1
1. Image
A school noticeboard, swap box, and campus fair can hide surprisingly useful finds.
2
2. Speaking
Speaking focus
Students discuss where they have found unexpected useful products or services, what made them notice them, and whether they usually trust flyers, ads, or recommendations. Encourage clear opinions, simple comparisons, and light humorous reactions.
Class speaking activity — read, then practise aloud with your teacher or partner
Discuss and compare
Talk about a time you found a useful product or service in a surprising place, such as a school noticeboard, a classroom swap box, or a campus fair.
Use these questions:
- What was the item or service?
- Where did you find it?
- What made you notice it?
- Did you trust the flyer, ad, or recommendation?
- Was it worth the money?
- Would you recommend it to someone else?
Try to give reasons and make simple comparisons, for example:
- It was cheaper than I expected.
- It was more practical than the other option.
- I think it should be useful for busy students.
- It might be a good idea, but I would compare it first.
- It could save time, but it is not the best choice for everyone.
If you want, add a light humorous comment too, such as:
- The flyer looked so serious that I almost trusted it immediately.
- The swap box was full of surprises, like a mini treasure hunt.
- I thought it was a joke at first, but it was actually useful.
3
3. Vocabulary
- worth itgood value for the money, time, or effort
- bargainsomething cheaper than expected
- practicaluseful in real life
- affordablenot too expensive
- recommendsay that something is good for someone
- comparelook at two or more options and notice differences
- featurea special part or quality of something
- discounta lower price than usual
- trial offera short free or cheap test period
- subscriptiona regular payment for a service
- handyuseful and easy to use
- budgetthe amount of money you want to spend
Sign up free to unlock “3. Vocabulary” and the rest of this lesson
Create free teacher account4
4. Grammar
Grammar focus
Comparatives and modals for giving advice: should, might, could
Comparatives and modals for advice: should, might, could
When you compare two options, you use comparatives. When you give advice or make a practical decision, you often use should, might, and could.
1) Comparatives
Use comparatives to say one thing is different from another.
Form
- short adjectives:
adjective + -er + than- cheap → cheaper than
- useful → more useful than
- long adjectives: more + adjective + than
- practical → more practical than
- expensive → more expensive than
Examples
- The campus app is cheaper than the printed guide.
- A digital note service is more practical than copying everything by hand.
- This swap box is better than buying a new folder.
- The fair offer is more useful than the one on the noticeboard.
2) should for advice
Use should when you think something is a good idea.
Form
- You should + base verb
Examples
- You should try the free trial first.
- We should compare the prices before we buy anything.
- She should choose the cheaper option.
- They should read the flyer carefully.
3) might for possibility
Use might when something is possible, but you are not sure.
Form
- might + base verb
Examples
- It might save time.
- The service might be worth the money.
- The item might be more useful than it looks.
- We might find a better deal at the campus fair.
4) could for possibility or suggestion
Use could to suggest an option or say something is possible.
Form
- could + base verb
Examples
- You could ask a classmate for their opinion.
- We could reject the offer if the price is too high.
- I could buy it if the discount is good.
- They could offer a trial period.
5) Putting them together
You can compare options and then give advice:
- This service is more practical than doing it yourself.
- It should help before exams.
- It might be worth the money.
- You could try it for one week first.
6) Common mistakes
- Wrong: This app is more cheap than the free one.
- Right: This app is cheaper than the free one.
- Wrong: You should to try it.
- Right: You should try it.
- Wrong: It might to save time.
- Right: It might save time.
- Wrong: You could to compare the prices.
- Right: You could compare the prices.
- Wrong: This is more better than that one.
- Right: This is better than that one.
Quick tip
Use comparatives to compare the options. Use should for advice, might for uncertainty, and could for a possible choice or suggestion.
Sign up free to unlock “4. Grammar” and the rest of this lesson
Create free teacher account5
5. Text
Campus NoteScan: turn messy notes into clean digital files
Do your handwritten notes look a little wild? Campus NoteScan is a student service that takes photos of your notes and turns them into neat digital files in minutes. It is useful for revision, sharing notes, and saving time before exams.
Offer:
- Free 3-day trial
- 20% student discount this month
- Choose a one-time payment or a monthly subscription
- Works from any phone or laptop
Why students like it:
- Faster than typing everything again
- Handy when your handwriting is hard to read
- Easy to use, even after a long class
Price:
- One-time scan pack: $6.99
- Monthly plan: $4.99
Question for you: Is it worth it, or would you rather do it yourself?
Discussion questions:
- What is the main feature of this service?
- Which option is cheaper in the short term: the one-time pack or the monthly plan?
- Would this service be practical for your study habits?
- What would make you recommend it or reject it?
Sign up free to unlock “5. Text” and the rest of this lesson
Create free teacher account6
6. True / false
Read each statement and decide if it is true or false.
The flyer offers a 7-day free trial of the note-scanning service.
Students must pay the full price before trying the service.
The service includes a student discount for early sign-up.
The flyer says the service is best for people who want messy paper copies.
The offer is available at the campus fair this Friday.
Answer key (teachers only)
Students do not see this. Add or update questions and answers below the activity.
- 1. The flyer offers a 7-day free trial of the note-scanning service.True
- 2. Students must pay the full price before trying the service.False
- 3. The service includes a student discount for early sign-up.True
- 4. The flyer says the service is best for people who want messy paper copi…False
- 5. The offer is available at the campus fair this Friday.True
Sign up free to unlock “6. True / false” and the rest of this lesson
Create free teacher account7
7. Listening
Listen to the story and answer the questions.
