Lesson aim
Evidence to collect
The learner identifies routine versus temporary meaning in a workplace message and uses present simple and present continuous to explain a real change.
Language lens
Routine or temporary situation?
Present simple describes Nina’s normal Tuesday. Present continuous describes the changed situation happening this Tuesday and around now.
Suggested sequence
Timing
- 2–3 min · Personalize the opening questions.
- 3 min · Read once for purpose and once to mark normal versus different.
- 4 min · Check comprehension and require text evidence.
- 4 min · Contrast tense choices and complete the language check.
- 5 min · Produce a spoken or written schedule update.
Anticipated problems
Watch and respond
- The learner may choose a tense from a time word without checking whether the meaning is routine or temporary.
- The learner may keep the third-person s after does or omit be before an ing form.
Short lesson
If time is limited
Read the message, sort four statements into normal or temporary, and finish with a four-sentence spoken update.
Extended lesson
If the learner needs more
Change the situation twice and ask follow-up questions that force the learner to move between routine and temporary meanings without naming the tense.
Controlled practice
Answer key and teaching evidence
- covering · Nina is covering Marta’s shift because Marta has a doctor’s appointment.
- coffee · Nina usually buys coffee near the station before work.
- finishing-three · Nina is still finishing at three, as she normally does.
- send-notes · Nina asks Luis to send the client notes before lunch.
- normally-works · Say Nina normally works at the north office.
- is-working · Say Nina is working downtown today.
- do-take · Ask Do you take the train on Tuesdays?
- are-taking · Ask Are you taking the train this morning?
Review status
Tutor review required
This original reading and its generated pedagogy require tutor review and learner piloting before they can be described as formally reviewed.