TEACHER’S

SUPERSTITIONS NOTES

Age: Teen/Adult mixed images photo – the single magpie, black cat, broken
Level: Upper-intermediate–Advanced (B2-C1) mirror, walking across cracks in the pavement and walking
Time: 60–90 minutes under a ladder are all considered unlucky (though a black
Activity: In this lesson, students will: cat is also considered lucky in some countries, including
1. discuss and read about superstitions; the UK)
2. identify common features of ‘clickbait’ articles Friday 13th – unlucky
and ‘listicles’; knocking on wood – lucky
3. practise writing a text for entertainment. four-leaf clover – lucky
Language focus: Vocabulary related to superstitions, horse shoe – depending on the country/culture, and which
features of texts written to entertain (hyperbole, way up it is placed, this can be either lucky or unlucky
sarcasm, etc)
Option 2: Dictate the following words. Students write
Materials: One copy of the worksheet and reading text per
them either in a notebook or on blank paper provided by
student; one copy of the Warmer handout if using option 1
the teacher.
of the warmer, or blank paper if using option 2; one copy
of the Phrase cut-ups handout per pair of students for umbrella, rabbit, salt, black cat, mirror, thirteen, ladder,
Exercise 5 (optional); internet access for Exercise 6. bird poo

Clarify the meaning of any unknown words, and check

PROCEDURE spelling if necessary.
Warmer
Working in pairs, ask students to organise the words into
Both options 1 and 2 are designed to activate students’ two categories. Don’t say what the categories are (i.e. don’t
prior knowledge of this topic. mention good or bad luck). They might come up with
different, creative ideas, or they might notice the topic of
Option 1: Give students the Warmer handout. Students
the lesson.
discuss the images together and decide what the theme
of the lesson is. Answers might vary, but they will likely After feeding back on the students’ categories, announce
conclude that ‘luck’, or ‘good/bad luck’ is the theme. the correct answer / theme of the lesson: superstitions.
At this point, you can teach the word ‘superstition’ if it
Key (possible answers):
is unknown.
Good luck signs/symbols
The Macmillan English dictionary definition of Rabbit – saying rabbit on the first day of the month
superstition: a belief that things such as magic or luck Bird poo – being pooed on by a bird
have the power to affect your life. Salt – throwing spilt salt over your shoulder
Bad luck signs/symbols
Once the theme of the lesson has been elicited/explained,
Umbrella – opening an umbrella indoors
ask the students to see if they can divide up the images into
Black cat – a black cat crossing your path (this is also good
those which are lucky and those which are unlucky. (Be
luck in some cultures)
careful – some images represent both good and bad luck
Mirror – breaking a mirror is seven years bad luck
depending on the country).
Thirteen – an unlucky number in some cultures
Key: Ladder – walking under a ladder
umbrella – opening an umbrella inside a building is
considered unlucky
broken mirror – unlucky
rabbit – lucky
salt – lucky

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Everyday life: Superstitions
 TEACHER’S
SUPERSTITIONS NOTES

Exercise 1 4. One – never wear blue on a Thursday. This

superstition was invented by the writer/website to
Students discuss the questions in pairs.
trick subscribers.
Exercise 2
Exercise 3

This lesson focuses on two types of entertainment The purpose of part a is to highlight some vocabulary in
texts: clickbait and listicles. The following are the the article that may be new for the learners, depending on
Macmillan English Dictionary definitions of these their level. If learners need extra support with this, direct
two types of article: them to the vocabulary in the text first. Tell them to scan
listicle: an article, especially on the internet, that the text to find the following words and underline them:
consists of a list of separate items rather than a
gullible, ranked, massive, prove, proof, a thing of the past
continuous text.
clickbait: a link on a website that is designed to catch Note: The words in the text in bold are NOT possible
people’s attention and encourage them to read on. answers. They are used in Exercise 4.

Part a is a preview task, which orientates students to the Students match each word to its definition, using the
text and activates existing knowledge of this text type context to help if needed. For more challenge, leave
(clickbait, listicles). Do not hand out the text at this stage, learners to find the possible word/phrase themselves
just ask students to read the text title only. without directing them to possible options.

