Module 5: Lesson 2 - Communication activities Flashcards
Name some common communication activities (10).
Roleplays
Interviews
Debates
Discussions
Story-telling
Simulations
Brainstorming
Information gaps
Reporting
Picture narrating
Explain how discussions can be used in the classroom.
They provide an opportunity for students to work on their fluency.
They can range from short discussions after reading / listening activities, to whole lessons related to speaking activities.
Name and explain 3 discussion contexts.
One-to-one class: student gets 5 minutes to take notes and then discusses topic with teacher.
Group class: divide the class in two and have opposing viewpoints, both sides discuss and present.
Online class: learners can be put in breakout rooms that the teacher monitors.
Name and explain 2 other ways to inspire discussions in the classroom.
Newspaper: Good source for topical and interesting discussions in the class. Headlines in particular offer a good conversational starting point. Newspaper headlines offer current stories that might be of interest to students.
Interesting topics: present a controversial topic to the class, an interesting discussion will be created when the topic is relevant and provokes a reaction in your learners. A good discussion topic can equally be something that is interesting to everyone. Topics like films, books, and music can stimulate interesting conversation.
What are stereotypes?
Stereotypes are when characteristics are imposed upon a group of people, typically because of their race, nationality, sexual orientation, or some other core attribute such as social status.
They are generally oversimplifications of those groups, they are not usually representative of all people in that group.
Stereotypes can be positive and negative.
What is cultural sensitivity?
Cultural sensitivity is showing awareness that cultural differences and similarities can exist between people without giving them a value – positive or negative, better or worse, right or wrong.
Describe and explain how debates can be used in the classroom.
Holding a classroom debate is a great way to motivate students to practice spontaneous speech.
One way to set up debates is to allocate half the class the pros of an issue and the other half cons. They can then be put into breakout rooms to prepare their arguments together.
Once both sides are prepared, the teacher can either hold a full class debate in the main room or put the students in small groups or pairs in their own individual rooms while the teacher monitors.
What should I think about when setting up a debate?
- Let students select the topic.
- Have shorter debates with fewer participants.
- Introduce the topic in advance to allow learners to prepare.
- Give learners the vocabulary they need to debate an issue.
- Give a structure for the debate, but allow them to stray outside of it.
