Moral dilemmas

1.- Introduction to Lesson

In this lesson, we are going to talk about and analyse moral dilemmas. First of all, it is important you know the answer to the following question:

1.1.- What is a dilemma?

2.- Teacher talk time

Listen to your teacher talk about two dilemmas she has encountered recently. What advice would you give her for each dilemma?

Useful language:

• You should + bare infinitive……
• You could + bare infinitive……
• You must + bare infinitive……
• You have to + bare infinitive…..

3.- Your turn…..

Now you have heard your teacher talk about two dilemmas, it’s your turn…

Answer the following questions out loud giving as much detail as possible.

• Have you ever been in a difficult situation where you didn’t know what to do?
• How did you resolve your problem?

4.- Listening

Before you carry out the listening, please revise the following words:

4.1.- Key vocabulary

• To redecorate: redecorar
• To withdraw money: sacar dinero
• Withdrawal: retirada (dinero)
• Reasonably: bastante
• Cash point: cajero
• Bank balance: saldo

4.2.- Pre-listening speaking activity

Look at the words and phrases below. They all appear in the listening you are about to hear. Can you guess what the story is about?

- Few months ago
- Redecorate
- Withdraw £500
- New sofa
- Bank statement
- Close account

4.3.- Listening

You are now going to listen to Bruce talking about a situation that he found himself in recently. Listen and check your prediction. Were you right?.

Sonido

4.4.- What do the following words refer to?

Check your answers by looking at the tapescript.

4.5.- Tapescript

A few months ago, my wife and I decided to redecorate our living room. We decided that we wanted a new sofa, so we went into town and found a little shop which sold modern reasonably priced sofas. We found a sofa we wanted to buy, so I went to the nearest cash point and withdrew £500 to pay the man in the shop.

A few days later, I looked at my bank balance online and I noticed that the money that I had withdrawn still hadn’t come out of the account. I thought it was quite strange because usually cash withdrawals appear immediately. I waited a few more days and then checked my account again. The money still hadn’t come out. I was very happy because we didn’t have much money at the time. I didn’t know whether to tell the bank about the mistake and avoid problems later on or say nothing and hope for the best.

In the end, I decided to wait another week. If the bank had asked for the money back during that time, I would have returned the money. However, they didn’t, so after two weeks I closed my account and moved to another bank.

5.- Grammar Focus – Third conditional

In the previous lesson, we looked at the first and second conditional. In this lesson we are going to look at the third conditional.

Can you find an example of the third conditional in the tapescript?

Here is the example:

• If the bank had asked for the money back during that time, I would have returned the money.

5.1.- Form:

Can you identify the verb forms in the first and second part of the clause?

• If the bank had asked for the money back during that time, Iwould have returned the money.

Had asked = past perfect
would have returned = would + have + past participle

These are the different verb forms we use with the third conditional

Please note:

a) It is important to note that we can use any "modal verb" with the third conditional e.g. could, might, should, etc.

• If the bank had asked for the money back during that time, I might have returned the money.
• If the bank had asked for the money back during that time, I could have returned the money.

b) "Would" can be contracted e.g. I’d = I would

• I’d have returned the money if the bank had asked for it back.

5.2.- Use:

When do we use the third conditional?

We use the third conditional to imagine a different past.

For example:

• If the bank had asked for the money back during that time, Iwould have returned the money.

In reality, the bank didn’t ask for the money back. This situation did not happen. Therefore we are imagining a different past.

5.3.- Controlled Practice

Fill in the gaps with the correct form of the verbs in brackets.

6.- Pronunciation practice

Listen to your teacher pronounce the following words and repeat:

• Would
• I’d
• I’d have

Look at the following sentences and repeat after your teacher:

• I would have phoned the bank
• I’d have phoned the bank

7.- Your turn…

Answer the following questions out loud giving as much detail as possible:

• What would you have done if you had seen a man breaking into your neighbour’s house?
• What could have happened if you had studied more at school?
• What might have happened if you had woken up earlier on Sunday morning?

You may find the following phrases useful.

• I would have…
• I don’t know what I would have done…
• Maybe I’d have …
• I’d definitely have…
• I wouldn’t have …