Interactive Lesson - Time

Part 1 - The Passing of Time

Look at the Still Life picture below. Do you think it is a modern or classical work of art?

Click on the picture to see a short video by artist Sam Taylor-Wood. What do you think it says about the passing of time?

(If you don't want to spend 3 minutes watching a silent video, you could watch it on double speed.)

• Why do you think the artist chose to include a biro in the film?
• Some people think that the video is pessimistic. Can you think of an optimistic reading of the video?
• Why does YouTube include an option to watch videos on double speed? What does that tell us about modern life?

Part 2 - Comprehension

Here is a short talk by psychologist, Professor Philip Zimbardo.

As you watch, make notes on the following points:

> The six different perspectives on time.

> How these perspectives relate to where you live. 

> Their impact on health, education and human behaviour.

If you would like to see the full 40-minute lecture, you can watch it on the RSA website.

Part 3 - Discussion

Do you think you are...?

• Past orientated?
• Present orientated?
• Future orientated?

Is there anything you spend too much time doing?

What would you do if you had an 8-day week?



Part 4 - Time idioms

I was early for the meeting so I killed some time looking around the shopping centre.

Every morning, I wandered down by the river, just to pass the time.

I spent some time reading through the programme.

What's the difference between spending, passing and killing time?


Here is a list of 'time' idioms. In pairs, write a two-line dialogue for each one, which clearly demonstrates their meaning.

Example: 1. A waste of time

- I've already called her five times today.
- She never picks up; it's a waste of time.

1. A waste of time
2. All in good time
3. In the nick of time
4. Living on borrowed time
5. It's high time / It's about time
6. Time flies (when you're having fun)
7. Having the time of her life
8. Time will tell
9. Make up for lost time

Now swap dialogues with another pair. Compare their dialogues with your own and with my examples here, to check that you've understood the meaning correctly. If you need more help, you can google them to find their definitions.