TV Guide

Lead-in

  • How do you usually decide what to watch on TV or streaming?
  • Have you ever used a TV guide? Where did you see it?
    • Do you think planning your night with a TV guide would be better or worse than using a streaming app? Why?

Presentation

Pre

  • If you could create your own TV night using a guide, which shows or movies would you include?

Top Down

  • What does the text talk about?
  • How to create your own TV show
  • A review of popular streaming services
  • The history and charm of TV guides
  • How to create your own TV show
  • A review of popular streaming services
  • The history and charm of TV guides

What’s On Tonight? 

Once upon a time—before streaming apps, smart TVs, and auto-play—people had a magical tool called the TV guide. It wasn’t an app. It didn’t talk. It was just a simple list of shows and times. But oh, how powerful it was.

The TV guide lived in newspapers, magazines, or on that slow channel that showed the schedule one line at a time (remember that?). It told you exactly what was on, when it started, and which channel to watch. Friends starts at 8:00. The Simpsons is on air tonight at 9:00. An action movie begins today at 10:00. The final episode of The Big Bang Theory comes out tomorrow. It was the map to your perfect night.

These days, most people just open Netflix or scroll forever trying to decide what to watch—and sometimes, they still end up watching nothing. But the TV guide? It didn’t waste time. It made decisions for you. It was clear, simple, and full of surprises.

Sure, it’s not as popular now. But some people still love it. Why? Because it makes TV feel like an event. You check the guide, you make a plan, and you show up on time. No rewinding, no skipping. Just you, the show, and maybe some popcorn.

So if you ever see a TV guide—online or in a dusty old magazine—don’t scroll past. Take a look. You might just find the perfect show… at the perfect time.

Bottom Up

  • Answer the following questions about the text.
  1. What was the main purpose of a TV guide?
  2. Where could people find TV guides in the past?
  3. What are some examples of shows or genres mentioned in the text?
  4. Why do some people still prefer TV guides today?
  5. What’s one big difference between using a TV guide and using a streaming app?
  6. According to the text, what makes watching TV with a guide feel special?
  1. To show what TV programs are on, what time they start, and which channel they’re on.
  2. In newspapers, magazines, or on a special TV channel.
  3. Friends, The Simpsons, action movies.
  4. Because it makes TV feel like an event and helps them plan.
  5. TV guides have fixed times, while streaming apps let you choose when to watch.
  6. You make a plan and watch the show at a specific time, which feels more special.

Post

  • What are the pros and cons of TV guides compared to streaming apps?
  • Can you think of any situation today where a TV guide would still be useful?

Target Language

Present Simple With Future Meaning

  • Affirmative: 

A new movie stars on Wednesday. 

 

  • Negative: 

The train doesn’t leave until 4 p.m. 

  • Yes/No questions: 

Does our flight arrive on which Terminal? 

  • Wh- questions: 

What time does the play start? 

Controlled Practice

  • Complete the blank spaces with the Simple Present tense.  Use the verbs in parenthesis.
  1. The new season of Stranger Things __________ next Friday. (start)
  2. __________ the comedy show come back this week? (do)
  3. The horror film __________ until midnight. (not play)
  4. When __________ the new series arrive on Netflix? (does)
  5. The superhero movie __________ at 9:00 p.m. on HBO. (begin)
  6. __________ the movie theater open at 7 p.m.? (does)
  1. My favorite character __________ in the final episode. (return)
  2. What time __________ the talk show start? (do)
  3. The series finale __________ this month. (not release)
  4. Which channel __________ the awards show play on? (does)
  5. __________ she watch the documentary tonight? (does)
  6. The new episode __________ on weekends. (not air)
  1. The new season of Stranger Things starts next Friday.
  2. Does the comedy show come back this week?
  3. The horror film doesn’t play until midnight.
  4. When does the new series arrive on Netflix?
  5. The superhero movie begins at 9:00 p.m. on HBO.
  6. Does the movie theater open at 7 p.m.?
  1. My favorite character returns in the final episode.
  2. What time does the talk show start?
  3. The series finale doesn’t release this month.
  4. Which channel does the awards show play on?
  5. Does she watch the documentary tonight?
  6. The new episode doesn’t air on weekends.

