Learn how to speak with the 911 operator in an emergency
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Week of Dec. 15/25
Teach your beginner ESL students about preparing for a traditional Canadian Christmas and encourage them to share their own cultural traditions.
The lesson includes interactive vocabulary activities, a short video, and reflection questions to…
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Lesson plan overview
| Task | To learn the basic vocabulary needed to call 911 in an emergency. |
| CLB level | CLB Stage I (CLB 2-4) |
| Delivery method | Online |
| Class size | 10-15 students (vary the number of activities according to your class size) |
| Estimated time | 1.5 hours (depending on class size) |
| CLB Skills and Competencies | Speaking: Interacting with others Getting things done Sharing information Listening: Interacting with others Comprehending instructions Getting things done Comprehending information Reading: Comprehending information |
| Language focus | Learn the vocabulary needed to understand this topic. Learn the vocabulary needed to respond to basic questions from a 911 operator. Use the appropriate grammar structures and vocabulary to respond personally to the reflection questions. (Encourage students to respond in full sentences.) |
| Cultural focus | Students learn about the health care system in Canada and Alberta (e.g., what emergencies justify calling 911 and what happens when you call). Students may discuss what to do when they hear the siren of an ambulance, a police car, or a firetruck behind them on the road. |
| Specific task learning objectives | Students learn when to call (and when not to call) 911. Students learn the basic vocabulary used in a 911 call. Students practice role plays (both pre-set and open-ended). |
| ESL Directions original video (🎥) and audio (🔊) activities? | This lesson plan includes original video (🎥) and audio (🔊) activities. |
| Resource attribution | ESL Directions original resources are marked below with an asterisk (*). Feel free to use these, but please give credit to ESL Directions. |
Lesson plan
Warm-up: Introducing the topic and defining our terms
- Today, we’re going to talk about calling 911 in an emergency.
- What is an emergency?
- What is 911?
- Why do you call 911?
- What happens when you call 911?
Skill-building activities
- Vocabulary flashcards*
- Listen to the vocabulary again* 🔊 (Pay attention to how to say the words and what they mean.)
Skill-using tasks
FEATURED CONTENT
- Calling 911* 🎥 (Listen to a 911 call from a woman whose husband has fallen and is unconscious.)
- Audio, role play, and comprehension questions* 🔊
- Tell the story* (Read and explain each sentence.)
- Gap-fill activity*
Assessment/review tasks
Reflection questions
- Please give us some examples of when you would call 911.
- When would you not call 911?
- Have you ever had to call an ambulance for someone? How did you feel when you had to make that phone call?
- When should you go to Emergency in the hospital? When should you go to a family doctor or clinic instead?
- Do you have the same kind of 911 process in your country? If the process is different, how is it different?
- If you are driving, what do you do when you hear an ambulance, a police car, or a firetruck behind you?
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Understanding the Alberta health care system
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Keep readingHEALTH YOUTUBE PLAYLIST
Click on the small right arrow at the top of this video to watch the videos or go to the YouTube Health Playlist.
HEALTH WORDWALL ACTIVITIES
Wordwall is a very useful interactive lesson-creation site. If you sign up for a free Wordwall account, you will be able to see our “Health” folder, which includes ESL Directions activities that you can add to your lessons.
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ABOUT ESL DIRECTIONS
ESL teacher, movie buff, constant reader, and former editor and communications pro. Now a graduate of the Teaching English as a Second Language program at the University of Manitoba and a TESL Canada certified ESL teacher in Edmonton, Alberta, I specialize in teaching online classes of beginner ESL students.
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