Activity 11: Design a listening activity

Listening Activity

Level: Pre-intermediate

Age: Adults

Warm Up Exercise

A. The song Tracy Jacks from Blur tells the story of a man who goes a little mad and destroys his life. Stories are usually told in the past tense. Before listening, make sure you know your past tenses by putting the correct form next to each infinitive.

See Know Get Leave

Live Be Stand Stop

Happen Run Throw Escort

Main Activity

B. Now listen to the song and put the verbs in the correct place.

Tracy Jacks works in civil service
Tracy Jacks it's steady employment
Tracy Jacks is a golfing fanatic
Tracy Jacks but his put is erratic

Tracy Jacks ________ a harley street doctor
Tracy Jacks who prescribed healthy living
Tracy Jacks but he's getting past forty
Tracy Jacks and all the seams are splitting

Everyday he ________ closer
He ________ in his heart he was over
"I'd love to stay here and be normal
But it's just so overrated"

Tracy Jacks ________ home without warning

Tracy Jacks at five in the morning
Tracy Jacks ________ on the first train to walton
Tracy Jacks and ________ on the seafront

Tracy Jacks ________ his clothes in the water
Tracy Jacks and ________ around naked
Tracy Jacks got ________ by the police
Tracy Jacks and ________ back home

Everyday he ________ closer
He ________ in his heart he was over
"I'd love to stay here and be normal
But it's just so overrated"

Tracy Jacks
Tracy Jacks
Tracy Jacks
Tracy Jacks

And then it ________ on a tuesday morning
Tracy Jacks bulldozed down the house he ________ in

Saying "it's just so overrated"

Tracy Jacks
Tracy Jacks
Tracy Jacks
Tracy Jacks

Everyday he ________ closer
He ________ in his heart he was over
"I'd love to stay here and be normal
But it was always overrated"

Follow up Activity.

C. Now change this present simple sentences into past simple sentences (remember that you have to change the time expression E.g.: every day -> yesterday/last week, month...)

1. Anne goes to the cinema every week.

2. My parents drink water.

3. My sister and I go to the gym together.

4. My friend Kate watches TV every evening.

5. Fredd reads a book every week.

6. I read the newspaper every day.

7. Jimmy drives his car.

8. Hannah plays the violin.

9. Ludovic takes the bus.

10. The telephone rings every morning at 8.