IQ Testing Gone Wrong

The main goals of this ESL lesson are:

• – discuss the genesis and history of IQ testing
• – debate the ethics of IQ testing and how it can be misused
• – discuss the pros and cons of widespread IQ testing

By analyzing authentic scenarios this intermediate lesson plan looks at the limitations of IQ testing.

Warm-up

At the begging of the lesson students are presented with three possible reasons for which IQ testing was first introduced and pick one they deem to be the most likely to be true. This is a good starting point for a conversation class.

Video

The students watch a video “The Dark History of IQ Tests.” After watching the video students summarize it using the provided phrases.

Speaking

Students debate an IQ-related statement with their teacher, discuss some pros and cons of IQ testing, and analyze a series of IQ testing scenarios. They then discuss opposing viewpoints related to IQ testing and explain their feelings about some IQ testing slogans. These b1 level exercises are designed to get the learners talking and make them more comfortable using English in everyday settings.

Discussion

From a list of quotes students pick one they like most and discuss its message. This speaking activity helps develop intermediate vocabulary.