Student Questions: Using the Present to talk about the Future?

"Student Questions" is a feature in which I share a student question and the readers try to guess both the answer and the significance of the students' questions.


Student: "I was on the Metro yesterday and I heard a lady say, 'I'm getting off at the next stop'" (confused expression)


Why was this ESL student asking me this? Why was she confused?


Please comment with your theories below and I will reply on Wednesday.


                     UPDATE:


 Short Answer: It's a Present Continuous question.


Long answer: For this student, the word "next" meant the future so why was this woman using the Present Continuous? At her level, she had only learned that Present Continuous is used for describing an action that is taking place right now (which is different from Present Simple, for regular or habitual activities).


Example: I am eating breakfast (Right now, Present Continuous)
Example: I eat usually breakfast. (Habit, Present Simple.)


Confusingly enough though, Present Continuous and Present Simple can be used to talk about the future.


Consider the following conversation between friends:


Tom: Hey, Julie! What are you doing this weekend?
Julie: I'm going to a concert this Saturday. Want to come?
Tom: Sure, who's playing.....


The speakers are using Present Continuous to discuss plans that a) have been made prior to talking b) imminent or nearly 100% sure to happen.  


Suggested classroom activities: 


1) Have students read and practice a similar conversation. Interchange 2 Ch. 15 has a good example.
2) Have the students observe a) what are they talking about? (plans) b) what tense are they using? (Present Continuous )


3) Ask students to share what's in their planner for the coming weekend.


4) Ask student to find a partner. Give students an A schedule grid and a B schedule grid. Give each student  a list of activities (anything: going to the circus, having lunch with grandma, skiing in the Alps) The two schedule grids should have different gaps open but some of the same.


Example conversation:


A) What are you doing on Saturday at 5pm?
B) Sorry, I'm going to the circus.
A) Are you busy on Sunday at noon?
B) Nope, I'm having lunch with my grandma.
A) When are you free?
B) I'm not doing anything Sunday night. Want to hang out then?
A) Yes, that'll* work for me.


*Notice that the plan has become less sure with use of "will"




Wait, what about Present Simple?

USE 3 [Public] Scheduled Events in the Near Future

Speakers occasionally use Simple Present to talk about scheduled events in the near future. This is most commonly done when talking about public transportation, but it can be used with other scheduled events as well.

Examples:

• The train leaves tonight at 6 PM.
• The bus does not arrive at 11 AM, it arrives at 11 PM.
• When do we board the plane?
• The party starts at 8 o'clock.
• When does class begin tomorrow?

Other events include performances (plays, concerts), parades, lectures, presentations, debates, movies, protests, speeches, etc.




We can see that the seemingly elementary aspects of grammar, have subtle features and often multiple uses.