaps). The teacher can be the gameshow host

and the student is effectively competing against herself. To extend time if necessary a few (only a

few!) supplementary vocabulary terms – like “prize” “gameshow” etc. can be taught by the teacher.

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 Web International Lower Intermediate Salon 2

Lower Intermediate Salon 2: Student Worksheet

Limit Bought [Y/N]

1. I wanted that you should know what happened _______________________

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2. What did you want to tell me? _______________________

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3. What happened to your sister last night? _______________________

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4. I’ve always wanted to visiting Spain. _______________________

5. What killed whom and when? _______________________

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6. Was you pleased to see your mother again? _______________________

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7. Usually I live in a large town in Switzerland.
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8. Oh dear, I must have catched a cold. _______________________

9. Did you both meet yourselves yesterday in town? _______________________

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10. What’d your father say if he heard about it? _______________________

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11. I’m have a nice warm bath every day. _______________________

12. Yes, it’s true, I’m agreed with you. _______________________

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13. Excuse me, is there a possibility to have a meal. _______________________

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14. If I want to learn the language, I must go to French. _______________________

15. She was shot while trying to escape. _______________________

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 Web International Lower Intermediate Salon 2

Lower Intermediate Salon 2: Preparation Sheet

Learning Points: do some research on auctions

• What do we usually sell at auction?

• Who is at an auction?

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• How do auctions work?
• Why do we use auctions to sell things?
• Have you ever been to an auction?

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• Vocabulary: What kind of language do we use at an auction?

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o auctioneer

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o going, going, gone
o bid
o opening bid
minimum raise

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o i on
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