What the Future Holds

Le cours

1. Topic Presentation\n\nStarter dialogue\nExpert (Teacher): So, what do you think Abidjan will be like in 2040?\nStudent 1: I think there will be more skyscrapers (gratte-ciel).\nStudent 2: Yes, but maybe there will be more traffic jams (embouteillages) too!\nExpert: Good predictions. We use 'will' for these general future guesses. What are you personally going to do after graduation?\nStudent 1: I'm going to study engineering. That's my plan.\n\nKey vocabulary\nFuture, prediction, plan, trend, urbanization, technology, robot, artificial intelligence, climate change, humanitarian action, career, opportunity.\n\n## 2. Listening & Reading Comprehension\n\n### 2.1 Authentic text\nA blog post from a website like 'Africa.com' titled 'Top 5 Future Careers for African Youth'.\n- Comprehension: Match careers (e.g., renewable energy technician, data analyst) with their descriptions.\n- Reflection: Which career interests you and why?\n\n### 2.2 Listening activities\nAudio: A simulated interview with an Ivorian agri-tech entrepreneur talking about her plans ('is going to launch') for the next year.\nExercises: Listen and note down two specific things she is going to do.\n\n## 3. Speaking & Writing Expression\n\n### 3.1 Guided practice\n- Practice future forms: Complete sentences with 'will', 'won't', 'am/is/are going to'.\n- Model dialogue: Two friends discussing their plans for the next weekend and their predictions for the next football championship.\n- Role-play: A job interview where you talk about where you see yourself in 5 years.\n\n### 3.2 Free production\n- Debate: 'By 2040, most classes in Ivory Coast will be taught online.' Argue for or against.\n- Short writing: Write a short paragraph predicting three changes in your neighborhood in the next 10 years. Use 'will' and 'probably'.\n\n## 4. Grammar in context\n\n### 4.1 Clear and simple explanation\n- 'Will': For predictions (not certain), promises, spontaneous decisions. 'I think it will rain tomorrow.'\n- 'Be going to': For plans, intentions, and predictions based on current evidence. 'Look at those clouds! It's going to rain.'\n- Future Continuous: Will be + verb-ing. For actions in progress at a specific future time. 'This time next year, I will be studying at university.'\n- Common mistake: Using 'will' for pre-decided plans (use 'be going to' or present continuous).\n\n### 4.2 Application exercises\n- Recognition: Identify the future tense used in sentences from the blog and say why it's used (prediction vs. plan).\n- Production: Write 2 predictions about technology using 'will', and 2 personal plans using 'be going to'.\n\n## 5. Cultural aspects\n\n### 5.1 English-speaking cultures\n- Focus on Kenya: A leader in mobile technology (M-Pesa) and a hub for tech innovation ('Silicon Savannah'). Discuss what this predicts for the future of business in East Africa.\n- Similarities/Differences: Like Ivory Coast, Kenya faces urbanization challenges in Nairobi. Their tech solutions might inspire Ivorian innovators.\n- Stereotype to avoid: The future of Africa is not just about problems; it's also about innovation, youth, and immense potential.\n\n### 5.2 English in Ivory Coast\n- English is the language of much cutting-edge scientific and technological research. To access this knowledge, proficiency is key.\n- Future careers in international business, aviation, and tourism in Ivory Coast will increasingly require English.\n- Humanitarian organizations responding to future crises (like climate-related events) operate in English at the international coordination level.\n\n## 6. Formative assessment\n\n### 6.1 Self-assessment\n- I can make a simple prediction using 'will'. [ ] Yes [ ] Not yet\n- I can talk about a definite plan using 'be going to'. [ ] Yes [ ] Not yet\n- I understand the difference between a prediction and a plan. [ ] Yes [ ] Not yet\n\n### 6.2 Final project\n- Create a simple 'Future ID Card' for yourself in 2030. Include: Future Job, City you'll live in, One big personal achievement. Present it orally in 3 sentences (e.g., 'In 2030, I will be a doctor. I'm going to live in Bouaké. I will have helped many patients.').\n- Rubric: Completeness (3pts), Correct use of future tenses (3pts), Creativity (2pts), Pronunciation (2pts).\n\n## 7. Additional resources\n\n### 7.1 For practice\n- Song: 'Imagine' by John Lennon - discuss hopes for the future.\n- App: Future tense grammar quizzes on apps like 'Quizlet'.\n\n### 7.2 To go deeper\n- Documentary: 'The Future of Work' series by BBC.\n- Research: Projects like 'Abidjan Ville Durable' (Sustainable City) - what are the plans?