Key (possible answers): Key:

1. You might find this text online; this might be an article 1. rank (v) = give something a place within a
widely shared on social media. grading system
2. The purpose of the text might be to entertain. 2. proof (n) = evidence
3. The title suggests that this article will be in a list 3. massive (adj) = huge, really big
format; it may include short paragraphs describing 4. prove (v) = find evidence that something is true
each item in the ‘top 5’ list. 5. a thing of the past = something that no longer happens
4. The text probably won’t be serious; it might be or exists
chatty or informal, as if the writer is speaking to 6. gullible (adj) = describing someone who is easy
the audience. to trick

Students then read the text for gist to check their In part b, students complete the questions with some of
predictions, and discuss their findings in pairs. the words above. They should discuss their choices with
a partner.
Part b is a comprehension task. Students answer the
comprehension questions according to the text. Key:

Key: 1. Do you think you’re a gullible person? Why /

Why not?
1. Online subscribers to the website – the article is based
2. How would you rank each of the superstitions from
on data gathered from a poll of online subscribers.
the article, based on the scale mentioned?
2. Respondents completed a survey, ranking superstitions
3. Where is the proof that man really walked on
based on how believable they were. Respondents
the moon?
were also encouraged to comment further about
4. Do you think that mobile phones will become a thing
each superstition.
of the past? Why / Why not?
3. If you break a mirror you get seven years bad luck – ‘a
massive 90% of subscribers … believed that’.

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Everyday life: Superstitions
 TEACHER’S
SUPERSTITIONS NOTES

Exercise 4

This activity exploits the use of different word forms in the text – for example, ‘prove’ and ‘proof’. It is a reminder to
students that when they learn a new word they may in fact be learning three or four new words at the same time. It is
good to encourage students to explore the new vocabulary they encounter to see if there are different word forms from
the same root, or if there are any interesting collocates with the new word.

If you feel your students already record vocabulary in an effective way then it might be worth skipping this activity. If not,
direct learners to the words in the text in bold. They add these to the appropriate column in the table (using the examples
to guide them), and then decide/research other forms of these words.

Key (some possible answers):

Noun Verb Adjective Adverb Collocations/other

proof prove (something) proven We can ‘disprove’ things too: find

out that they are not true

ranking rank (something) world ranking (e.g. in sport)

superstition superstitious

science scientific scientifically scientific research

scientific evidence

Popular science

truth truthful truthfully tell the truth

stupidity stupid stupidly stupid idea

Tips for the study skills activity

• Remind students that ‘knowing’ a word includes knowing how to pronounce it. You can model the correct
pronunciation for them, and they can mark things like word stress. Alternatively, they can research this
themselves in a dictionary. A useful website which has many examples of words used in natural spoken
situations is www.youglish.com
• A simple website for identifying common collocations of a word is www.just-the-word.com

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Everyday life: Superstitions
 TEACHER’S
SUPERSTITIONS NOTES

Exercise 5 The writer uses sarcasm, • They ranked each

which adds humour to superstition on our highly
This activity highlights some of the techniques used by
the text scientific scale
the writer to engage readers. These are common features
of texts written to entertain. Tell students to search for • One helpful user wrote:
examples of each technique or feature in the text. When ‘because it is’. Thanks for
they finish (and have checked together) they could discuss that.
any other features they feel are used by the writer.
The writer uses • Here’s the proof that
Key (possible answers): hyperbole (exaggeration) people will believe
to emphasise their point anything.
Feature Example(s)
Identifying these features may be a difficult task for some
The writer directly • A massive 90% of our
students. You can use the Phrase cut-ups handout to
addresses the reader to subscribers (that probably
support them if needed. They can then search the text for
make the text feel more means you) …
other possible examples to add to their table.
personal
• Or, maybe half of you are
Exercise 6
just gullible
This activity is a chance for learners to apply what they
The writer uses • Superstitions are a thing of
have learnt about clickbait and listicles. Students can
rhetorical questions. the past, right?
work alone or in pairs – they might prefer the support of
These are not meant
working with a partner as the task is quite challenging.
to be answered; they
They made need access to the internet to research before
are used to engage
writing their article (alternatively, this can be done as
the reader or get them
homework).
thinking
Students choose a topic and write a short ‘listicle’, in a
The writer changes the • Top 5 superstitions that
similar style to the model text. Encourage them to include
formatting and style people STILL believe!
features of the model text as identified in Exercise 5. They
of the text to draw
The writer’s (over)use of could also try to include any new language or phrase from
attention to certain
exclamations may also be other stages of the lesson.
features
identified
When they finish writing, have students peer correct
The writer uses an There is evidence of this each other’s work. You may wish to create a checklist to
informal, chatty tone to throughout the text. Examples highlight the success criteria for this task. See the Success
seem more personal include: criteria handout as an example, which you can use.

