Contextualization

The present continuous, also known as the "present progressive," is a verb tense in English used to express actions that are happening at the moment of speaking or planned future actions. It is formed by the verb "to be" in the present (am, is, are) and the suffix -ing on the main verb.

This verb tense is essential for describing activities that are happening at the time of speaking. For example, if you say "I am reading a book," you are informing that at this exact moment, while speaking, you are reading a book. Or, if you say "They are playing soccer," you are saying that they are playing soccer right now.

The present continuous is also used to describe future actions that are already planned. If you say "I am traveling to New York next week," you are saying that you have a planned trip to New York next week.

Why is it important?

In our daily lives, we are constantly talking about what we are doing or planning to do. By learning to use the present continuous correctly, students will be able to communicate more clearly and efficiently in English.

Furthermore, the proper use of verb tenses is an essential skill to be acquired, as it allows speakers to express their message accurately. In social and professional relationships, a good command of verb tenses in English makes all the difference in communication. Even in the age of technology, where a large part of communication is written, the ability to express oneself correctly remains fundamental.

Practical Activity: "A Day in the Life"

Activity Title

"A Day in the Life"

Project Objective

Develop the ability to use the present continuous to describe ongoing and planned actions, encourage teamwork, time management, communication, and creative thinking practice.

Detailed Project Description

Students, divided into groups of 3 to 5 people, will create a comic strip or a short video (of up to 10 minutes), depicting a day in the life of a character. The story should be rich in actions that are happening in the present and also activities planned for the future.

In this project, it is crucial that the descriptions of the activities all occur in the "present continuous" tense in English, that is, the goal of the project is to apply the "present continuous" in a practical way, demonstrating understanding and correct usage of this verb tense.

Required Materials

• Paper and pencils/colors for groups opting to create the comic strip;
• A video camera (such as a cell phone camera) for groups opting to film the story;
• Internet access for research and references.

Detailed Step-by-Step

1. Divide into groups of 3 to 5 people.
2. Decide together whether you prefer to create a comic strip or a short video.
3. Create together the character and the script of a day in his life, with many actions in the present continuous.
4. If you choose a comic strip, draw the scenes and write the dialogue balloons. If you choose a video, rehearse and film the scenes, remembering to speak clearly and in English.
5. Review the final work to ensure that you have correctly used the present continuous.
6. Submit the final work (comic strip or video) and the written report.

Project Deliverables and Connections with Activities

In addition to the comic strip or video, each group must present a written report that should include:

1. Introduction: Here, students must contextualize the use of the present continuous, demonstrating that they understand its application in the real world and the purpose of this project.

2. Development: Students must present the theory of the present continuous, explain the activity in detail, including the methodology used for creating the script, scenes, and execution of the video or comic strip. In this part, they must also present and discuss the results obtained and the challenges faced.

3. Conclusion: They must conclude the work by summarizing their main points, explaining the learnings obtained, and drawing conclusions about the project and the application of the present continuous.

4. Bibliography: Students must indicate the sources they relied on to work on the project such as books, web pages, videos, etc.

The report will be an opportunity for students to relate the practical part of the work (video or comic strip) to the theory of the present continuous. Furthermore, it will be a way to assess students' ability to organize their ideas and express them clearly and coherently.

The project workload is two to four hours per participating student, and the deadline for submission is one week.