Contextualizing Language
Introduction to this page
Starting with this page, we'd like to invite you to share your own ideas for contextualizing language in your classrooms. As we saw in the video, this can mean anything from role-playing to academic presentations!
Posting directions
It's easy to do! Directly below, just Paste in your own activity. Add it right to the top of the list, so the newest ideas appear first. Be sure to visit often to see who else has contributed a new idea that perhaps you can borrow!
When you post, follow this basic template:
Activity name
Goals - objectives
Level
Explanation of activity
Your name
Add your activities here
“People We Admire”
Goal: discussion, giving opinions
Possible focus: practicing agreement and disagreement
Level: pre-intermediate
Steps:
Introduce how to use interactive whiteboard with its picture gallery. Demonstrate slides with the photos of celebrities and some facts about their life and works. For example,
Bob Dylan – world famous singer and songwriter known for such classics from the 1960s as Blowing in the Wind. Не has changed the world of music and wrote many brilliant songs.
Dido – British singer and songwriter whose first album No Angel was a major international success.
Jennifer Lopez – born in New York of Puerto Rican parents. She is a model, singer and actress.
Eminem – full name Marshall Mathers, a white rapper from the States. Both his lifestyle and his lyrics are violent but he is the most successful modern white rap star. Also starred in the film Eight Mile.
Paul Newman – American actor whose films include Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid, The Hustler. As well as being a screen legend, he is an active campaigner against drugs and has a foundation that raises money from the sale of food products.
Antonio Banderas – Spanish actor who moved to Hollywood and has made films such as The Mask of Zorro, Desperado, Evita.
George Clooney – American actor who became famous for his role in the TV programme ER (Emergency Rescue). He has starred in such films as Solaris and Batman and Robin.
Julia Roberts – comes from Georgia in the USA. She became famous after starring in Pretty Woman. Other famous films she has starred in are Notting Hill and Erin Brockovich.
Brad Pitt (born 1963) – born in Oklahoma, the USA. He is a famous actor who has starred in films Troy, Mr. and Mrs. Smith, Meet Joe Black.
Play the recording of a radio programme Generation Choice, in which mother and daughter give their opinions about stars from the world of music and films. Give the students time to practise expressions for giving opinions, agreeing and disagreeing such as I really like Dido, her songs, the way she looks/Bob Dylan is great. He has changed the world of music/He’s so good-looking/Mm, you’re dead right/You’ve got a point there/I don’t think so …
Students work in pairs. They go to the interactive board and pick the pictures of some stars. Then they feed back asking and giving opinions, agreeing and disagreeing as they have practiced before. For example,
A: What is your opinion about Brad Pitt? (dragging out the picture of this actor for the partner)
B: I think he’s fantastic. He’s so good-looking, isn’t he? I really liked him in Troy.
A: Mm, you’re dead right. (using the pen touches the cross on the panel of instruments and the previous picture disappears)
B: What do you think about Antonio Banderas? (dragging the picture of this actor)
A: Well, he is not one of my favourites. I suppose he is good-looking but he isn’t a brilliant actor in my opinion.
B: Oh, come off it! I liked him in The Mask of Zorro.
A: OK, but the film is terrible …
Then the next pair goes on with the activity choosing different singers, actors and actresses from the picture gallery.
Additionally, students listen to songs of the singers they choose (e.g. Dido’s Thank You), read through the lyrics.
(submitted by Irina; based on “New Opportunities”, Module 4)
"The Dating Game"
Goal: practicing questions and answers
Possible focus: Conditional questions and answers
Level: ideal for Intermediate and above, but can be adapted for Beginners
Final practice is a role-play of a popular TV game show called "The Dating Game" - where one bachelor or bachelorette interviews three women or men to find out which one he/she will take on a date. The questions can be serious or silly (but, of course, should not be offensive/sexist, as, in fact, the original show often was!)
Steps:
Introduce "Dating Game" premise
if possible, show a segment of The Dating Game Show
In pairs or small groups, students brainstorm questions designed to find out another person's personality (likes, dislikes, behavior)
for example: for Beginners: What is your favorite color?; for Intermediate+: If you were an animal what kind of animal would you be?
(All questions should automatically include "Why?")
Put all questions on the board -- elicit corrections, additions (but not answers!)
Give students time to think of their own personal answers to all questions (depending on skill level and confidence level, they can practice with a partner first)
Then play the game, students taking turns in the various roles.
In each round, the bachelor/ette asks questions of contestants, then chooses one for a date -- giving reasons why!
Additionally, the audience (students) can vote for who they think would be the best date, who gave the best answers, etc.
(submitted by Toni)
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