What is this lesson about?
Almost every adult learner belongs to at least one group chat, and almost all of them have strong opinions about it. This lesson gets students talking about the chats they love, the ones they have muted and the ones they would leave if it weren’t so awkward. Through relatable situations, honest self-assessment and a short choice between two viewpoints, students explore what group chats say about friendship, family and work, and why replying can feel like such a big decision.
 
What language will students learn?
Students practise natural, everyday language for talking about messaging and online social life, including expressions for ignoring, catching up on and leaving conversations, and for giving opinions about other people’s habits.
 
How do students practise?
Reacting to realistic group chat messages
Choosing between ‘this or that’ pairs and explaining why
Deciding which statements are true for them
Discussing how they use group chats and how they feel about them
Ranking the most irritating group chat types in small groups
Choosing how they would respond to awkward group chat situations
Agreeing, disagreeing or partly agreeing with opinions
Weighing up two viewpoints on group chats and friendship
Telling a personal story about a group chat that mattered
 
Why is this lesson useful?
By the end of the lesson, students will be able to…
describe their own messaging habits and explain the reasons behind them
react to awkward social situations and justify their choices
agree, disagree and partly agree with opinions, giving clear reasons
compare two viewpoints and explain where they personally sit
tell a short personal story about an online group in detail
 
Who is it for?
B1-B2 adult learners in one-to-one or group classes. It works especially well for students who use messaging apps every day, and it needs no preparation beyond printing the worksheet.