Context

The ability to talk about the future is essential in communication. In English, we have several ways to express the future. However, in this project, we will focus on two of the most common methods: going to and will.

Going to is used to talk about future plans. For example, when you have already decided to do something, you say: "I am going to watch a movie tonight." Generally, we use going to to express our plans and intentions that have already been decided before the moment of speaking.

On the other hand, will is commonly used to make promises or decisions at the moment of speaking: "I will call you tomorrow." Additionally, will is also used to make predictions that are based on opinion or judgment, such as "I think it will rain tomorrow."

We live in an era where global communication is increasingly important, and English is often the chosen language for this communication. Therefore, it is essential to understand correctly the use of these future tenses. These constructions are key to expressing our plans, intentions, decisions, and predictions, which are vital aspects of daily communication.

Moreover, mastering these verb forms allows us to better understand English texts and speeches, especially in formal contexts like academics, where these structures are frequently used to debate ideas. Therefore, it is not just a matter of learning English grammar but also of developing comprehension and expression skills in a global context.

Finally, to delve deeper into the topic, we suggest the following resources:

1. Murphy, Raymond. English Grammar in Use. Cambridge University Press, 2012. This is one of the most comprehensive and reliable grammar books. You can find a good explanation of future tenses with going to and will in it.
2. MEC, Portal. "Learning Languages." Available at: https://aprenderlinguas.mec.gov.br. On this website, you will find various resources for learning English, including grammar lessons.
3. YouTube. "Future with Will and Going to - English Classes with Adam." Available at: https://youtube.com/watch?v=VZzWMVxQYKk. This educational video helps you understand the use of going to and will.

Practical Activity

Activity Title: Futuristic Expressions - A Look into Tomorrow with going to and will

Project Objective

The objective of this activity is to provide students with the opportunity to apply the concepts learned about the use of going to and will in real communication situations, as well as to stimulate collaboration and critical thinking.

Detailed Project Description

Students will be divided into groups of 3 to 5 people, and each group will be responsible for creating a "future TV program." The program should predict what will happen in one, five, and ten years, in different categories of current interest, such as technology, environment, health, entertainment, etc.

Each prediction must be clearly articulated using going to and/or will. Additionally, the group should prepare a program script, including the lines of imaginary presenters and guests, as well as images or drawings to help visualize the predictions.

The project is expected to be completed within a week, and each student should spend two to four hours contributing to the project.

Required Materials

1. Notebook or paper to write the script.
2. Pens, pencils, and markers for illustrations.
3. Books, internet, and other resources for researching ideas for predictions.
4. Camera or smartphone (optional) to record the program.

Step by Step

1. Initial Meeting: Organize an initial meeting to discuss ideas. Decide which categories you will focus on and who will be responsible for each one.
2. Ideas Research: Each group member should research ideas for their predictions. Remember that your predictions must be articulated using going to and/or will.
3. Script Development: Based on the predictions, write a script for the program. Include conversations between presenters and imaginary guests.
4. Illustration: Create drawings or images to illustrate your predictions.
5. Recording (Optional): If possible, record a video of your program. This can be done at home or at school, depending on the institution's guidelines.

Deliverables

After completing the practical project, each group must deliver:

1. Program Script, including predictions in English with the appropriate use of going to and will.

2. Illustrations or associated images.

3. Video (if possible).

4. Final Report, containing:

   • Introduction: Brief explanation of the project and its relevance.
   • Development: Explain the theory of using going to and will and how it was applied in your project. Describe the activity in detail, including the methodology used and the results obtained.
   • Conclusion: Discuss what you learned from the project. Report what the difficulties were and how they were overcome. Reflect on the importance of teamwork.
   • Bibliography: List all sources of information used for the project.