In spite of the rent
Although · despite · in spite of
Marta makes the case for staying in Blackwell, and Tomek for going home. Neither of them is wrong.
- Level
- B2
- Length
- 60 min
- Exercises
- 5
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About this lesson
A 60-minute B2 lesson on although, despite and in spite of, for Polish adults who need to argue in English and concede a point without giving up their own. Two years after arriving, Marta and Tomek sit at their kitchen table, the rent statement between them. Marta wants to stay in Blackwell, Tomek wants to go home, and neither of them is wrong.
Students describe the picture and say what each side could argue. The reference sheet gives the one rule that matters: despite and in spite of take a thing, although takes a whole sentence. Ten rewrites, six words at most per gap, make them build both shapes. Pairs then argue on hidden role cards, swap and argue the other side. A ten-sentence error correction closes the lesson. Afterwards students can hold a position over several turns and grant a point out loud.
Develop an argument across several turns and concede a point without losing it.
- Grammar
- Linkers — although, in spite of, despite; discourse markers to structure formal speech.
- Function
- Developing an argument; expressing agreement and disagreement.
- Words (17)
- in spite ofdespiteneverthelessalbeitgrantedadmittedlyon the one handconverselycost of livingprospectsuprootsettleweigh upmake a caseconcedevalidultimately
Why Polish speakers get this wrong
The argument is very actual: in a formal register Polish learners reach for English words that look like Polish ones, and many mean something else. Aktualny means current or relevant, not actual. Sympatyczny means likeable; sympathetic is about feeling for somebody's trouble. Ewentualnie means possibly; eventually means in the end. These words sound educated, so learners trust them most when trying to sound serious.
The final exercise, Eight of these are wrong, plants three of them in sentences from the evening: actually where now belongs, sympathetic for friendly, eventually for possibly. The teacher notes say to give those items a full minute, and to board the Polish words only after the class has tried, each next to the English word it is not.
Free guide: False friends for Polish speakers: sympathetic, actually, eventually and the rest →
60 min · 5 exercises
- 1The rent statement on the tablePicture description · Lead-in8 min
- 2A thing, or a whole sentenceGrammar cheatsheet · Presentation8 min
- 3Say it the other way roundSentence transformation · Controlled practice12 min
- 4Marta's case, Tomek's caseRole play · Freer practice16 min
- 5Eight of these are wrongError correction · Review12 min
Eight of these are wrong
Marta and Tomek are still at the table. Eight of these sentences have one mistake in them and two have none. Find the mistake and write the correction. If a sentence has no mistake, write correct.
- Despite the rent is high, Marta is making a case for one more year here.
- Although the better prospects at home, Tomek concedes that the street has been good to them.
- On the one hand Marta weighs up the rent two years ago, and on the other the rent actually.
- Granted, Tomek says, their street is sympathetic and the neighbours know their names.
- Marta asks for one more year here, or eventually two, and she is not sure which.
- Despite uprooting themselves once already, neither of them calls that a mistake.
As printed on the student sheet. Answers are in the teacher pack.
- 1Student packs A + B (role cards)14 pages · A4 PDF
- 2Teacher pack: plan, notes, answer key16 pages · A4 PDF
Questions about this lesson
Does it include role cards?
Yes. The role-play uses two cut-out cards, one for Marta and one for Tomek, each with four facts on the front and a goal on the back. That is why the student pack runs to 14 pages. Pairs argue one side, swap cards and argue the other.
Does the role-play have a winner?
No, on purpose. A round ends when each partner has conceded three of the other's points out loud, each joined by although, despite, in spite of or granted ... nevertheless to the position they still hold. The teacher notes say not to take a vote and not to sum it up.
How long does it take, and is there audio?
60 minutes: 8 for the picture, 8 for the reference sheet, 12 for the rewrites, 16 for the role-play and 12 for the error correction. There is no recording, so the printed student and teacher packs are all you need.