Arrangement

Lead-in

  • What was the last plan you achieved?
  • What are your plans for today? 
  • How have your plans changed in the last couple of days?

Presentation

Pre

  • What is your biggest dream?

Top Down

  • What would be a good title for the text? Read it and find out.
  • There’s no such thing as certainty.
  • Certainty is an important feeling.
  • Wait and have hope, good things are coming.
  • There’s no such thing as certainty.
  • Certainty is an important feeling.
  • Wait and have hope, good things are coming.

Certainty is actually an illusion. Think about it. Is there ever a time when you know for sure how things will unfold?

Even with the best preparation, you’re never controlling everything in the universe. Job security is subject to industry and company shifts. Relationships transform as people grow and change how they see the world and what they want out of it.

There are never any guarantees, even when you think you have it all figured out. When you don’t know what the future will hold, you’re actually dealing with life as it always is: yours to live and create moment by moment, day by day.

Stop waiting for something external.

In a post on Raptitude, David wrote about the theatrical convention known as Deus ex machina, or “God in a Machine.”

As David explains, it’s “a reference to the ancient playwright Euripedes’ dubious habit of using a pulley system to lower an actor dressed up as God onto the stage, to solve the problems of the characters and wrap up the story.”

We often wait for our own Deus ex machina in life—a big break or a soul mate who makes us feel complete. This allows us to believe there is something good down the line instead of actively creating that something.

The only sense of certainty we can experience in life is the result of our own efforts. That’s actually an empowering thought if you think about it.

See the benefits of releasing attachments.

If you’ve formed an attachment to something, odds are you’ve decided it’s a necessary component to your desired life—the home where you feel safe, or the relationship that gives you love and support. Now look at it from a different perspective. When you are attached to less, you open yourself up to more than you can imagine.

For example, I had to give up my apartment. I could have held onto the past, wishing I didn’t have to leave, or feel excitement about the potential for something even better. Corny, but true: a flower isn’t growing if it clings to its roots.

Modified from source

Bottom Up

  • True or False
  1. According to the text, we can’t be sure of anything.
  2. Even when you think you have it all figured out, things can change suddenly. 
  3. The ancient playwright Euripedes’ is mentioned in the text.
  4. A lot of people believe there is something good ready for them instead of actively creating that something.
  5. When people are attached to more, they open themselves up to more than they can imagine.
  1. According to the text, we can’t be sure of anything. True
  2. Even when you think you have it all figured out, things can change suddenly. True
  3. The ancient playwright Euripedes’ is mentioned in the text. True
  4. A lot of people believe there is something good ready for them instead of actively creating that something. True
  5. When people are attached to more, they open themselves up to more than they can imagine. False

Post

  • Do you agree with the text? Why or why not?

Target Language

Future Arrangements With Present Continuous

Use Verb be (not) + ing to talk about future arrangements.

Affirmative

    • I’m taking English lessons next Monday.
    • She is speaking to her boss.

Negative

    • Louis and Cris aren’t coming for my party Today.
    • We aren’t going to this concert!

Yes/No Questions

    • Are you having dinner with me tonight?
    • Is she going to the doctor?

Wh. Questions

    • Where are you going now?
    • Why are you leaving?

Arrangement or Intention?

  • Intention: One wants to do something but doesn’t know how or when.
    • verb be + (not) going to + infinitive

I’m going to travel abroad.

  • Arrangement: It’s a concrete plan. Dates, times, or places are defined.
    • verb be + (not) ing

I’m traveling abroad tomorrow at 8 a.m.

Controlled Practice

  • Match the sentences to intention or arrangement. There is one example.
  1. Arrangement
  2. Intention

(1) It’s all been planned. They’re traveling to Mexico next month!

(   ) He is going to be a father.

(   ) She’s doing what she wants anyway.

(   ) This issue is going to be pressed in the months ahead.

(   ) I predict that someone tall, dark, and handsome is going to come into your life.

  1. Arrangement
  2. Intention

(1) It’s all been planned. They’re traveling to Mexico next month!

