Make or do? — ready-made English lesson, B2

Lesson goal: Students can choose between make and do in common collocations and use them to talk about work, progress and everyday tasks.

Add the lesson to get your own copies of the word set and exercises; the lesson opens in the builder, where you can adjust the steps and teach it.

Lesson plan

1
Warm-up
Questions to get the student talking and lead into the topic.
- What's the hardest decision you've ever had to make?
- Who does the shopping in your home?
- How do you feel when you make a mistake in English?
2
New words
Meet the words and practise them in games.
MemoryUnjumble
make a decision · make a mistake · make progress · make an effort · make an excuse · make a complaint · make money · make friends · make a phone call · do business · do your best · do the shopping · do someone a favour · do research · do damage
All words in the set
3
Exercises
The lesson's words in context. Only you see the answers.
1. Fill the gap
  I think I've ___ a mistake in my email — I sent it to the wrong person.
  Answer: made
2. Fill the gap
  Could you ___ me a favour and water my plants while I'm away?
  Answer: do
3. Fill the gap
  The hailstorm ___ a lot of damage to the cars in our street.
  Answer: did
4. Fill the gap
  If you want to get fit, you need to ___ an effort every day.
  Answer: make
5. Fill the gap
  I'm thinking of ___ (make) a complaint about the noise from next door.
  Answer: making
6. Multiple choice
  Which sentence is correct?
  She's doing research on sleep and memory.She's making research on sleep and memory.She's doing a research on sleep and memory.
7. Multiple choice
  "Stop making ___ and finish your homework!"
  excusesfavoursresearchbusiness
8. True / false
  Read: "When Jamal moved to Lisbon, he didn't speak a word of Portuguese. He made an effort to talk to his neighbours every day, even though he made lots of mistakes. After six months he had made friends with half the street, and his teacher said he had made more progress than anyone else in the class." Jamal avoided speaking to people until his Portuguese was good.
  Answer: False
9. True / false
  Read the text again. Jamal's teacher was impressed by how quickly he improved.
  Answer: True
10. Discussion question
  Talk about something you are making progress with at the moment. What effort are you making, and what else could you do to improve?
  Sample answer: I'm making good progress with running. Three months ago I couldn't run for five minutes, and now I can do five kilometres. I make an effort to go out three times a week, even when it rains. I should probably do some research on stretching, because my knees hurt sometimes.
4
Speaking
The student answers using the new words.
- Is it better to make a decision quickly or to take your time?
- Can you make money from a hobby? Would you want to?
- Is it easy to make friends as an adult? Why or why not?
- Would you rather do the shopping online or in a shop?
- When did someone last do you a big favour?
5
Review
A quiz on the lesson's words. With a student, it's homework on their link.
Quiz

Lesson plan

Warm-up

Questions to get the student talking and lead into the topic.

What's the hardest decision you've ever had to make?
Who does the shopping in your home?
How do you feel when you make a mistake in English?

New words

Meet the words and practise them in games.

MemoryUnjumble

make a decision · make a mistake · make progress · make an effort · make an excuse · make a complaint · make money · make friends · make a phone call · do business · do your best · do the shopping · do someone a favour · do research · do damage

All words in the set

Exercises

The lesson's words in context. Only you see the answers.

Fill the gap
I think I've ___ a mistake in my email — I sent it to the wrong person.
Answer: made
Fill the gap
Could you ___ me a favour and water my plants while I'm away?
Answer: do
Fill the gap
The hailstorm ___ a lot of damage to the cars in our street.
Answer: did
Fill the gap
If you want to get fit, you need to ___ an effort every day.
Answer: make
Fill the gap
I'm thinking of ___ (make) a complaint about the noise from next door.
Answer: making
Multiple choice
Which sentence is correct?
She's doing research on sleep and memory.She's making research on sleep and memory.She's doing a research on sleep and memory.
Multiple choice
"Stop making ___ and finish your homework!"
excusesfavoursresearchbusiness
True / false
Read: "When Jamal moved to Lisbon, he didn't speak a word of Portuguese. He made an effort to talk to his neighbours every day, even though he made lots of mistakes. After six months he had made friends with half the street, and his teacher said he had made more progress than anyone else in the class." Jamal avoided speaking to people until his Portuguese was good.
Answer: False
True / false
Read the text again. Jamal's teacher was impressed by how quickly he improved.
Answer: True
Discussion question
Talk about something you are making progress with at the moment. What effort are you making, and what else could you do to improve?
Sample answer: I'm making good progress with running. Three months ago I couldn't run for five minutes, and now I can do five kilometres. I make an effort to go out three times a week, even when it rains. I should probably do some research on stretching, because my knees hurt sometimes.

Speaking

The student answers using the new words.

Is it better to make a decision quickly or to take your time?
Can you make money from a hobby? Would you want to?
Is it easy to make friends as an adult? Why or why not?
Would you rather do the shopping online or in a shop?
When did someone last do you a big favour?

Review

A quiz on the lesson's words. With a student, it's homework on their link.

Quiz