ESL/EFL lesson plan on the theme Creative Jobs. Links for a video, a text and an article on the topic. Warmers and speaking questions.

1. Creative jobs
A PARALLEL UNIVERSE IN THE LABOR MARKET

2. Lesson plan
Today we are going to:
 Watch an excerpt of a video in which a writer talks about the creative x
non creative jobs
 Talk about creative work
 Analyse some modern, slanguish vocabulary
 Read a text on strategies to be more productive on creative endeavors
 Have a writing piece of homework assigned

3. warmer
 For you, what is the role of inspiration in doing a creative
work/piece of work?
 What percentage would you attribute to inspiration and what
percentage for hard work?
 Do you think that creative work can have its results somehow
related to chance?
 How can you make creative work less likely to be unstable?

4. video
 http://www.ted.com/talks/elizabeth_gilbert_on_genius

5. Word expertise
 Arent you afraid youre never gonna be able to top that?
 That’s reassuring.
I was met with the same kind of fear-based reaction.
People would say: aren’t you afraid that…
 … You’re never gonna have any success?
 … Humiliation and rejection will kill you?
 …You’re gonna work your whole life at this craft and nothing is
gonna come out of it?
 … You’re gonna die in a scrappy, broken dream with your mouth
filled with the bitter ash of failure?

6. about the video
 What is the work routine that a writer or any other creative
professional can adopt to decrease the ups and downs of inspired
moments?
 For the society, what are the consequences of the frame of mind
presented by the author (that the creative work is risky,
“dangerous”, something to be afraid of)?
 What are the consequences of it for the people with such
innovative inclinations?

7. word expertise
 Thinking mulling
 Time for musing
 Hghly underrated
 Help recall
 half-baked ideas
 Offhanded format
 Set up catch-ups
 Commute time
 Hands-on work
 Pay off greatly

8. warmer 2
 Can you think of 5 ways to make your mind be more
creative?
 1
 2
 3
 4
 5

9. text
 http://blog.redbubble.com/2014/04/how-to-keep-your-creative-mind-working/?
utm_source=Outbrain&utm_medium=viral&utm_campaign=paid

10. about the text
 The title is 5 ways to keep your creative mind constantly working.
 What is the core motivating idea of this text?
 The gist of the text is that you can work or prepare to work all the
time, everywhere, while doing basically anything.
 What do you think about it? What is the degree of operating
requirements related to this sort of work schedule?
 Do you follow any routine to keep your mind working?
 Would you adopt any of the ideas presented? Why/why not?
 Do you think the ideas presented are efficient? Why (not)?

11. about the text
 How would you rate the importance of items below for your
development in work using a scale from 1 to 10?
 The thinking time
 Have conversations about your work
 Taking notes
 Using commute time
 Contact with work-related material before sleeping
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

12. writing task
 Write about the nature of the creative work and its universe.
Compare and explore the differences between the lives of creative
professionals and people from other less creative fields, such as
engineers, nurses or mechanics. Contrast different styles of creative
work as well, such as writers, designers, musicians, etc. Highlight the
best and worst of each side. Use the tips you find in the article
(linked in the cell on the left).
 Use tips from
https://www.linkedin.com/today/post/article/20140521231314-
28170248-do-you-need-to-reinvent-your-writing-for-a-digital-world to
make your text more appealing, modern and reader-friendly.

13. that’s it!
Have a nice week!