Taking Pictures

Language level: Elementary (A1) Preintermediate (A2)

Learner type: Teens and adults
Time: 60 minutes
Activity: Learning and practising
vocabulary related to photos, describing
a photo, listening to a description of a
photo, and talking about photos
Topic: Photos
Language: Present continuous and
vocabulary related to photos
Materials: Short film

Overview
This ELT lesson plan is designed around a short
film by Simon Taylor titled Taking Pictures and
the theme of photos. Students learn and practise
vocabulary related to photos, describe a photo,
listen to a description of a photo, and talk about
photos.

Step 1
If you have a projector or smartboard in your
classroom show a photo you have taken to your
students and describe it in as much detail as
possible.

Step 2
If your students have mobile phones ask them to
show and describe a photo to a classmate.

Step 3

to take a photo/picture, to print a photo/picture,

to develop a photo/picture, a camera, a lens, a
flash, a selfie, to zoom, to focus,

Step 4
Pair your students and divide each pair into
watchers and listeners. Tell them the watchers

www.film-english.com by Kieran Donaghy

Taking Pictures

Write picture on the board and tell it is a

synonym for a photo. Ask them what words and
expressions they know related to photos. Try to
elicit or explain vocabulary such as:

will see a short film titled Taking Pictures and

the listeners will sit with their back to the
screen, and listen to the soundtrack.

Tell the watchers that they are you going to watch

a short film and they should observe the scene
very carefully, and try to remember as much as
they can.

Tell the listeners that they should listen to the

soundtrack, try to imagine what is happening and
think of questions to ask the watchers about what
was shown in the film. The listeners should either
sit with their back to the screen or, if this is
not possible in your classroom, close their eyes.
Play the film.
Link: https://vimeo.com/119520956

Step 5

When the pairs have completed their interviews,

play the short film again. The listeners confirm
or correct what they understood of the events, as
described by the watchers.

Taking Pictures

Both students now face each other. The listeners

ask their questions about what happened in the
film. The watchers give as much information as
possible about the events in the film.

www.film-english.com by Kieran Donaghy

Step 6

Step 7
Ask your students to discuss the following
questions about the film in small group:
Did you like the film? Why? Why not?
How did the film make you feel?
What words would you use to describe the film?

Step 8
In pairs ask your students to imagine and write
the first conversation between the man and the
woman. Give them 10 minutes to write their
dialogues. Walk around the class and help students
with vocabulary as necessary.

Step 9
Invite students to perform their dialogues at the
front of the class.

Step 10

1. How often do you take photos?

2. Do you use a camera or mobile phone to take
photos? Why?
3. What do you take photos of?
4. Where do you keep your photos?

www.film-english.com by Kieran Donaghy

Taking Pictures

Dictate the following questions:

Step 11
Ask students to compare the questions they have
written. Check they have the correct questions.
Drill the pronunciation of the questions.

Step 12
Students discuss the questions with their partner.

Step 13
Hold a plenary discussion session based on the
questions.

I hope you enjoy the lesson.

Taking Pictures

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www.film-english.com by Kieran Donaghy