This theme page presents materials for graduating students at the end of the term, thinking about their future. Suitable for Levels B1-C2.
Warm-up
Dear Graduates – A Message From Kid President – YouTube (4:12)Â https://youtu.be/J7Jh31p9RME
One of Kid President’s dreams is not only to grow up and graduate but also to grow up and give the speech at graduation.
Suli Breaks – Why I Hate School But Love Education [Official Spoken Word Video] – YouTube  (6:07)https://youtu.be/y_ZmM7zPLyI
Spoken Word Video from Suli Breaks in a British accent about school vs education vs talent
What is your future plan – YouTube (2:47)https://youtu.be/I-mWLv2Czoo
Inspirational video for youth about future planning (Warning for the mention of God on the final slide)
“When I Grow Up” by Colin Hesterly | Disney Favorite – YouTube (2:00)Â https://youtu.be/vxLnph4JqdA
A young boy dreams of the endless possibilities of where his life might lead in Colin Hesterly’s “When I Grow Up.”
Songs
Future – Paramore (Lyrics)
Shawn Mendes – Something Big (Lyrics)
Lady Antebellum – Compass
Shakira – Try Everything
OneRepublic – I Lived
The Head and the Heart – Rivers and Roads with LYRICS
Switchfoot – Live It Well
Jason Mraz – Have It All
Rascal Flatts – My Wish
Lee Ann Womack – I Hope You Dance
Phil Collins – On My Way Live
Natasha Bedingfield – Unwritten
Miley Cyrus – The Climb
Sarah McLachlan – I will remember you
Graduation Song of the Year – This World is Yours – by Julie Durden
Ryan Shupe – Dream Big
Lesson Plans
Angela Lee Duckworth: Grit: The power of passion and perseverance | TED Talk (6:12)https://www.ted.com/talks/angela_lee_duckworth_the_key_to_success_grit
What does my grit scale tell me? After watching the video and doing the questionnaire, have the students write a letter to themselves, giving advice for their future  questionnaire
Reading
CBRE report warns 50 percent of occupations will be redundant in 20 years time | Daily Mail Onlinehttp://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2826463/CBRE-report-warns-50-cent-occupations-redundant-20-years-time.html
From self-driving cars to care bots for elderly people, rapid advances in technology have long represented a potential threat to many jobs normally performed by people.
Viewing
New! Two things Kamala Harris wants 2021 graduates to know – YouTube (7:03)Â https://youtu.be/O_jsX2A6uLc
Vice President Kamala Harris congratulated 2021 graduates for overcoming the challenges brought on by the coronavirus pandemic and encouraged them to consider their role in making the world better. (yr 9)
Graduation Speech from the Future – YouTube (6:23)Â https://youtu.be/NhHOA-cuA78
Here is a graduation speech I gave FROM THE FUTURE. When presented with the honor of speaking to the graduates of Keuka College in Keuka Park, New York, I decided to close by revealing to them my secret life of being a time traveler.
Film Festival Graduation Speecheshttp://www.edutopia.org/blog/film-festival-graduation-speeches?utm_content=blog&utm_campaign=fmff-graduation-videos&utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=socialflow&utm_term=link
From inspirational elocutions to gutsy send-ups of the system, the long-held tradition of the commencement speech is a must at graduations from kindergarten to college.
The 21 greatest graduation speeches of the last 60 yearshttps://www.vox.com/a/greatest-graduation-speeches?utm_source=nextdraft
Graduation speeches are the last opportunity for a high school or college to educate its students.
Famous Failures – YouTube (1:16)Â https://youtu.be/zLYECIjmnQs
Inspiring video on persevering no matter how many times you have failed in life. This video mentions well-known people who had failed but kept pressing on
Unbroken – Motivational Video – YouTube (5:57)Â https://youtu.be/26U_seo0a1g
For those who haven’t watched Mateusz M videos, I highly suggest watching all the videos he has ever made. This guy has a real talent when it comes to creating powerful motivational videos.
