What makes a great leader?

What makes a great leader? 

Lesson plan: 

Description: This lesson plan is organised around the theme of leadership through the use of Simon's Sinek TEDvideo 'How great leaders inspire action', It also includes a short quiz, quotes, vocabulary building activities and discussions around the topic of 'inspiring leaders'.

Level:Upper-Intermediate/ IELTS preparation classes

Learners: Teenagers, Adults

Theme: Leadership

Skills: Speaking, watching a video, reading , creative expression, deep thinking.

Materials: short video, quiz, quote slides.

Step one: Write on the whiteboard few leadership quotes. Tell students to guess what's our topic for today and give them 5 minutes to discuss the quotes and the meaning behind each quote. Ask learners again to discuss the quote and write down 3 reasons why they agree or disagree with the quote. Give time to students to share their ideas with their partner.

Step two: Elicit students' thoughts and ideas around the sayings. For higher levels students it's important to 'stretch' Ss in order to make the most of their abilities. Write down on the whiteboard any interesting words or phrases that can students learn. It's better for students to be given a time limit, so that they can pace themselves

Step three: (if students' have smart phones). Ask learners to take the Quiz and find out whether they are Leaders or Followers. This is my result :)

Certificate: Test results Are You a Leader or a Follower?

For 40 % you are: You are EQUAL. Sometimes you are a leader and sometimes you are a follower. You aren't afraid to lead others but you also aren't afraid to follow. You give people chances to take the lead or follow behind. Either way, you go with the flow and you aren't just one or the other. Good job.
33.2760 % of 20348 Quiz participants had this profile! Profile A
 
Take this quiz: Are You a Leader or a Follower?

Step three: Tell students that they are going to watch a short video around the topic of 'leadership'. Ask learners to read the following questions before watching the video? *You can divide the video into two parts (0:00-11:00, 11:00- the end)

1. What's Simon's opinion? Do you agree or disagree?

2. What's significant about 'Apple', 'Martin Luther King' and the 'Wright Brothers'? Briefly outline their stories.  







 Step four: Monitor and help students to express their ideas. You can write down any mistakes and provide error-correction at the end of the lesson.

Step five: Tell students that they are going to work in pairs to complete the 'vocabulary building' activities.  

Click here to download the activities
 

Vocabulary Building: Lesson plan 1

What makes a great leader?

ACADEMIC WORD LIST:

This academic word list, can helps you to express your ideas and thoughts and work your way for high scores. A must have resource for IELTS test takers.

Watching TED videos for IELTS? Why not?

Vocabulary learned from this video:

Activity 1: Match the meaning of the words in bold.

Table 1

Example	Meaning
1. Writers who are viewed as innovative have new ideas and are creative in thinking	A. A person who provides expert advice professionally
2. It took me many years to be now here. To reach this stage is a great achievement.	B. Officially recognised as being trained to perform a particular job.
3. He acted as campaign consultant to the president.	C. In a profound extent; extremely; profound way; greatly
4. This advertising agency offers really good prices. You should go there.	E. (of a person) introducing new ideas; original and creative thinking.
5. He had set up a fund to support exporters.	F. Difficult to perceive; indistinct or vague.
6. Only qualified candidates will contacted for this position	G. A business or organization providing particular service.
7. This would codify existing intergovernmental cooperation on drugs	H.A thing done successfully with effort, skill or courage.
8. He profoundly changed the whole course of my life. I feel confident now.	I. To sum up money saved or made available for a particular purpose
9. The picture is very fuzzy.	J. Arrange according to a plan or system.

Table 2:

1. I’m sure there’s a perfectly rational explanation	A. A person or organization that is slow to do something or slow to make a progress
2. The emphasis is now on tangible results	B. Clear and definite; real:
3. Staff were under enormous pressure and there was no time for laggards	C. A disagreement or argument
8.His intuitive understanding of the readers' real needs	D. A public speaker, especially one who is eloquent or skilled
9. A territorial dispute between the two countries.	E. Based on or in accordance with reason or logic:
10. Who hardly find politicians that are great orators	F. Using or based on what one feels to be true even without conscious reasoning
11. Those whose business is the pursuit of knowledge,	G. The action of pursuing someone or something

Activity 2: Tick the 5 top qualities that make a Great Leader and check with your partner if you agree.

• Honesty
• Ability to Delegate
• Communication
• Sense of humour
• Confidence
• Commitment
• Positive attitude
• Creativity
• Intuition
• Ability to inspire
• Risk taker
• Organised

Step seven: close up the lesson by gathering some ideas on 'what makes a great leader' and provide learners with error-correction.