• Rubbish! I don’t believe Students can offer feedback to each other on how effective
that for a second! their texts is, and how it could be improved. Finish by
allowing students to read each other’s texts and deciding
• Contractions such as you’ll
which one they think is the most engaging and why.
• Informal phrases like ‘That
sounds a bit extreme …’,
and ‘Yeah …’

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Everyday life: Superstitions
 PHRASE
SUPERSTITIONS CUT-UPS

A massive 90% of our subscribers (that probably means you) …

✁
Here’s the proof that people will believe anything.

One helpful user wrote: ‘Because it is.’ Thanks for that.

They ranked each superstition on our highly scientific scale

That sounds a bit extreme …

Top 5 superstitions that people STILL believe!

Superstitions are a thing of the past, right?

Or, maybe half of you are just gullible

✁
A massive 90% of our subscribers (that probably means you) …

Here’s the proof that people will believe anything.

One helpful user wrote: ‘Because it is.’ Thanks for that.

They ranked each superstition on our highly scientific scale

That sounds a bit extreme …

Top 5 superstitions that people STILL believe!

Superstitions are a thing of the past, right?

Or, maybe half of you are just gullible

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Everyday life: Superstitions
 SUCCESS
CRITERIA
SUPERSTITIONS HANDOUT

Success criteria Yes/No Example (where relevant)

The text includes a ‘clickbait’

style title

The text is written in a list format

The text is below the maximum

word count

The text directly addresses the

audience (‘you’)

The text includes a rhetorical question

The text uses different formatting

and style features to attract the
reader’s attention

The overall tone of the text is informal

and chatty

The text includes sarcasm

and/or humour

The text includes an

exaggerated statement

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Everyday life: Superstitions
 WARMER
HANDOUT
Look at the pictures and guess: what’s the theme of today’s lesson?

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Everyday life: Superstitions
SUPERSTITIONS WORKSHEET
EXERCISE 1
Work with a partner. Discuss the following questions about today’s topic.

• Are you superstitious: do you believe that there are things which bring good or bad luck?
• Do you have any other superstitions in your country? Do your family have their own superstitions? If so, what
are they?
• Why do you think people are superstitious?
• ‘People were more superstitious in the past compared to now.’ Do you agree? Explain your answer.

EXERCISE 2
a. You’re going to read a text with the title: Top 5 superstitions that people STILL believe! Before you read the text,
discuss these questions:

1. Where might you find this text?

2. What do you think the purpose of the text will be?

3. What do you think the layout of the text will be like?

4. What type of language do you expect to find in this text? (e.g. formal / informal, etc)

Read the text. Is it what you expected?

b. Answer the questions according to the text.

1. Who still believes these superstitions?

2. In what ways was data gathered for this article?

3. Which superstition is still the most widely believed?

4. How many of the superstitions were invented by the writers of this article?

EXERCISE 3
a. Find a word or phrase in the text to match each definition.

1. give something a place within a grading system:

2. evidence:

3. huge, really big:

4. find evidence that something is true:

5. something that no longer happens or exists:

6. describing someone who is easy to trick:

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Everyday life: Superstitions
SUPERSTITIONS WORKSHEET
b. Use the words from part a to complete the questions below. There are two words you don’t need. Then ask each
question to your partner.

