Download lesson plan here: 
super-chill-orangutan.pdf
One clip, three tenses
Here is a way in which a video clip can be used to drill present simple, past simple and present continuous structures.
1. Write the following on the board:
- Leaves
- Takes
- Gets
- Listens
- Sends
- Posts
- Waits
- Crosses
- Gives
- Looks over
- Goes
- Takes off
- Monkeys around
- Puts
- Eats
2. Tell your students that they are going to see a video clip in which an actor goes for an audition in Hollywood. Using the verbs that you have written on the board as prompts, get your students to repeat all of the following sentences after you.
- First the actor leaves his apartment.
- Then he takes the lift downstairs.
- He gets on the bus.
- He listens to his ipod on the bus.
- He sends a text.
- He posts some letters.
- He waits for the lights to change.
- He crosses the road.
- He gives his photo to the receptionist.
- He looks over his lines.
- He goes into the audition room.
- He takes off his clothes.
- He monkeys around.
- He puts his clothes back on.
- He eats a sandwich.
NB Your students will want to know the meaning of terms such as ‘monkey around’. Encourage them to guess and tell them that all will become clear when they see the clip.
3. Show the clip
4. Repeat the drill, again using the 15 verbs as prompts, but this time change the sentences into the past tense (he left his apartment, he took the lift downstairs, etc).
5. Play the clip again, pause it at the appropriate moments and use the 15 verbs to drill 15 present continuous structures:
Teacher: What is he doing here?
Student: He is waiting for the lights to change.Etc
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
The YouTube clip used is called ‘Super Chill Monkey’ but of course, Orangutans are not monkeys. Use the clip for the basis of a webquest. Have your learners find out more about these apes. Where do they live? What do they eat? etc.