- Where does the speaker first notice the service?
- What does the service do?
- Why does the speaker laugh?
- What makes the service seem like a good deal?
- What is the speaker’s final decision?
- Do you think the speaker made a practical choice? Why or why not?
Teacher audio script
Yesterday, after my evening class, I stopped by the classroom noticeboard to look for a room change. Instead, I saw a small flyer for a note-scanning service. At first, I thought, “Great, another expensive campus idea that sounds useful but costs too much.” But this one was different. The service takes your handwritten notes, scans them, and turns them into clean digital files. I laughed because my notebook usually looks like it was written during a bus ride in a storm. The flyer said there was a student discount and a short trial offer, so the price was not too high. I compared it with typing everything again myself, and that would take much longer. The service seemed more practical than doing it all by hand, especially before exams. I still checked the details twice, because I did not want to waste money on something fancy but useless. In the end, I decided it was worth the money. I might not use it every week, but for busy periods, it could save a lot of time. So I signed up and told my classmate she should try it too.
Sign up free to unlock “7. Listening” and the rest of this lesson
Create free teacher account8
8. Multiple choice
Listen to the story and choose the best answer for each question.
1.
What is the main idea of the listening story?
The speaker finds a useful service and decides it is worth trying
The speaker buys a very expensive gadget without thinking
The speaker ignores the flyer and leaves the classroom
The speaker complains about a broken noticeboard
2.
Where did the speaker notice the flyer?
On the classroom noticeboard
At a bus stop
Inside a textbook
In a café window
3.
What did the service do?
It scanned handwritten notes and turned them into digital files
It sold cheap notebooks and pens
It repaired old laptops
It printed posters for school events
4.
Why did the speaker laugh?
Their notebook looked very messy
The flyer promised free pizza
A friend told a joke
The service was only for teachers
5.
Why did the speaker think the service was worth trying?
It was not very expensive, there was a student discount, and it might save time
It was the newest service in town and looked fashionable
It came with a free phone and a long contract
It was the only option available anywhere
Answer key (teachers only)
Students do not see this. Add or update questions and answers below the activity.
- Q1A. The speaker finds a useful service and decides it is worth tryi…
- Q2A. On the classroom noticeboard
- Q3A. It scanned handwritten notes and turned them into digital files
- Q4A. Their notebook looked very messy
- Q5A. It was not very expensive, there was a student discount, and it…
Sign up free to unlock “8. Multiple choice” and the rest of this lesson
Create free teacher account9
9. Grammar practice
Choose the best answer for each grammar question.
1.
Choose the correct sentence.
This app is more useful than the free one.
This app is useful than the free one.
This app is most useful than the free one.
This app use more useful than the free one.
2.
Which sentence gives the best advice?
You should try the trial offer first.
You should to try the trial offer first.
You should trying the trial offer first.
You should tried the trial offer first.
3.
Choose the sentence with the correct meaning of 'might'.
It might be a good bargain, but I am not sure.
It might is a good bargain, but I am not sure.
It might to be a good bargain, but I am not sure.
It might good bargain, but I am not sure.
4.
Which option is the most natural comparison?
This service is cheaper than the other one.
This service is cheap than the other one.
This service is cheapest than the other one.
This service is more cheap than the other one.
5.
Choose the best sentence for practical advice.
You could compare the prices before you buy.
You could compares the prices before you buy.
You could comparing the prices before you buy.
You could compared the prices before you buy.
6.
Which sentence uses 'should' correctly?
You should choose the option with the best features.
You should choosing the option with the best features.
You should chose the option with the best features.
You should to choose the option with the best features.
Answer key (teachers only)
Students do not see this. Add or update questions and answers below the activity.
- Q1A. This app is more useful than the free one.
- Q2A. You should try the trial offer first.
- Q3A. It might be a good bargain, but I am not sure.
- Q4A. This service is cheaper than the other one.
- Q5A. You could compare the prices before you buy.
- Q6A. You should choose the option with the best features.
Sign up free to unlock “9. Grammar practice” and the rest of this lesson
Create free teacher account10
10. Speaking
Speaking focus
In pairs, students decide whether the item or service is worth buying. They must give at least two reasons, use one comparative, and include should, might, or could. One student recommends it; the other rejects it, then they switch roles.
Class speaking activity — read, then practise aloud with your teacher or partner
Work in pairs. One student recommends the item or service, and the other rejects it. Give at least two reasons, use one comparative, and include should, might, or could. Then switch roles and try a different item from the lesson.
Sign up free to unlock “10. Speaking” and the rest of this lesson
Create free teacher account11
11. Writing task
Students write a short message to a friend explaining whether they would buy the product or service from the flyer. They must use at least two comparatives and two modals: should, might, and could. The tone should be clear, practical, and lightly conversational.
Aim for at least 70 words.
Sign up free to unlock “11. Writing task” and the rest of this lesson
Create free teacher account12
12. Board game
Student's turn
Student
Teacher
Move around the board, compare options, and decide if the bargain is really a bargain.
Sign up free to unlock “12. Board game” and the rest of this lesson
Create free teacher account13
13. Short answer
Answer the questions in 1–3 sentences each.
1.
Would you buy the item or service from the lesson? Why or why not?
2.
What feature matters most to you when you compare options?
3.
What advice would you give a friend who is thinking about buying it?
Sign up free to unlock “13. Short answer” and the rest of this lesson
Create free teacher account11 more activities in this lesson
Create a free teacher account to view the full lesson, copy it to your library, and assign it to students.
Sign up free