Comments on: Six topical teaching ideas for December http://sixthings.net/2009/12/13/six-topical-teaching-ideas-for-december/ A Miscellany of English Language Teaching Mon, 13 Feb 2012 10:01:05 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v= By: lclandfield http://sixthings.net/2009/12/13/six-topical-teaching-ideas-for-december/#comment-1182 lclandfield Mon, 14 Dec 2009 06:21:11 +0000 http://sixthings.net/?p=1643#comment-1182 Thanks Peter and Anita, for these two ideas of gift-giving activities. I have to confess I haven't done this with students, not even a secret Santa activity! Next year if I have a class at that time of year I will. I know the Secret Treat activity from that book too Peter (quite well, as I was one of the editors of that book :-) ) Thanks for coming by. L Thanks Peter and Anita, for these two ideas of gift-giving activities. I have to confess I haven’t done this with students, not even a secret Santa activity! Next year if I have a class at that time of year I will. I know the Secret Treat activity from that book too Peter (quite well, as I was one of the editors of that book :-) )
Thanks for coming by.

L

]]> By: Peter Fenton http://sixthings.net/2009/12/13/six-topical-teaching-ideas-for-december/#comment-1181 Peter Fenton Sun, 13 Dec 2009 22:27:30 +0000 http://sixthings.net/?p=1643#comment-1181 Some great ideas, I particularly like the stocking one. I've done something similar to practise describing senses. It takes a bit of preparation but if you have a few goodies you can have students producing language such as it feels..., it smells like...., it tastes.... etc. Depending on how creative you be, it can have hilarious consequences. I've also asked my Polish high school students to buy a gift for themselves that costs no more than 5zl. We will guess who bought each item and then explain our reasons for our choices and then vote on who bought the best gift. I have to admit though, this idea is not mine - it was stolen from chapter 3 (Secret Treat p53) of Teaching Unplugged. Today I bought a couple of children's books in Polish which I'm sure my students will find highly amusing for me to attempt to read out loud. Some great ideas, I particularly like the stocking one. I’ve done something similar to practise describing senses. It takes a bit of preparation but if you have a few goodies you can have students producing language such as it feels…, it smells like…., it tastes…. etc. Depending on how creative you be, it can have hilarious consequences.

I’ve also asked my Polish high school students to buy a gift for themselves that costs no more than 5zl. We will guess who bought each item and then explain our reasons for our choices and then vote on who bought the best gift. I have to admit though, this idea is not mine – it was stolen from chapter 3 (Secret Treat p53) of Teaching Unplugged. Today I bought a couple of children’s books in Polish which I’m sure my students will find highly amusing for me to attempt to read out loud.

]]> By: Anita Kwiatkowska http://sixthings.net/2009/12/13/six-topical-teaching-ideas-for-december/#comment-1180 Anita Kwiatkowska Sun, 13 Dec 2009 21:44:39 +0000 http://sixthings.net/?p=1643#comment-1180 Btw, just remembered - I once used the New Year's resolutions from 'Bridget Jones's Diary' with my adult group. It was great fun! Btw, just remembered – I once used the New Year’s resolutions from ‘Bridget Jones’s Diary’ with my adult group. It was great fun!

]]> By: Anita Kwiatkowska http://sixthings.net/2009/12/13/six-topical-teaching-ideas-for-december/#comment-1179 Anita Kwiatkowska Sun, 13 Dec 2009 20:51:40 +0000 http://sixthings.net/?p=1643#comment-1179 When I was at university, our American literature teacher had a brilliant idea on how to spread the Xmas spirit. She made everyone bring a present we got but, for some reason, didn't like. At the beginning of the class, all presents were collected and numbered. Then, every student drew a number and got a corresponding gift. The funny thing was that if he/she didn't like it, he/she could exchange it with the students who got their presents before. I drew the number as one the first and got a tacky photo frame. 5 minutes later, a friend of mine demanded an exchange - got my frame and left me with a brand new green potty and 3 rolls of toilet paper in it. The best part was the inscription on the potty - 'Exegi monumentum'. If you know Latin, you should know what that means! Gosh, we had so much fun that day! :))) Thanks Lindsay for the other ideas! Anita When I was at university, our American literature teacher had a brilliant idea on how to spread the Xmas spirit.
She made everyone bring a present we got but, for some reason, didn’t like.
At the beginning of the class, all presents were collected and numbered. Then, every student drew a number and got a corresponding gift. The funny thing was that if he/she didn’t like it, he/she could exchange it with the students who got their presents before.
I drew the number as one the first and got a tacky photo frame. 5 minutes later, a friend of mine demanded an exchange – got my frame and left me with a brand new green potty and 3 rolls of toilet paper in it. The best part was the inscription on the potty – ‘Exegi monumentum’. If you know Latin, you should know what that means!
Gosh, we had so much fun that day! :) ))

Thanks Lindsay for the other ideas!

Anita

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