Includes communication activities, TED Talk transcripts, and a grammar summary.

"Featuring remarkable people communicating passionately and persuasively, TED Talks provide inspiring ideas and an unparalleled source of authentic language. Keynote invites learners to explore life-changing stories for a deeper understanding of the world, developing the confidence and skills needed to express themselves powerfully and proficiently in English.
Engaging and authentic TED Talks drive an integrated-skills syllabus alongside 21st century outcomes like communication, collaboration, creativity, and critical thinking.
Real-world content presented through readings, infographics, and interviews motivates learners to engage with language meaningfully.
Unique presentation sections based on best practices demonstrated by TED speakers teach transferable strategies that develop fluency, confidence, and compelling delivery." (Book Cover)

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Scope and Sequence

Welcome to Keynote!

Unit 1: PROTECTORS

Lesson A
VOCABULARY: Types of animals
LISTENING: Moving people to action / Joel Sartore, photographer

Lesson B LANGUAGE FOCUS
Function: Describing events in the present
Grammar: Simple present and present continuous
SPEAKING: Protecting species

Lesson C
READING: Vultures in danger

Lesson D
TED TALK: Why I Love Vultures / Munir Virani
PRESENTATION SKILLS: Signposting with questions

Lesson E
COMMUNICATE: A group decision
WRITING: Writing about an endangered species

Unit 2: FAMILY CONNECTIONS

Lesson B LANGUAGE FOCUS
Function: Talking about future plans
Grammar: Future forms
SPEAKING: My family

Lesson C
READING: Genealogy

Lesson D
TED TALK: The World’s Largest Family Reunion / A. J. Jacobs
PRESENTATION SKILLS: Personalizing a presentation

Lesson E
COMMUNICATE: Family tree
WRITING: Writing an invitation

Unit 3: GLOBAL STORIES

Lesson A
VOCABULARY: Genres of fiction
LISTENING: Interview with an author / Madeleine Thien, author

Lesson B LANGUAGE FOCUS
Function: Adding details
Grammar: Relative clauses
SPEAKING: Can you guess?

Lesson C
READING: Top picks

Lesson D
TED TALK: My Year Reading a Book from Every Country / Ann Morgan
PRESENTATION SKILLS: Closing a presentation

Lesson E
COMMUNICATE: A book recommendation
WRITING: Writing a book review
Presentation 1: Talking about an endangered species

Unit 4: MUSIC

Lesson A
VOCABULARY: Music
LISTENING: A traditional singer / Larla O Lionaird, singer

Lesson B LANGUAGE FOCUS
Function: Talking about quantity
Grammar: Countable and uncountable nouns
SPEAKING: Music preferences

Lesson C
READING: Music and the brain

Lesson D
TED TALK: Why I Take the Piano on the Road… and in the Air / Daria van der Bercken
PRESENTATION SKILLS: Providing background information

Lesson E
COMMUNICATE: Desert island discs
WRITING: Writing about a favorite song

Unit 5: GOOD DESIGN

Lesson A
VOCABULARY: Design elements
LISTENING: A designer’s advice / Sarah Lafferty, designer

Lesson B LANGUAGE FOCUS
Function: Talking about place and position
Grammar: Prepositions of place
SPEAKING: Designing a coat of arms

Lesson C
READING: Symbol of a city

Lesson D
TED TALK: The Worst-Designed Thing You’ve Never Noticed / Roman Mars
PRESENTATION SKILLS: Numbering key points

Lesson E
COMMUNICATE: A new city flag
WRITING: Writing about your country’s flag

Unit 6: INSPIRATION

Lesson A
VOCABULARY: Sources of inspiration
LISTENING: My inspiration / Franklin Chang Diaz, former astronaut

Lesson B LANGUAGE FOCUS
Function: Reporting what someone said
Grammar: Reported speech
SPEAKING: Getting advice

Lesson C
READING: Inspiring lives

Lesson D
TED TALK: How a Boy Became an Artist / Jarrett Krosoczka
PRESENTATION SKILLS: Using your voice effectively

Lesson E
COMMUNICATE: A lively dinner party
WRITING: Writing about an inspiring person
Presentation 2: Presenting a favorite piece of technology

Unit 7: ETHICAL CHOICES

Lesson A
VOCABULARY: Ethical food choices
LISTENING: Sustainable chef / Barton Seaver, chef

Lesson B LANGUAGE FOCUS
Function: Making predictions
Grammar: Will for predictions
SPEAKING: Predicting future habits

Lesson C
READING: Leather from a lab

Lesson D
TED TALK: Leather and Meat Without Killing Animals / Andras Forgacs
PRESENTATION SKILLS: Creating effective slides

Lesson E
COMMUNICATE: Weighing both sides
WRITING: Writing about the future of food

Unit 8: BETTER CITIES

Lesson A
VOCABULARY: Features of a city
LISTENING: Living abroad / Claire Street, expatriate

Lesson B LANGUAGE FOCUS
Function: Using phrasal verbs
Grammar: Phrasal verbs
SPEAKING: Talking about best places

Lesson C
READING: Connecting citizens

Lesson D
TED TALK: It’s Our City. Let’s Fix It / Alessandra Orofino
PRESENTATION SKILLS: Using anecdotes

Lesson E
COMMUNICATE: Let’s fix this!
WRITING: Writing about a change for the better

Unit 9: GIVING

Lesson A
VOCABULARY: Helping others
LISTENING: My fundraising adventure / Neil Glover, fundraiser

Lesson B LANGUAGE FOCUS
Function: Making offers and describing real conditions
Grammar: Will for offers and conditions SPEAKING: Planning an event

Lesson C
READING: Donation revolution

Lesson D
TED TALK: Should You Donate Differently? / Joy Sun
PRESENTATION SKILLS: Using supporting evidence

Lesson E
COMMUNICATE: How to give
WRITING: Writing about a charity you support
Presentation 3: Describing a great city

Unit 10: MIND AND MACHINE

Lesson A
VOCABULARY: Brain functions
LISTENING: The power of visualization / Brian Scholl, professor

Lesson B LANGUAGE FOCUS
Function: Using adverbial phrases
Grammar: Adverbial phrases
SPEAKING: A logic puzzle

Lesson C
READING: Power of the mind

Lesson D
TED TALK: A Headset that Reads your Brainwaves / Tan Le
PRESENTATION SKILLS: Dealing with the unexpected

Lesson E
COMMUNICATE: A new product
WRITING: Writing a proposal

Unit 11: NATURE

Lesson A
VOCABULARY: Nature
LISTENING: My experiences in nature / Tony Gainsford, nature lover

Lesson B LANGUAGE FOCUS
Function: Talking about past experiences
Grammar: Present perfect
SPEAKING: Experiences in nature

Lesson C
READING: The miracle of pollen

Lesson D
TED TALK: The Hidden Beauty of Pollination / Louie Schwartzberg
PRESENTATION SKILLS: Calling others to action

Lesson E
COMMUNICATE: Nature weekend
WRITING: Writing a blog post

Unit 12: DISCOVERY

Lesson A
VOCABULARY: Discoveries
LISTENING: An amazing find / Fredrik Hiebert, archaeologist

Lesson B LANGUAGE FOCUS
Function: Talking about discoveries
Grammar: Passive
SPEAKING: Discovery quiz

Lesson C
READING: The dinosaur hunter

Lesson D
TED TALK: How we Unearthed the Spinosaurus / Nizar Ibrahim
PRESENTATION SKILLS: Using descriptive language

Lesson E
COMMUNICATE: A newspaper interview
WRITING: Writing a news report
Presentation 4: Talking about an amazing discovery