Procrastination – Vocabulary and

Discussion Lesson

Introduction
Watch a short video introducing the key vocabulary. Take notes!

Listening
Watch the video below twice.
1. Just watch and enjoy it.
2. Watch and do the listening task below.
3. Look up new words in a dictionary.

Reading

Read the recommendations to beat procrastination and make notes of

• things you already do
• things you’d like to do
• things you don’t think are useful
Speaking
1. Do you ever procrastinate? What things do you usually put off doing?
2. What things usually distract you from getting down to work?
3. Do you estimate how much time it takes to complete a task? Do you think
it’s a good idea?
4. Are you good at prioritizing?
5. Are you a fan of to-do lists?

6. In what way do you think this image is connected with

planning your work?
7. They say, imagination is the enemy of motivation. How far do you agree
with that?
8. Do you reward yourself for completing your tasks? How?
Writing
Write a letter to yourself 5 or 10 years ago
– share what you know now about the dangers of procrastination
– tell about a time when you found it difficult to focus and get things done
– give yourself tips on how to overcome the reluctance to do your work on
time
• Procrastination (noun); Procrastinator (noun); Procrastinate (verb)

• Thesis (noun)

• All-nighter (noun)

• Visualize (verb)

• Epiphany (noun)

• Thanks for asking, but I can’t go out tonight because my ____1____ is due in two weeks. I’m
planning to get as much work done as possible today because I don’t want to have to pull an
______2______ closer to the deadline. I can be a bit of a _______3______, to be honest, but I’m
trying to improve myself and get more done.

• _____4_____ is a difficult problem to overcome, but it’s not impossible. I had an ____7____
lately, and it’s really helped me get my life in order. Maybe it will work for you, too. If you
often find yourself _____5_____, then you might want to try this: _____6_____ your goal, and
then make a list of realistic steps towards achieving it.