1. Do you think you’re a person? Why / Why not?

2. How would you each of the superstitions from the article, based on the scale mentioned?

3. Where is the that man really walked on the moon?

4. Do you think that mobile phones will become ? Why / Why not?

Did you know…?

Online articles like this, that are written in a short, sharp list format, are sometimes referred to as listicles. These are
often used as clickbait – they are designed in a way to encourage social media users to click and read the content.
Clickbait often includes a snappy headline, like ‘Top 10 …’, ‘X ways to …’, or words like ‘unbelievable’ and ‘amazing’.

EXERCISE 4
When you learn a new word, it may help to record it in a table like this:

Noun Verb Adjective Adverb Collocations/other

proof prove (something) proven We can ‘disprove’ things too: find

out that they are not true

ranking rank (something) world ranking (e.g. in sport)

Add the words in bold from the text to the table. Then add any other forms each word that you can think of. Use a
dictionary to help you.

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Everyday life: Superstitions
SUPERSTITIONS WORKSHEET
EXERCISE 5
This text is written to inform and entertain. The writer uses a range of techniques and language features to engage the
audience. Read each description in the table. Search for examples of this feature in the text. An example has been done
for you.

Feature Example(s)

The writer directly addresses the reader to make the text • A massive 90% of our subscribers (that probably
feel more personal means you) …

• Or, maybe half of you are just gullible

The writer uses rhetorical questions. These are not meant

to be answered, they are used to engage the reader or get
them thinking

The writer changes the formatting and style of the text to

draw attention to certain features

The writer uses an informal, chatty tone to seem

more personal

The writer uses sarcasm, which adds humour to the text

The writer uses hyperbole (exaggeration) to emphasise

their point

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Everyday life: Superstitions
SUPERSTITIONS WORKSHEET
EXERCISE 6
Can you write like the writer?

Write a short clickbait listicle on one of the topics below, or use your own ideas.

• Halloween superstitions
• weird superstitions from around the world
• fake superstitions that will trick your friends
• songs that mention superstitions

Write no more than 400 words. Refer to your notes from Exercise 5, and the ‘Did you know?’ box to help you.

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Everyday life: Superstitions
SUPERSTITIONS READING TEXT

Top 5 superstitions that people STILL believe!

Superstitions are a thing of the past, right? Wrong. Last month, we shared a list of common
superstitions with our online subscribers. We asked which of the superstitions they believed were true.
They ranked each superstition on our highly scientific scale:
• This is 100% true – I can prove it!
• There’s some truth in that…
• Hmmm, I’m not sure…
• Rubbish! I don’t believe that for a second!

The results were surprising…

1. Breaking a mirror
A massive 90% of our subscribers (that probably means you) believed that if you break a
mirror, you’ll get seven years bad luck. In the comments section, one user even believed
that smashing a mirror gives you bad luck for life. That sounds a bit extreme …

2. Opening an umbrella indoors

‘It’s bad luck to open an umbrella indoors.’ Nearly everybody believed that there was
some truth in this statement. When we asked you to tell us ‘why?’ in the comments
section, one helpful user wrote: ‘Because it is.’ Thanks for that.

3. Ladders
‘Walking under a ladder brings bad luck.’ Over two-thirds of subscribers felt there
was some truth in this. Whether it’s good or bad, walking under a ladder just
sounds like a stupid idea to us!

4. Lucky bird poo

‘It’s good luck to get hit by falling bird poo.’ That’s what around half our
subscribers believe. We liked the comments from one user though, who stressed,
‘Yeah, it’s good luck, but I don’t stand outside waiting for it to happen.’

5. Never wear blue on a Thursday

Here’s the proof that people will believe anything. We added a fake superstition to our
list, just to see how our subscribers reacted. Surprisingly, half our online users believed
that ‘if you wear blue on a Thursday, you’ll be tired all day’. Maybe that is a superstition
somewhere in the world. Or, maybe half of you are just gullible.

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Everyday life: Superstitions