English material for basic and intermediate students

Abstract

This material presents and dissects two independent units for Brazilian students learning English: “Rainforests” and “Travel”. The first caters to 11-13 years old and the second, caters to students aged 14 to 15. Both units have the 4 skills well developed (reading, listening, speaking and writing) as well as the grammar intended, taught inductively and a warm up section to acquaint students with the unit. The “Rainforest” unit is divided into the respective sections : Warm Up, Reading, Listening, Grammar and Writing and Speaking. The warm up engages students with rainforest concepts, animals, and vocabulary. The reading section features an adapted National Geographic Kids text, pre, while and post reading exercises, as well as optional games. The listening incorporates a YouTube video on Amazon Rainforest facts, fostering deductive activities, comprehension and post-listening exercises. The grammar section concerning the comparative and superlative adjectives, adopts a holistic approach, combining example-based and text-based grammar in an inductive way. To close the unit, there is the Writing and Speaking section, which culminates in a fact-file project about an endangered rainforest animal. This interdisciplinary approach aligns with genre-oriented writing, emphasizing communication with readings. The following unit, “Travel”, follows a similar, but not equal, pedagogical path. The order of the sections are: Warm Up, Reading, Grammar, Listening and Speaking, Writing. The warm up section introduces the simple future and travel vocabulary through exercise, but not formalizes it yet. Then, there is the reading section, which involves pre, while and post activities about a future hitchhike adventure of a man named Matt Karsten. The grammar section, focusing on future predictions with “will” uses an inductive approach, with example-based and text-based, and just then formalizing the knowledge. The listening and speaking segment employs a YouTube video entitled “Transportations in 2050” to practice the grammar intended and many exercises to do before, during and after watching the video. The last exercise is an oral presentation regarding this theme. To finish, the Writing section culminates in a free writing exercise where students interview a partner about the future of travel. It reinforced the application of grammar in a meaningful context and aims to connect language structures to their communicative functions. Throughout the units, the emphasis is on engaging students, providing real-life context for the Brazilian reality, and fostering language skills relevant to their needs. Activities are designed to promote critical thinking, environmental awareness and active participation in the language learning process. They aim to be a purposeful and meaningful experience to students.