Scams ESL Lesson Plan

OBJECTIVE & OVERVIEW

This scams ESL lesson plan contains PDF worksheets, activities, and digital materials for B2 students. By the end of the lesson, students will be able to recognize a variety of different scams that exist, as well as develop campaign ideas to raise awareness against scams. They'll also be able to express some protective tips against scams using the first conditional + imperative mood.

PREVIEW & DISCUSSION

This ESL lesson plan on different kinds of scams starts by having students assess and describe some images of a scam taking place. They use some verb + noun collocations to describe the images and what's happening in the scam. doing an activity on the typical life cycle of clothing. Next, there are sections for discussion about scams, as well as topics for students to express their opinions on, all based on a handful of statements about scams. There is a prediction exercise included for students to discuss about AI voice-cloning scams.

VIDEO & LISTENING COMPREHENSION

Before watching the video, students discuss one more question about scams. After that, students watch an informative news report about new AI voice-cloning software that scammers are using to trick unsuspecting victims into believeing they are speaking with a loved one. After watching the video, students put the topics and events in the order they occur in the video, as well as answer some short questions about the information given in the video.

DISCUSSION & GRAMMAR

In the viewing follow-up part of the lesson, there are some discussion questions prepared for students about this new type of AI voice-cloning scam software. Then, students answer some questions about a quote from the reporter that features the first conditional + the imperative mood. This is a conditional form used to give tips or suggestions. In the final activity of the viewing follow-up, students write a verb in the imperative mood that could fit sentences about scams.

SCAM AWARENESS & ROLE PLAY

In the final, communicative activities in this lesson, students have two options to choose from. In the first activity, students can imagine they work for a government agency that specializes in consumer protection. Their goal is to create a scam awareness commercial video to educate the public, and that highlights some common types of scams to watch out for. In their video, they should use a few examples of the first conditional + the imperative mood to express some suggestions or tips regarding these different kinds of scams. 

There is also a role-play activity (optional) for students to either take the role of a scam caller or a suspecting victim. One student tries to scam the other, while the other must apply some of the tips they learned in the video.

Benefits of using this scams ESL lesson plan:

Practical Life Skills: Teaching students how to recognize scams equips them with valuable life skills. In today's digital age, where scams are prevalent, knowing how to identify and protect oneself from scams is essential.

Critical Thinking: Exploring different types of scams encourages critical thinking. Students learn to evaluate information critically, spot red flags, and assess the credibility of sources.

Increased Awareness: Through the lesson, students become more aware of the various scams that exist, which can lead to a more informed and vigilant society overall.