Checking your partner's phone is acceptable if you suspect they are cheating.
Watching pornography has a negative influence on young people's relationships.
Dating apps have made it harder to find genuine love.
Posting provocative pictures on social media is a form of empowerment.
AI girlfriends and boyfriends could replace real relationships in the future.
Young people in Spain are better off emigrating than trying to build a future here.
It is more important to earn a high salary than to enjoy your job.
Adult children who live with their parents should pay rent, even if they are studying.
People who inherit several properties should pay much higher taxes.
University degrees are becoming less valuable than practical skills.
Traditional gender roles are making a comeback among young people.
Beauty standards promoted on social media are more harmful to boys than to girls.
Positive discrimination is necessary to achieve real equality.
Men and women face equally strong social pressures, but in different ways.
Parents should be allowed to monitor their teenage children's private messages.
Squatting in empty properties can be justified when people cannot afford housing.
The Spanish government should spend less money on pensions and more on young people.
Bullfighting should be completely banned in Spain.
Freedom of speech should include the right to express offensive opinions.
Spain should introduce compulsory military or community service for 18-year-olds.
Students should be allowed to evaluate their teachers publicly.
Parents should stop financially supporting their children once they turn 18.
Cancel culture does more harm than good.
People should be allowed to change their physical appearance using cosmetic surgery from the age of 16.
Schools should stop teaching subjects that students will never use in real life.
| Feature | Usually | Used To |
|---|---|---|
| Time | Present (now) | Past (finished/changed) |
| Verb Form | Present simple | Base infinitive (to + verb) |
| Example | "I usually drink tea." | "I used to drink coffee." |
Put four signs around the classroom: Strongly agree / Agree / Disagree / Strongly disagree.
Give them an opinion-essay statement, for example:
Social media does more harm than good.
Students move to the corner that represents their opinion. In their group, they have 2–3 minutes to prepare two arguments and examples. Then each group explains its position. Students are allowed to change corners if another group convinces them.
At the end, ask them to formulate what could become their thesis:
In my opinion, social media does more harm than good because…
This is excellent preparation for an essay because they generate arguments orally first.
Some opinion-essay statements:
1. Spain should ban social media for under-16s.
2. The Spanish government should limit rental prices to help young people become independent.
3. Students should be allowed to use ChatGPT to complete their homework.
4. The PAU exams should be abolished because they put too much pressure on students.
5. Being an influencer is just as respectable as having a traditional job.
6. Tourist apartments should be banned in cities like Barcelona.
7. Social media influencers are doing more harm than good to gender equality.
8. The voting age in Spain should be lowered to 16.
9. Young people should be prepared to give up cheap flights to protect the environment.
10. Schools should give students mental health days off, just like sick days.
MORE OPINION-ESSAY STATEMENTS HERE.
Arrange students in pairs facing each other. Give them a statement:
School uniforms should be compulsory.
They have:
Then one row moves and you give them a new topic.
Possible statements:
After 4–5 rounds, students choose one topic and write the essay. They already have arguments from several classmates.
Pairs choose FOR / AGAINST.
Topic:
Students should be allowed to use smartphones in class.
They alternate arguments:
A: Smartphones can help students find information quickly.
B: However, they can easily distract students.
A: That may be true, but teachers can establish rules.
B: Nevertheless, it is difficult to control thirty students…
The first student who cannot think of another argument loses the round.
Add a rule: they cannot repeat an argument.
This is especially useful for practising connectors naturally: however, moreover, although, nevertheless, on the other hand, in addition, therefore…
Put students in groups of 3–4. Give each student a controversial statement that they must defend even if they don't agree with it.
For example:
Homework should be abolished.
They have 3 minutes to prepare:
Opinion → Reason 1 → Example → Reason 2 → Example
Then they have 60–90 seconds to convince the group.
The other students decide: Were you convincing? Why/why not?
This teaches an important essay skill: a good argument needs development, not just a statement.
Students give their real opinion:
Online learning is better than face-to-face learning.
Their partner must disagree, regardless of their actual opinion.
A: I think face-to-face learning is better because students interact more.
B: I see your point, but online learning gives students more flexibility.
A: That's true, although…
This is excellent for teaching acknowledging the opposing argument, which can push their essays towards a stronger B2+/C1 style.
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