2025-12-05 The “Best of 2025” Awards
Lesson Overview:
- Target Audience: CEFR B1 Japanese Adults (Middle-aged/Older). Mixed group (some need structure, some need movement).
- Time: 90 minutes
- Topic: Reflecting on personal highlights of the year 2025.
- Main Goal: To enable students to describe, compare, and justify their personal experiences from the past year using superlatives and evaluative adjectives.
Learning Objectives:
By the end of this lesson, students will be able to:
- Nominate personal experiences for specific categories using superlative structures (e.g., “The most delicious meal I had…”).
- Justify their opinions using evaluative adjectives (e.g., memorable, unexpected, incredible, great value).
- Negotiate with a partner to decide whose experience was more impressive or interesting.
Target Language:
- Focus: Superlatives for description (the best, the most interesting) and causal linkers for justification (because, mainly because, the reason is).
- Phrases/Vocabulary:
- “I’d like to nominate…” (Formal/fun way to introduce a choice)
- “A highlight of my year” (Noun phrase to describe a best moment)
- “Memorable” (Adjective – better than just “good” or “nice”)
- “It stands out because…” (Phrase to give a specific reason)
- “You win this one!” (Phrase for conceding an argument)
Materials:
- Whiteboard & Markers
- Projector & Computer
- Obsidian Slides (see outline below)
- Handouts:
- Category Cards (Instructor to print and cut – content provided below).
- Exit Ticket Slips
- Other: A bell or timer to signal partner rotation.
Lesson Procedure:
1. Getting Started (Warm-up) (15 mins):
- Purpose: To activate “superlative” thinking and set a positive, reflective mood.
- Activity:“Rapid Fire Superlatives”
- Have students stand in a circle (or two small circles).
- Toss a ball (or pass a marker). The teacher calls out a simple category (e.g., “A delicious food”).
- The student with the ball must immediately say a superlative sentence about it (e.g., “Sushi is the most delicious food!”). Note: It doesn’t have to be true, just grammatically correct.
- Pass the ball. Repeat with categories like: A busy month, A cold place, A difficult sport, A relaxing hobby.
- Transition: “Today, we aren’t just talking about general things. We are looking back at your year—2025—and giving out awards.”
- CCQs:
- “Are we talking about general facts or your opinions?” (Opinions)
- “Do you need to speak quickly or slowly?” (Quickly!)
2. Introducing the Topic/Language Focus (20 mins):
- Purpose: Introduce the “Awards” concept and the specific vocabulary for justifying choices.
- Activity:“The Nomination Speech”
- Vocab Intro: Use slides to introduce Nominate, Highlight, Memorable.
- Model: Teacher draws a “Best Meal” card. Model the target structure:
- “I’d like to nominate the pizza I had in Naples.”
- “It was the highlight of my trip.”
- “It stands out because the ingredients were so fresh.”
- Drill: Choral drill the phrases.
- Concept Check: Ask students, “If I just say ‘The pizza was good’, is that a nomination?” (No, it’s too simple. We need reasons!).
- CCQs:
- “What word do we use to suggest a winner?” (Nominate)
- “What phrase do we use to give a strong reason?” (It stands out because…)
3. Let’s Talk! (Main Activities) (40 mins):
- Purpose: Extensive speaking practice with partner rotation (satisfies Atsushi/Keiko) and structured turn-taking (satisfies Motoko).
- Activity:“The Nomination Battle”
- Setup: Place a stack of Category Cards (face down) at each table/pair of desks.
- Instructions:
- Sit in pairs.
- Step 1: Turn over ONE card (e.g., “Best Purchase”).
- Step 2: BOTH partners must answer. (Partner A: “I nominate my new coffee maker…” / Partner B: “I nominate my new shoes…”).
- Step 3: Discuss and decide: Whose story is better? (Negotiate! Be nice, but try to win!).
- Step 4: The winner gets a “point” (mental or tick on paper).
- Step 5: Draw the next card.
- Rotation: Every 5-6 minutes, ring the bell. Students stand up and move to a new partner. The cards stay at the tables.
- Differentiation:
- For Tetsuko/Matsumi: Encourage them to take a moment to think before speaking. Remind partners to be patient.
- For Yurika: Encourage her to ask follow-up questions (“How much was it?”, “Where exactly?”).
- CCQs:
- “Does only one person speak?” (No, both speak).
- “Do you keep the card if you win?” (No, leave it on the table).
- “What happens when the bell rings?” (Change partners).
4. Wrapping Up (Review & Feedback) (15 mins):
- Purpose: Consolidate the “highlights” of the class and provide feedback.
- Activities:
- Class Share: Ask 3-4 students: “Who heard a really memorable story from a partner? Don’t tell your story, tell theirs!” (Practices “He/She said…” and listening skills).
- Error Correction: Write 3 sentences on the board that you heard during the activity (mix of grammar/vocab errors). Ask the class to help fix them. (Focus on superlative errors like “The most best” or “It was very highlight”).
- Exit Ticket: Distribute slips.
Instructor Guidance & Notes:
- Error Correction Strategy: During the “Nomination Battle,” monitor and note down errors silently. Do not interrupt the flow unless communication breaks down. Use the whiteboard at the end for anonymous correction.
- Cultural Sensitivity: Ensure the “competition” aspect (deciding a winner) is framed as fun and lighthearted. Japanese students may be modest (Enryo) and try to let the other person win immediately. Encourage them to “fight” a little bit playfully: “No, mine is better because…”
- Timing: The rotation is key. If conversation lags, ring the bell early. If they are animated, give them an extra minute.
