Text Messaging ESL Lesson

OBJECTIVE & OVERVIEW

This ESL lesson plan on text message communication provides activities, PDF worksheets, and digital materials designed for beginner A1 students. In this lesson, students will:

• Discuss different platforms they use for communication
• Discuss some topics about communication and staying connected
• Watch a commercial video about how Google helps people communicate
• Learn useful phrases for starting a conversation through text messaging
• Start and engage in a text message conversation with a friend

PREVIEW & DISCUSSION

In the preview activity for this lesson on text messaging, students discuss a set of questions and topics about communication. The first part is designed to activate their prior knowledge and personal experiences related to communication platforms. They begin by listing the different platforms they use to stay connected, such as WhatsApp, Facebook Messenger, and SMS text messaging. Following this, students discuss some general questions about communication.This part of the lesson helps students reflect on their own communication habits and sets the stage for the following activities.

Then, students read a brief chat exchange between Sumi and Kate, focusing on their plans and the messages they are sending each other. They identify what Sumi and Kate are planning, and what each is sending in the chat. This part helps students practice reading comprehension and contextual understanding in a conversational setting, preparing them for the more detailed viewing activities that follow.

VIEWING ACTIVITY

In the viewing activity, students watch a video that illustrates various Google communication tools. In the video, you can see people using some Google features in their text message communication. Students first identify four activities shown in the video, such as having dinner or playing basketball. Next, they match sentences from the video with the correct descriptions, like who is making a restaurant reservation or sending a photo. Students then answer questions about the specific details depicted in the video. This activity enhances students' ability to comprehend and interpret visual and auditory information.

DISCUSSION & TARGET LANGUAGE

In the viewing follow-up phase, students discuss the Google tools shown in the video, such as reservation systems and calendar apps, and share their experiences using similar online tools. They also view short text message conversations between 6 pairs of people. In the activity, students categorize the questions people ask in their chats into past, present, and future tenses into a table. These include some basic conversation starters such as:

• How are you doing today?
• How was your day?
• What are you doing later?
• What's new with you?
• Do you want to ...?

Additionally, students create new questions for each section of the table, allowing them to apply their knowledge and practice formulating questions in different contexts.

START A CHAT WITH A FRIEND: COMMUNICATION TASK

In this communicative activation, students choose an action from a list, such as planning an activity or asking about a friend’s day, and engage in a role-play exercise. They work in pairs, with one student initiating a conversation and the other responding. Students use provided conversation starters or create their own to continue the dialogue for about a minute. This role-play helps students practice conversational skills, apply the lesson’s vocabulary and structures, and gain confidence in real-life communication scenarios.

BENEFITS OF USING THIS ESL LESSON ON TEXT MESSAGE COMMUNICATION:

Enhanced Communication Skills:

Students practice key phrases and conversation starters, improving their text messaging skills for real-world interactions.

Improved Reading Comprehension:

Activities like analyzing chat exchanges boost students' ability to understand and interpret written communication.

Practical Application:

Role-plays allow students to apply what they’ve learned in realistic text messaging scenarios, enhancing conversational skills.

Increased Familiarity with Digital Tools:

Exposure to various communication platforms and tools helps students understand modern digital communication better.

Contextual Language Use:

Categorizing questions into past, present, and future tenses helps students grasp and use different time frames effectively in their messages.