Idea for Teaching Language in the Classroom.
Louise Masin Sattler, ASL instructor
I use a progressive EGG game to facilitate language within the classroom. The idea is quite simple. Buy enough of the plastic Easter eggs that open. The instructor writes one word on a piece of paper for each egg. ( If you have 24 in your class then you will have 24 eggs with 24 different words.)
Each person then receives an egg and during lab time demonstrates in sign ( or orally if a spoken language) his or her word. After this assignment they are responsible to take out the paper and make a short sentence using the original word. When they return to class they swap their egg with a classmate as to not get their original word.
You continue to have the student build sentences, paragraphs and even short stories using these eggs. The eggs are a fun “surprise” factor. Also, you can insert pictures, selections from menus, real estate ads or other items to have the receipient use as a catalyst for conversation. There are many different permutations of ideas you can use with these simple plastic eggs. It is fun, inexpensive and my classes have always enjoyed this learning exercise.
More ideas...
l Songs
l Guest Speakers: speak and have students interview them.
l Guest speakers: Meet and greet
l Real-life scenarios: How to talk to a taxi driver, invite someone to a movie, order at a restaurant
l Call a local restaurant and ask about the menu
l Realia: TV or radio ads online or brought home with you from travels
l Acting/Funny situations (Shopping skit, own ads, etc)
l Variants on Interviews: imitate the person, 1 person in the middle, etc.
l Oral Traveling stories
l Chain of words
l Bingo (Tripleplay, time cards, students create their own)
l Book Videos: Listen, mute and recreate, discuss
l 99 and other card or board games
l Family or personal Power Points and ask each other questions
l Fantasy Vacation Power Points
l Give a Topic (like a season) and have students come up with things to say on it
l Students bring in objects to talk about: present, past, subjunctive
l Use the software, use Can 8, use the ability to record and put on the Internet
l Use pictures: family, pictures of a house they have to sell, etc
l Read a simple website or magazine article (Match, Hola, etc)and recount what it says
l Dictation