Unit 2 - Places: Ghost towns

Introduction

IES N°4 Introductory Course

Unit 2 coursebook “Insight” Pre-intermediate Student’s Book by Wildam J. and Beddall F. 2014 – Oxford University Press.

In many cities, we’re used to seeing busy streets, vibrant neighborhoods, and bustling markets. But what happens when a place becomes abandoned and loses its people? Before reading the text "Ghost towns" on page 33, take a moment to imagine or remember a place you've seen that feels empty or forgotten. show images to your students.

After that, discuss the following questions with a partner:

a. Have you ever visited an abandoned place?

b. Do you know any forgotten places near where you live?

 

Task

Pre-task

In groups, choose one of the cities mentioned in the text (kowloon walled city, Craco, kolmanskop). think or search for extra information about those places.

think about:

1. What was life before it was inhabited?

2.  Who lived there? (famous people, family members, friends, etc)

3. What kinds of jobs did they have?

4. What did people do for fun?

While-task

When, imagine a future where people return to those towns. you are one of them. make a diary about your return to the town. write in the following sequence:

Day 1. (first impressions and emotions)

Day 2. (exploring the town)

Day 3. (first night)

Process

Post-task.

Creative task: sketches and maps.

In groups, try to look for images or make a drawing of a map of the town with points of interest

  • Neighborhood (invented name)

  • Buildings:

  • Statues and monuments:

  • Markets (what kind).

  • Churches.

  • Or others.

Evaluation

group evaluation

share your information with your classmates. What have you found? prepare to answer questions.

  • listen and check similar information (if you chose the same city)

  • ask questions.

  • give feedback

Conclusion

The point of this activity was to encourage creativity, critical thinking, and language development by imagining life in a ghost town. It helps students to practice descriptive writing, storytelling, and teamwork while fostering empathy and cultural awareness.

Credits

Coursebook “Insight” Pre-intermediate Student’s Book and Workbook by Wildam J. and Beddall F. 2014 –Units 1 to 5 - Oxford University Press.