Pet Peeves
Everyone has some small things that irritate and annoy them. It's a great topic for language class.
I love any lesson talking about and sharing pet peeves. You know, the little things that annoy us, irk us, bother us and sometimes drive us crazy!
Everyone loves to complain. Next to gossip, it’s a sure success as a topic for any language class - pet peeves. Here are some suggestions for a lesson all about them.
I usually start the lesson with a survey about common pet peeves. Read out or state a pet peeve and students show how they feel by going to the front of the class (really bothers them) or the back (no problem). Or do this by having students sit or stand up to share their feelings (if space is a limitation). You can also do the survey by having students write down one pet peeve and sharing it - then everyone reacting!
After this activity, I get students ranking pet peeves. What are the top 10 pet peeves most people have in common? Students brainstorm and make a list of the top 10 and then check their ranking against this video. Who got the most matches?
Another video option for this topic is the Academy Award winning animated short - The Big Snit. About one unusual pet peeve.
Lastly, have students discuss pet peeves and react to them (How annoying! That drives me nuts! Yuck! ) Write down some of the ways in English, we express displeasure about something. See this 'organizer - from our ebook - Get Talkin’.
See our full list of resources and lesson materials and plans for this topic - including flashcards, powerpoints and games HERE.
Teachers - got a pet peeve about language teaching? See our list of hundreds we’ve catalogued - small things that we feel are incorrect about English language teaching.
*** And why not try a lesson on the opposite of pet peeves, the small things we enjoy in life, small pleasures? See our previous post about this.
