lesson 5A: Are You The Next American Idol?

This lesson is based on TV shows like American Idol or The Voice, where amateur musicians compete in the hope of winning and becoming famous. The lesson starts with the introduction of more verb phrases. Then a picture story of a contestant waiting for his first audition (based on a real experience) introduces Sts to sentences with can. Can is a very versatile verb in English and is used to express ability, possibility, permission, and to make requests. Sts will have met can for requests and permission in Practical English 1, and should already be familiar with the verb. The use of can for ability, presented here, may be expressed by a different verb in your Sts’ L 1 . In the second half of the lesson, special attention is given to the pronunciation of can and can’t. Sts then practice orally with a questionnaire. They then read a short article about four previous American Idol winners, and the lesson ends with the song Famous by the band Scouting For Girls.