Teaching Practice 3
Elementary (A1/2) level
Description
Materials
Main Aims
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To enable Ss to develop their speaking (houseswap role-play), listening (for gist and specific information) and writing (reconstruction and accuracy) skills via an integrated skills dictogloss lesson in the context of places to live.
Subsidiary Aims
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To allows Ss to practice using prepositions of place (e.g. next to, close to) in the context of describing where they live.
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To give Ss the opportunity to practice using functional language related to 'houseswapping' (e.g. Would you like my house for the holidays?) in the context of a role-play.
Procedure (43-43 minutes)
Ss have previously been introduced to the context and vocabulary. Provide review by printing pictures of a house and city scene on A3 sheets hung on classroom walls. In groups of four, Ss brainstorm key vocab related to pictures for 2 min. Ss walk around and read other groups' ideas for 2 min.
Introduce task 1. T reads a short text describing her home. Ss write the names of four places mentioned in the text.
Introduce listening task 2. T repeats the text, pausing often. Ss fill in a table with verbs, nouns, adjectives and prepositions from the text. T reads the text for the third and final time.
Rearrange the groups of four. Together, Ss have 4 min to share their information from tasks 1 and 2. Ask them to write the complete paragraph so that their text has the same meaning as yours. It is not necessary to be word for word the same as the original. Monitor and record examples of Ss' output.
Give Ss the original text to compare against. Encourage them to notice the similarities and differences. Continue monitoring and noting examples of Ss' output.
Ask Ss to share some similarities and differences between their work and the original. In pairs, Ss discuss possible corrections and reformulations of the sentences on the board as you are writing them. Ask Ss to share their answers. 'Any questions?'
Ss will be familiar with the following vocabulary: home, house, small, lovely, next to and close to. Use visuals, examples, personalisation and CCQs to elicit meanings and clarify understanding.
Explain houseswapping role-play activity. Using the T's and coursebook's models, Ss write own 1-paragraph house description. Board these questions to guide Ss: Where is it? Is it a flat or a house? Is it big or small; new or old; lovely or horrible? Is it close to the city centre? Is it far from the shops?
Introduce and drill useful functional language by demonstrating with a strong S. Ss mingle and speak to at least 3 people to find someone they want to 'houseswap' with. Ask Ss to write their name. Take some notes of errors and good language. Don't interfere unless there's a breakdown.
Ask Ss to report about each other’s homes. Put some of the errors and good language you noted on the w/b. Ss can correct them.