Schedulues/Routines
Lesson Plan- Schedules and Routines
People frequently talk about their daily or weekly routines and schedules, especially with family or friends. They may do so just out of curiosity or because they want to plan for some event.
When talking about daily schedules and routines adverbs of frequency are used to indicate how frequently you do things. Look at these common adverbs of frequency.
| 100% | 80% | 50% | 20% | 0% |
| always | usually | sometimes | seldom | never |
| all the time | most of the time | occasionally | rarely |
not at all |
Everyone has some kind of schedule or daily routine. They get up at a certain time, eat at a certain time, go to work at a certain time. For some people, schedules are very fixed and regimented. For others, schedules may be very flexible and varying. Most people have things on their schedules that have to be done, no matter what- like go to work, feed the baby, or taking medicine. Sometimes these things happen daily, sometimes weekly, and sometimes less frequently. No matter when or how often things are done, there are several expressions that can be used to ask or talk about about schedules, routines, and expressing obligations. Look at the examples below.
Expressions when asking about schedules
Expression: What time (… do you go to work)?
Response: I usually leave the house around 7:30.
Expression: What time (… you usually do laundry)?
Response: I usually do it on Saturday afternoons.
Expression: Where do ( … you exercise)?
Response: I go to a gym in my neighborhood.
Expressing Obligation
Expression: I must go to ( … class this morning).
Response: Why? Do you have a test?
Expression: He has to ( … be at work by 8:00 AM)
Response: What happens if he is a little late?
Expression: I’m expected to ( … visit my grandmother every Sunday afternoon).
Response: Does she get upset if you don’t show up?
Expression: On Friday afternoons, I am supposed to ( … deposit the stores
weekly sales income in the bank).
Response: Will you get fired if you don’t?
Expression: All applicants are required to ( … have an eye vision test before getting
a drivers license).
Response: If your vision is poor, will they deny you a driver’s license?
** Expected to and supposed to are primarily used to express intentions,
not absolutes. Use have to to express something definite.
Students should work together in pairs and read the following dialogue, one student reading one part, the other student reading the other. Note the expressions used in the dialogue and the progression of the conversation. The dialogue can be used as a model to have similar conversations.
Dialogue- Schedules and Routines
Claudia: What time do you usually wake up Bridgette?
Bridgette: Usually I’m up by 6:00, even on weekends.
Claudia: Why do you get up so early?
Bridgette: I always exercise for an hour before getting ready for work.
Claudia: When do you go to work?
Bridgette: I leave my house at 8:30 and arrive at the office a little
before 9:00.
Claudia: When do you eat lunch?
Bridgette: It depends on my schedule, anywhere from 11:30 to 2:00.
Claudia: Where do you eat?
Bridgette: Usually at my desk, I’m too busy to take a full hour for lunch.
I either bring my lunch from home or order food and have it delivered.
Claudia: What time do you leave the office for the day?
Bridgette: I try to get out of there by 6:00, but sometimes I work until
6:30 or 7:00.
Claudia: What do you do after work?
Bridgette: I go home and cook dinner, feed my cat, and watch TV or
listen to music until I go to bed. On weekends I usually go out
with friends.
Claudia: What time do you go to bed?
Bridgette: I go to bed by 10:30, but I read for at least a half an hour before I fall asleep.
Conversation Activities- Schedules and Routines
1. Pair work- discussion
Tell your partner what your daily schedule is like. Be specific and detailed.
Discuss what you do from the time you wake up until you go to bed, on
weekdays and weekends.
2. Pair work-discussion
Tell your partner some of the things that you have to do or are expected or
supposed to do during the week. Your partner should continue the
conversation by asking questions about when, why, and what
happens if you do not do the thing.
3. Pair Work- discussion
Do you ever play tennis? Ask your partner if they ever do any of the
activities listed below. Ask other questions to get more information
about when and, what time, where, how often, with who, cost, etc.
| Swim in the ocean | Go on double dates | Write poetry |
| Go camping | Study all night | Ride a motorcycle |
| Sing karaoke | Wake up late | Argue with parents |
| Sky or scuba dive | Ride the subway | Go bowling |
| Watch foreign movies | Play board games |
Lift weights |
| Cook pizza | Buy expensive clothes | Ride a roller coaster |
| Knit | Go to the zoo | Go to the theater |
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