- Differentiation:
- Motoko: Will enjoy the clear rules. Ensure she understands she must judge the winner.
- Atsushi: Will love the rotation. Ensure he actually listens to his partner before switching.
- Tetsuko: If she struggles to find a word, encourage her to use gestures or simple adjectives.
Suggested Supporting Materials Content:
Category Cards Content (Print, Cut, & Place in Stacks):
(Print 2-3 sets so every pair has a full stack)
| Food & Drink | Leisure | Shopping |
|---|---|---|
| Best Meal of 2025 (Restaurant or Home) | Best Movie or TV Show (That you watched this year) | Best Purchase (Under ¥5,000) (Cheap but useful!) |
| Best Sweet / Dessert (A cake, ice cream, treat) | Best Book or Article (Something you read) | Best Purchase (Expensive) (A big treat for yourself) |
| Best Coffee or Drink (A cafe or beverage) | Most Relaxing Day (What did you do?) | Best Gift You Received (Something nice) |
| Best “Cheap Eats” (Great value lunch/dinner) | Most Surprising News (Personal or World) | Best Gift You Gave (Something you are proud of) |
| Experiences | Personal | Wildcards |
|---|---|---|
| Best Day Trip (Somewhere you went) | Funniest Moment (Something that made you laugh) | WILDCARD (Pick any topic!) |
| Best Scenery / View (Nature or City) | Best “Life Hack” (A new trick you learned) | WILDCARD (Pick any topic!) |
| Most Unexpected Event (Good or bad!) | Best Photo You Took (Describe the photo) | WILDCARD (Pick any topic!) |
Potential Online Resource Search Terms:
- Not needed for this lesson as it focuses on personal student stories.
Obsidian Slides Outline:
## The "Best of 2025" Awards
### Reflecting on Our Highlights
`A warm, inviting photographic image for a presentation slide. A wooden table in a cozy cafe setting has a few "Award" ribbons or gold stars lying on it next to a cup of coffee and a notebook. The lighting is soft and golden, suggesting a reflective, end-of-year atmosphere. The background is blurred, showing a hint of a modern classroom or cafe. FLUX.1 style.`
---
# Warm-up: Rapid Fire!
## Rules:
1. Catch the ball.
2. Hear the category (e.g., "Food").
3. **Instantly** make a sentence using "The Best..." or "The Most..."
4. Pass the ball!
---
# Key Vocabulary
---
# Nominate (verb)
---
## == **Nominate** ==
### To formally suggest a person or thing for an award or honor.
#### Example: "I'd like to **nominate** the sushi shop near the station for the 'Best Lunch' award."
---
# Highlight (noun)
---
## == **Highlight** ==
### The best, most exciting, or most interesting part of something.
#### Example: "Seeing Mt. Fuji was the **highlight** of my trip."
---
# Memorable (adjective)
---
## == **Memorable** ==
### Worth remembering; easy to remember because it is special.
#### Example: "The concert was truly **memorable** because the singer spoke to us."
---
## Useful Phrases for Justifying
- "I'd like to **nominate** [Item]..."
- "It **stands out because**..."
- "It was much **better than** I expected."
- "Honestly, yours sounds better. **You win!**"
---
# Activity: The Nomination Battle
---
## Instructions
1. **Draw a Card:** Flip over one card from the stack.
2. **Both Speak:** Both partners must answer the question.
- *Partner A: "I nominate..."*
- *Partner B: "I nominate..."*
3. **Judge:** Discuss and decide: **Which story is better?**
4. **Repeat:** Draw the next card.
5. **Bell Rings:** Change partners!
---
# Wrap-up
## Who heard a great story?
---
# Exit Ticket
## Please fill out the slips!Exit Ticket Questions (For Paper Handout):
- What was the most interesting story you heard today? (Briefly)
- Was the “Nomination Battle” activity: (Circle one) Too Fast / Just Right / Too Slow ?
- Did you feel confident using the vocabulary (Nominate, Highlight)? Yes / No
- Any requests for our final lesson of the year?
Optional At-Home Activities:
- Write a Review: Write a short 5-sentence review of your “Best Purchase of 2025” in English.
- Photo Hunt: Find the “Best Photo” you took this year on your phone and be ready to show it to Richard next week.
Lesson Plan for Students (Blog Post Version):
- Lesson Topic: The “Best of 2025” Awards
- What we will do: We will look back at the year 2025! We will play a game called “The Nomination Battle” where you will share your best meals, trips, and shopping purchases of the year with different partners.
- Key Phrases/Vocabulary: Nominate, Highlight, Memorable, “It stands out because…”
- Handouts: Category Game Cards (In class)
- See you in class!
Featured Image Prompt for Blog Post:
A cheerful, high-quality photographic image for a blog post. Two middle-aged Japanese adults, a man and a woman, are sitting at a table in a bright, modern classroom, looking at a card held by the woman. They are both smiling and engaged in lively conversation. On the table, there is a small stack of colorful cards. The background is a soft, out-of-focus white wall with a hint of a bookshelf, keeping the focus on the friendly interaction. Natural, flattering lighting. FLUX.1 style.Blog Post Excerpt:
Time flies! This week, we are looking back at 2025 and celebrating our personal highlights. Join us for “The Nomination Battle,” where you’ll get to share your best memories of the year—from delicious food to surprise discoveries—and practice giving strong opinions in English!
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