(2) He is going to be a father.

(1) She’s doing what she wants anyway.

(2) This issue is going to be pressed in the months ahead.

(2) I predict that someone tall, dark, and handsome is going to come into your life.

Freer Practice

  • Use the expressions from the target language to complete the sentences with your own ideas.
  1. I’m going to …
  2. I’m traveling to … on …
  3. I don’t know but I think I’m going to ask …
  4. My friends are talking about …
  5. No one I know is thinking about …

Production

  • Use the expressions from the target language to create sentences about arrangements.
  1. Shower
  2. Have dinner
  3. Watch TV
  4. Do my homework
  5. Sleep
  6. Wake up

Homework

Match the columns. There is one example.

  1. I’m taking

  2. Are you having

  3. They aren’t coming

  4. Is he traveling

  5. We are watching 

(   ) to my party today.

(   ) a movie next weekend.

(   ) dinner with me tonight?

(   ) to Germany next year?

(1) Spanish lessons next month. 

  1. I’m taking

  2. Are you having

  3. They aren’t coming

  4. Is he traveling

  5. We are watching 

(3) to my party today.

(5) a movie next weekend.

(2) dinner with me tonight?

(4) to Germany next year?

(1) Spanish lessons next month. 

Use the verbs in brackets to complete the sentences: 

Example: I’m ____ ballet lessons. (take) > I’m taking ballet lessons.

  1. They are ____ a barbecue at the weekend. (have) 
  2. My brother is not ____ at home tonight. (stay) 
  3. We are ____ the new Batman film tonight. (watch) 
  4. She isn’t ____ her friends tomorrow. (meet) 
  5. Is he ____ soccer next weekend?  (play) 
  1. They are having a barbecue at the weekend. 
  2. My brother is not staying at home tonight. 
  3. We are watching the new Batman film tonight. 
  4. She isn’t meeting her friends tomorrow. 
  5. Is he playing soccer next weekend? 

Fill in the blanks with the correct conjugation and the words from the box: 

take – do – start – come – move – buy

Example: I’m ____ a backpack for our daughter tomorrow. > I’m buying a backpack for our daughter tomorrow.

  1. I’m  ____ my new job on Monday. 
  2. She is ____ to another city next month. 
  3. What are you ____ tonight? 
  4. When are they ____ to visit us? 
  5. We are ____ a tour around the center of Paris. 
  1. I’m starting my new job on Monday. 
  2. She is moving to another city next month. 
  3. What are you doing tonight? 
  4. When are they coming to visit us? 
  5. We are taking a tour around the center of Paris. 

Order the sentences/questions below:

Example: She / lost. /  dog. / her > She lost her dog.

  1. coming / Are they / to my party tonight?
  2. playing /  badminton tomorrow? / Are you
  3. Where / going now? / are you 
  4. She is / next week / the dentist / going to
  5. meeting / after school / I’m / my friend
  1. Are they coming to my party tonight? 
  2. Are you playing badminton tomorrow? 
  3. Where are you going now? 
  4. She is going to the dentist next week. 
  5. I’m meeting my friend after school. 

Match the arrangements. There is one example.

  1. Our class is visiting a museum next week. 

  2. I’m flying to London next month. 

  3. I’m not doing anything tonight. 

  4. We aren’t going to school today. 

  5. Are you playing soccer with us tomorrow? 

(   ) I’ve got the plane tickets.

(   ) Today is a holiday.

(   ) We need one more player on our team.

(1) Our teacher has booked a bus. 

(   ) I have nothing to do today. 

  1. Our class is visiting a museum next week. 

  2. I’m flying to London next month. 

  3. I’m not doing anything tonight. 

  4. We aren’t going to school today. 

  5. Are you playing soccer with us tomorrow? 

(2) I’ve got the plane tickets. 

(4) Today is a holiday. 

(5) We need one more player on our team. 

(1) Our teacher has booked a bus. 

(3) I have nothing to do today. 

Writing

Write a short text about your plans for next week.

Example: Next week I’m definitely buying a new notebook and…