How well organized are you?

Language: bashful, scruffy, shabby, sluggish, reluctant,
Type of activity: Speaking and Critical thinking / Pair work
Objective: to practice lexis relating to time and personal organization.
Preparation: Make handouts of questionnaire about personal organization, time management and appearance.
Warm-up:
Write some scrambled words on the board, give definitions to words and have the L-s unscramble them.
rufscfy bashby labufsh actuerlnt hugsisgl

scruffy – dirty and untidy
shabby – poorly worn
bashful – a person who is unsure of oneself, shy
reluctant – unwilling, slow to act
sluggish – slow to act
Give some questions about organizing oneself.
What clothes do you prefer to wear if you are invited to your friend’s wedding party?
How important is your appearance in your life?
How often do you wear tie and on what occasions?
What is formal wearing in your opinion?
What color do you choose if you buy a shirt? Why?
You are typing an important article on the computer, but you feel very tired. Will you leave it for the next time or finish it? Etc.
Procedure
1. Set L-s in pairs A and B, give handouts of questionnaire to each student.
2. Tell the students to read the questionnaire and add more questions to the questionnaire of their own.
3. Tell them to interview each other and take some notes about their partner’s answer during the interview
4. When all the pairs finish their interview, have them to criticize some answers of each other.
e.g. B- Student-A said that if you have a piece of work or studies, it would be better to finish it a week in advance. In my opinion it would be better if you finish it a day in advance, because the ideas may be changed at any moment.

5. Have a discussion as a whole class on some questions.
Follow up
A conversation could be developed about useful tips for time-saving and better self-organization either in pairs or as a whole class
Notes and comments
Encourage the L-s to ask follow up questions, to make the interview more natural. Don’t let the L-s to read the partner’s questionnaire, encourage them to speak.
Feedback: Give some questions
How do you spend your spare time?
How do you feel in darkness?
How do you control your fear or anger?
Questionnarie
A
1. Do you find that you frequently run out of essentials, like sugar or toilet paper?
a. Yes, I only remember to buy a new supply when I’ve run out
b. No, I usually buy a new supply before I run out.
2. Do you normally write a list of ‘things to do’?

a. No, I hate planning.

b. Yes, and I try to stick to it

c. Yes, but I never manage to do all the things on the list
3. When you have to do something or go somewhere, do you often….

a. get up early

b. get up on time but end up rushing

c. get up late
4. When you get home from a trip, what do you do with your luggage?

a. I don’t unpack for days

b. I start unpacking almost immediately but leave things in the way

c. A couple of hours after getting home everything is back in its place.
5. Have you ever missed a train/bus/plane/ coach because you didn’t give yourself enough time?

a. Yes

b. No, I always allow plenty of time
6. How do you normally keep your wardrobe tidy?

a. Always perfectly tidy

b. Once a week I have to tidy it before clothes start piling up

c. It’s a mess
7. Do you often leave the dishes unwashed or the bed unmade for more than one day?

a. Very often

b. Almost never

c. Sometimes
B
1. How do you normally keep your desk?
a. Perfectly tidy
b. Once a week I have to tidy it up before things get too tidy
c. Only sometimes when it’s completely mess
2. How punctual are you for your classes, appointments, work, parties etc?

a. Very early

b. Late

c. On time
3. When it comes to organization, what reputation do you have among your friends and family?

They think I am … a. A well- organized

They think I am … b. A bit of disaster

They think I am … c. Not trustworthy
4. Do you have a diary in which you write what you have to do or have done during the day/week/month?

a. No b. Yes, I use it all the time

c. Yes, but I hardly use it
5. Do you find time to relax everyday?

a. Not really, I always seem to have things to do

b. Yes, I usually keep sometime free during the day to relax
6. When you have a piece of work or studies, how do you organize your time?

a. I work to the last minute to finish it

b. I start the day before the deadline

c. I finish it much earlier than the time expected to be done
7. For your friend’s or family’s birthdays and anniversaries, do you usually

a. Buy gifts

b. Phone and say birthday wishes

c. Send birthday card through internet line or mobile phone SMS service