Perfect vs Present Tense (Listen/Translate)

Ever teach the perfect tense and then find they have forgotten the present tense straight after? Find that your pupils are bogged down by all the details of the perfect tense?

This is an ideal lesson to introduce or, even better, re-introduce the perfect tense because it focuses on just one part of it and puts it directly in comparison with the present tense, so pupils can notice for themselves the differences between them. It gives the attention to meaning and pronunciation before dealing with form in a combined explicit and implicit approach.

Lesson objective: To use the past tense to translate phrases with “have done” or “did” and compare it with the present.

I used this lesson with both a year 8 class and a year 9 class who had already seen the perfect tense before, but badly needed to review it. I’ve since tidied up the layout, added new images and added extra optional activities. The lesson also comes with an extended worksheet, which you could give to a whole class, just those pupils who won’t easily be able to get down or to any students who miss the lesson.

Like all my lessons, it uses easily-recognisable icons to help support a Target Language environment. Instructions are given in TL, often with the English translation – I recommend deleting the translation for classes who don’t need it! The lesson also includes detailed slide-by-slide comments, with explanations and tips for delivery.

There is a crossword to print for the starter activity, but if you prefer, you can sub this out for the alternative starter, which requires no printing.

The recording for the listening activity is included in the powerpoint and as a separate file, but you can also listen to it here: https://rhinospike.com/audio_requests/jaimepapier/50584/
NOTE: In the version for download, I have increased the length of the pauses.

The font Trebuchet MS is required to view this powerpoint and the worksheets correctly. This is usually pre-installed on Windows or with Office.