Freer Practice

  • Complete the sentences with your own ideas. Use the present simple for future events.
    • My class doesn’t…
    • The movie finishes at…
    • My day doesn’t start until…
    • My vacation is…
    • The bus leaves at…
    • The next game starts when…

Production

  • Write a short paragraph about your TV plans for the weekend. Include the shows or movies you plan to watch, the times they start and finish, and any other plans you have. Use the present simple to describe the future.

Example: On Saturday, my favorite show starts at 5 p.m. Then…

Homework

Match the sentences’ halves.

  1. The movie starts at 8 p.m., so…
  2. The bus leaves very early in the morning, which means…
  3. Our class begins when the teacher arrives, so…
  4. The concert ends at sunset, and then…
  5. The store closes on Sunday at 2 p.m., so…
  6. My flight arrives at Terminal 2, Gate 5, and…

(   ) I always try to arrive at least 15 minutes early to get a good seat.
(   ) we’ll have to leave the house before sunrise to catch it.
(   ) we can go for dinner after that if you’re free.
(   ) we need to go shopping before that time.
(   ) we usually wait quietly until she gets there.
(   ) my cousin will meet me there with a sign.

  1. The movie starts at 8 p.m., so…
  2. The bus leaves very early in the morning, which means…
  3. Our class begins when the teacher arrives, so…
  4. The concert ends at sunset, and then…
  5. The store closes on Sunday at 2 p.m., so…
  6. My flight arrives at Terminal 2, Gate 5, and…

(5) I always try to arrive at least 15 minutes early so I can buy my shirt!
(2) we’ll have to leave the house before sunrise to catch it.
(4) we can go for dinner after that if you’re free.
(1) we need to go shopping before that time.
(3) we usually wait quietly until she gets there.
(6) my cousin will meet me there with a sign.

Choose the best option for each sentence.

Example: I wish I were less/more stressed. > I wish I were less stressed.

  1. The bus leaves/leave at 7.
  2. What time does/do the party start?
  3. Our school start/starts next Monday.
  4. The train doesn’t/doesn’t not arrive at 6.
  5. When does/do the match begin?
  6. The movie begin/begins at noon.
  1. The bus leaves/leave at 7.
  2. What time does/do the party start?
  3. Our school start/starts next Monday.
  4. The train doesn’t/doesn’t not arrive at 6.
  5. When does/do the match begin?
  6. The movie begin/begins at noon.

Put the words in the correct order

Example: be / more / relaxed / want / a / bit / I / to > I want to be a bit more relaxed.

  1. class / our / at / starts / 9 / a.m.
  2. Friday / school / doesn’t / on / open
  3. does / movie / start / time / what / the
  4. the / train / leave / when / does
  5. morning / in / meeting / our / begins / the
  1. Our class starts at 9 a.m.
  2. School doesn’t open on Friday.
  3. What time does the movie start?
  4. When does the train leave?
  5. Our meeting begins in the morning.

Find and correct the mistakes.

Example: He is bit angrier. > He is a bit angrier.

  1. The shop don’t open on Mondays.
  2. When the party starts?
  3. My flight arrive at 3 p.m.
  4. The train doesn’t leaves at 7.
  5. What time the concert begins?
  1. The shop doesn’t open on Mondays.
  2. When does the party start?
  3. My flight arrives at 3 p.m.
  4. The train doesn’t leave at 7.
  5. What time does the concert begin?

Writing

Write a paragraph about a special event you will attend soon — it could be a concert, a birthday party, a school trip, a sports match, or even a family dinner.

Include what time it starts and ends, where it takes place, and what happens during the event. Use the present simple to talk about the future.

Example: Next Saturday, I go to my cousin’s birthday party. It starts at…