English lessons with the IT Crowd

This book was written in order to be used in English lessons with my online students. It proved to be a popular and effective resource, and so I have decided to make it available in an e-book format. It could be useful for two different types of readers. Firstly, teachers of English may find it a fun and effective resource for their students. The majority of homework exercises that English teachers give to their students are based on reading and writing skills. This course is an attempt to provide at least a 50% bias towards listening practice. The second type of reader is the independent student who enjoys ‘learning by doing’, and understands that fluency is obtainable once one’s reactions are fast enough to respond to everyday speech. Such speech is found in TV shows, and it would be a crime not to use it. I have included grammar and vocabulary exercises in all of the lessons, as well as some comprehension and discussion questions. As a teacher I give the lesson to the students as homework, and he or she watches the show in their free time and retells me a summary of the plot during the next class. I encourage them to use the target vocabulary and grammar forms during this retell, and we then discuss the questions. Other teachers could do the same, or they may prefer to use the material in some other way. The independent student could watch the shows, complete the answers, and then perhaps discuss the show with a friend. I think the retelling part is essential in order to improve speaking skills and learn the new vocabulary by heart.

The book is divided into different episodes. There is one lesson corresponding to each episode of the IT Crowd. Students should read the lesson first and check the meaning of any unfamiliar words. Then they should watch the show and afterwards complete the exercises. Lastly, they can check their answers, and perhaps prepare themselves for the retell. The episodes first focus on some difficult tenses, and then move onto some conditionals and modal forms. The answers for each episode are found after the corresponding exercises. Many students find the first episode difficult, but this is natural and fortunately the show gets easier and easier each time. Practice makes perfect. If the student feels disheartened after the first episode, they should remember that watching the show twice will help.