Universite d’antananarivo ecole normale superieure

2.2.3.3- Observation of a revision course about the three types of conditionals

This is the third classroom observation that we carried out. It took place in a “Terminale C” class on 08^th April 2016 and lasted two hours. The class was made of 37 students. The lesson was entitled: “THE CONDITIONALS”.

• First step: warm up (20 min)

We carried out this classroom observation just after the Easter holiday. Therefore, the teacher started this class by asking the students about their Easter holiday. The interaction was lively because almost every student was eager to tell about their holiday, but only three students were allowed to speak as it was not a speaking class on holidays. Then, the teacher asked some questions and the students replied.

T: Are you ready to study?

Ss: No.

T: Why?

Ss: Because it’s Friday.

T: What is your wish now?

One student: I wish I went back home.

After that, the teacher wrote: “I wish+Past Simple” on the blackboard, and continued asking questions.
T: What is the other way to say that wish?

S1: I’d like to go back home.

S2: I want to go back home.

“if”?

T: I wish I went back home: If …? How do we call the sentences which start with

Ss: Conditional sentences.

T: How many types of conditional sentences have you got?

Ss: Three types: type one, type two, and type three.

T: Are they the same?

Ss: No.

T: No, they are not the same.

After this warm up, the teacher wrote the title “THE CONDITIONALS” on the blackboard and proceeded with the presentation stage.