Can’t talk atm

Megan | Jan 31, 2025Apr 07, 2025

LESSON OVERVIEW

The main objectives of this ESL lesson on texting abbreviations are to:

• discuss texting habits, preferences, and opinions;
• learn and practise common texting abbreviations;
• watch a funny video about passive-aggressive texting.

With this lesson, students talk all about texting! They discuss texting ‘rules’ and share their own preferences and habits when it comes to texting. They watch a funny video about passive-aggressive texting and decode some text messages. They learn lots of texting abbreviations (e.g. dw, nvm, rn) and practise them by writing text messages. 

WARM-UP AND VIDEO

This ESL lesson on texting abbreviations begins with a warm-up. Students use their phones to find a text they sent recently and talk about it. Then, students read some scenarios (e.g. making dinner plans, apologising). They explain if they would rather a) call, b) text, or c) text and then call. After that, students discuss general questions about texting. Next, they match halves to create sentences about texting habits. After that, students watch the video. Before watching it, they look at different responses to a text as featured in the video, and say which response(s) might be passive aggressive (e.g. ‘Sure!’ vs ‘Sure…’) Then, they watch the first part of the video and find out. Next, students watch the second part of the video. Students look at another text and match the responses with what they really mean, according to the speaker in the video.

IN-CLASS ACTIVITIES

The ESL lesson on texting abbreviations continues with some discussion questions about the ideas in the video. Then, students read a list of text messages. They work out what the abbreviation in bold might stand for (e.g. idc, btw, bc). They also choose three messages and write a response, using abbreviations where possible. After that, students are given cards with abbreviations. They pick a situation from a list (e.g. asking your partner about dinner plans; telling your partner you’re busy shopping) and write a text message. Their partner picks an abbreviation and responds. Students continue until they have used up all the situations.

HOMEWORK/REVISION

This lesson plan also includes an additional task that you can use as homework or revision. In the task, students read texts and choose the correct abbreviation. Then, they write a response using the abbreviations provided. The task is available in the teacher’s version of the worksheet. You can print it and hand it out to your students. It’s also included in the e-lesson plan.

WORKSHEETS

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