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I used this video as a basis for a short speaking activity: not longer than 20 minutes, depending on how responsive the students are that day. We had already discussed a lot about jobs and work, the students had done lots of vocabulary tasks, one lengthy reading, so it was appropriate to shake them up a bit.

The way I used the video was mainly prediction, so grammar used for predictions can be practiced, but my aim was primarily not grammar practise but speaking and bringing a little bit of liveliness into the lesson.

I stopped the short film first at 0:45′. The students asnwered the following questions:

  • Who are the people? What are their jobs?
  • Where are they?
  • Why are they outside?
  • What are they doing?
  • What are they talking about?

Next stop at 1:18′

  • Who is this guy?
  • What is the paper in his hand?
  • What is going to happen?
  • Do they know each other?

We watched the video to the end, discussed job names, and were having a nice conversation about the whole situation. Associations to similar contexts did come up quite early and talking about findig a job, legal and illegal jobs, immigration, well and badly-paid jobs followed.

I think the video can even be used as a starting point for a whole lesson, depending on the aims and objectives of your lesson plan.