Metacognition activities (philosophy)

Philosophy and Ethics have been a big part of Education throughout history. Although they sometimes get a bad reputation for either being 'wishy washy' or 'too abstract' we should question these assumptions and look carefully at these and the numerous benefits they can provide. Philosophy and ethics can be useful as they get students speaking and exchanging ideas. Philosophy practices many skills such as lateral thinking, evidencing, listening, Logic, questioning, concision etc.

• The dream machine - This is an ethics problem which asks students if you could live forever in a machine which creates a perfect world where there is only happiness and beauty would you? If you say yes you cannot return to this world and although you can simulate a family and friends who are the same you can never return would you? Useful for practicing the second conditional and speaking.
• The trolley problem - A tram is hurtling towards a cliff, you can either change its course and kill only one person otherwise everyone dies. Would you do it? Useful again for speaking but also good for modal verbs of advice and ability.
• Controversial statements/questions - You can practice things like the first conditional e.g if you are rich you will be happy. Yes or no. present continuous is eating animals bad? This works well with the sushi line activity, or a debate format.
• The Simpsons: The Simpsons episodes often carry philosophical themes. They are also hugely popular and therefore very accessible. Good episodes include 'Bart sells his soul', 'Lisa the Vegitarian', 'Homer the Heritic'. You can use clips as speaking activities or you can base a whole lesson around the episode and adapt a grammar and vocabulary point.
• The School of life: If you type this into Youtube they have some great short videos which require only a little adaptation. Topics include Relationships, Philosophy, Culture, The World and Current affairs. You can adapt these for any grammar or vocabulary point. https://www.theschooloflife.com/
• Ted Lessons: There is a great website with a range of EFL lessons for all levels using Ted talks.  (https://tedxesl.com/)