Activity 1: Warm-up · 10 minutes
Warm-up: Jobs for Everyone?
a) Aims
Ss activate prior knowledge about gender stereotypes in careers and predict the topic of the reading text.
b) Content
Ss look at two short descriptions on the board: (1) a poster showing only men working as engineers; (2) a poster showing only women caring for young children. T asks: 'Do you think these jobs are only for men or only for women? Why?' Ss work in pairs and think of one job they would like to do and whether gender should matter for that job.
c) Expected outcomes
Each pair writes on a sticky note one job they think is 'for everyone' and one job they think is 'a stereotype'. Ss give a short reason, e.g., 'Nurses can be men and women because the skills are patience and care.'
d) Organisation
Teacher's activities
Students' activities
Teacher
Step 1: Task delivering
T shows the two poster descriptions and asks: 'Are these jobs only for men or only for women? Why do you think so?' T introduces the word stereotype (a fixed, often unfair belief about a group of people).
Students
Ss listen and read the two descriptions, then look at the new word stereotype and repeat it after T.
Teacher
Step 2: Task performance
T puts Ss into pairs and monitors. T prompts: 'What skills does this job need?'
Students
Pairs discuss. Expected answer: 'Engineers need problem-solving and maths skills, so men and women can both do it.' / 'Teachers need patience, so anyone can be a good nursery teacher.'
Teacher
Step 3: Report and discussion
T invites 3 pairs to share and writes the key ideas on the board.
Students
Pairs read out their sticky notes. Expected answer: 'We think all jobs can be for everyone if people have the skills.'
Teacher
Step 4: Conclusion and assessment
T summarises: 'Careers should depend on interests, skills and training, not gender. Today we will read a text about this idea.'
Students
Ss write the lesson title in their notebooks and copy the key word stereotype with its meaning.