»INTERVIEWING AN AMERICAN # 1 « (click on this for the handout) This homework will make students get out into the community to interview two Americans about their favorite vacation spot. They have to take notes, and write down the information on a form, which they will turn in. They are also graded on their participation in groups when they share the information on one of their interviews. Finally, each group picks the student with […]
Category: Intermediate
Icebreaker Song “I’m Glad to Meet You”
This is one of my all time favorite ways to break the ice with new students, especially at lower levels. I picked this up from an old ESL songbook years ago, but can’t recall the name. The song is to the very familiar tune “La Cucaracha”! Even if singing isn’t your forte, just starting the first line, everyone will immediately join in. If you have a lot of Mexican students, have them sing the real […]
World Village
This is an intermediate /advanced listening & discussion activity that has students imagine the world as a village of 100 people. What would this world look like? All the activities and instructions are on the two page handout. The first page is the handout for the students and the second has instructions and follow up assignments for the teacher. Here are links to the 2 page handout: » WORLD VILLAGE « and the […]
One or Ones or A?
Every semester I teach on a chapter that introduces the use of one and ones. My son, age 2, gave me the idea one day to use his Megablocks in class. Megablocks are similar to Legos, but they are very big. They come in all different colors and shapes, which makes them perfect for this lesson. Directions: Buy or bring Megablocks (or something similar that can attach together). Bring them to class. Grab several different […]
Adjectives, Gerunds, Infinitives Board Game: Identifying Parts of Speech
This activity takes place as a review after students have learned adjectives, infinitives and gerunds. Cut up the parts of speech cards. You will need a game board for each small group and enough dice for each group to use one. Students get into small groups with the cards face-down and a player piece on “Start” (I have them use a tiny piece of paper with their initials on it). A player rolls the die, […]
Writing a Well-Developed Paragraph: Intermediate
This activity takes place after an initial lesson on topic sentences, concluding sentences and supporting details. As a warm-up activity at the start of class, students do a quick interview where they ask three classmates what their special skill is that makes them great to work with (see handout). Divide students into groups of four or five. Once in groups, ask students which person in their group said they were a good leader or always […]
Superlatives Greeting Card Assignment
After learning and practicing superlatives in World English 2, Unit 4: The Body, students complete Part 1 of this assignment in class. Students write a message for a birthday or anniversary card using as many superlatives as possible. The instructor goes around the room and checks their sentences, giving them feedback on their use of superlatives. Students do Part 2 as homework, and submit an actual greeting card. You will get some really creative work! […]
Listening for Requests/Noticing Language AKA Eavesdropping
I have created several listening handouts for students to examine how people make requests. The idea behind this activity is for students to start realizing that people don’t speak like the textbook and people make choices in their pragmatic requests. It also builds students sense of discovery. Original idea adapted from Scott Phillabaum. First step: Ask students how people make requests or ask for things. Second step: teach them ways to make requests. Third step: […]
Tournament Style Peer Review
Adapted from Patrick Hoggan at American River College, I created a peer review that is completely anonymous and competitive. In this peer review students will write the best essay possible and compete with other students. I usually include prizes for the winners (top 3). This can be done with paragraphs, essays, or any type of writing. Directions: Have students write an essay then type that essay (I usually do an in-class essay that I will […]
Blind Peer Review
This is a peer review I adapted from Megan Riedel (English) at Yuba College. This peer review is completely anonymous and allows the students to receive multiple sources of feedback. It may take an entire class period depending on the amount of students (performed with a class of 20 or more). Directions: Have the students write an essay (I usually do an in-class then examine it return it with a grade. I withhold the feedback). […]