This one hour lesson includes a video, vocabulary, discussion questions, and an extension activity. This advanced conversation lesson can be done in class with many students or online one-on-one with a single student.

The video for this lesson is Face-Off With a Deadly Predator | National Geographic. 

1. Warm-up Question – Discuss in partners or with your teacher. (5-10 minutes)

What are the best and worst things that can happen to a wildlife photographer? Why?

2. Match the following vocabulary words with the definition. (5 minutes)

3. Now watch the video. As you watch the video, answer the following question. (5 minutes)

1. What did the leopard seal do, and why?

4. Watch the video one more time and answer the following questions. (5 minutes)

1. What was the leopard seal’s first reaction to the man?
2. Why did the leopard seal change its behavior?
3. What was the man’s opinion of the leopard seal at the beginning and the end of this experience?
4. The man used a present perfect sentence to describe his experience. What did he say?
   1. If you don’t hear the sentence, try clicking the time-stamped link here at 1 minute 36 seconds. https://youtu.be/Zxa6P73Awcg?t=96

5. Now ask and answer the following discussion questions in partners or with your teacher. (10-20 minutes)

1. What would be difficult about being a wildlife photographer? Explain.
2. What would be fun about being a wildlife photographer? Explain.
3. Would you like to be a wildlife photographer? Why or why not?
4. Have you ever seen a wild animal? What animals have you seen in the wild?
5. What’s the closest you’ve ever been to a wild animal?
6. Have you ever had an experience with a dangerous animal?
7. Do you think wildlife photography is an important job? Why or why not?
8. What’s the best photo you’ve ever taken? Why?
9. Do you like to take photos? Why or why not?
10. Do you prefer to print photos or look at photos on a screen? Why?
11. If you could go anywhere to take photos, where would you go? Why?
12. If you had to take a photo for National Geographic Magazine, what would you take a photo of? Why?

6. Paul Nicklen described the most incredible experience he’d ever had taking photos for National Geographic. Use the following sentence structure and prompts to describe experiences you’ve had. (10-20 minutes)

Your partner/teacher should ask at least two past tense questions about each experience. When you finish, allow your partner/teacher to describe an experience and you ask at least two past tense questions.

For example:

Student A: “The most incredible birthday I’ve ever experienced was when I went to go see Britney Spears in concert.”

Student B: “Oh really? How old were you?”

The most incredible _______ I’ve ever experienced was…

7. Now use your cellphone to take a photo of something “incredible” either in the classroom or just outside. After you have taken the photo, share it with your teacher who will share it with the class (by projecting it on the board). If this is an online class, send the photo to your teacher or just hold your phone up to the webcam after you’ve taken your photo. (10 minutes)

8. Answer the following questions about the photo you’ve taken, and then explain your answers to the class or your teacher. (10-20 minutes)

1. Why did you choose to photograph this?
2. Why is this thing/image incredible?
3. Do you think this photo would look better in color or in black and white?
4. Why did you take the photo the way you did? Is it looking down at the object? Under it? Straight at it?
5. If you had time to edit the photo, would you do anything special to it?

9. After everyone has shared their photos, as a class vote on the most incredible photo and why. (5 minutes)

I hope you and your students had fun practicing present perfect and learning about wildlife photography together.

If you want more advanced conversation lessons try this conversation lesson about thrifting.