Extension Exercises

Index | Chapter 12 - The present | Possible Answers

Exploring English

EITHER:

Ask someone to tell you about their daily life. If you have access to the necessary technology, record this so that you can listen to it several times and even copy part of it down.

OR (if the above is not possible):

Find a magazine interview with someone talking generally about themselves and their daily lives.

1. Explain to yourself the choices the speaker makes with regard to present tenses.
2. Account for any unexpected or unconventional uses of these tense forms.

Course materials

Choose two coursebooks and compare how they teach tenses which can refer to present time.

1. What 'rules' are provided? How accurate, comprehensive, clear and useful are they?
2. What kinds of texts are provided? Are these real or are they especially constructed to provide examples of a particular rule? If they are especially constructed, how natural are they?
3. Are learners guided to work out the meaning of the language for themselves?
4. Is the use of the present perfect to refer to present events clearly distinguished from its use to refer to past events?
5. What opportunities are provided for practice of present tense forms? Do these involve simple choices between verb forms? Do they involve more extended creative speaking or writing? Do they provide opportunities for students to work together?