Write your story, change history – Brad Meltzer | TED-Ed (8:57)Â https://ed.ted.com/lessons/write-your-story-change-history-brad-meltzer
In this inspirational TEDYouth 2011 Talk, Brad Meltzer encourages us to dream big, work hard, and stay humble.
Imagination changes everything: Patti Dobrowolski at TEDxSacramentoSalon – YouTube (14:07)Â https://youtu.be/-wuBEBnCg3c
Patti Dobrowolski at TEDxSacramentoSalon about the importance of imagination in shaping your future
Draw Your Future – Patti Dobrowolski TED – YouTube (10:36)Â https://youtu.be/A7KRSCyLqc4
A great TED talk by Patti Dobrowolski on planning your future, making her message more concrete
How to know your life purpose in 5 minutes | Adam Leipzig | TEDxMalibu – YouTube (10:33)https://youtu.be/vVsXO9brK7M
Adam Leipzig at TEDxMalibu asks 5 questions to help you find your life’s purpose
Advice I Would Give My Teenage Self’: Michael Acton Smith, Sherry Coutu & Alice Taylor | WIRED – YouTube  (4:12) https://youtu.be/TF3WEAXs-aU
Three entrepreneurs at Wired Next Generation in London tell a room full of teenagers what advice they would give to their own teenage selves.
An Education Official Trailer – YouTube (1:55)https://youtu.be/qn9IMe5jmf0
In the post-war, pre-Beatles London suburbs, a bright schoolgirl is torn between studying for a place at Oxford and the rather more exciting alternative
How to Find Fulfilling Work – YouTube  (5:12)https://youtu.be/veriqDHLXsw
The key to finding fulfilling work is to think a lot, analyse one’s fears, understand the market, reflect on capitalism.
26 Unusual Occupations – mental_floss on YouTube (Ep.215) – YouTube (6:45)https://youtu.be/46rY4BbKoUE
If you do not fancy studying you might try to find occupations like these that seem not to need academic credentials.
22 Best The First Day of the Rest of Your Life images in 2016 | Inspirational videos, Motivational videos, Resthttps://www.pinterest.com/quicktutor/the-first-day-of-the-rest-of-your-life/
These video clips have been chosen to be shown and discussed with 9th-grade school-leavers.
I Will Not Let An Exam Result Decide My Fate||Spoken Word – YouTube  (5:52) https://youtu.be/D-eVF_G_p-Y
A Spoken Word Video From Suli Breaks.
Andrew McAfee: What will future jobs look like? | TED Talk (14:14)https://www.ted.com/talks/andrew_mcafee_what_will_future_jobs_look_like#t-213540
Economist Andrew McAfee suggests that, yes, probably, droids will take our jobs — or at least the kinds of jobs we know now. In this far-seeing talk, he thinks through what future jobs might look like, and how to educate coming generations to hold them.
Speaking
Teen Talk: Future Plans – YouTube (4:11)Â https://youtu.be/-HYPSSX39W4
Four local teens join the Rhode Show to discuss where they want to be after high school.
Writing
Two questions that can change your life on Vimeo (2:02)https://vimeo.com/8480171
A video excerpt from Daniel Pink’s DRIVE: The Surprising Truth About What Motivates Us.
My Future Plans Essay Ä°n English (1:40)https://youtu.be/RaTXqwvRTEc
‘What are your future plans’ example. What are your own future and career plans?
How to Plan For a Successful Future: 11 Steps (with Pictures)http://www.wikihow.com/Plan-For-a-Successful-Future
“I really want to make it in life, but I don’t know how!” Success is something that is inherently built into us from the moment we are educated, to the moment we land that first job, as something to strive for.
Final Words
Five ways to say goodbye to your graduating studentshttp://www.edutopia.org/blog/five-ways-to-say-goodbye-graduating-students-rebecca-alber
Edutopia blogger Rebecca Alber offers five classroom end-of-the-year activities for engaging your graduating students.
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