Activity 24- Vocabulary Ping Pong

Here is another idea for a very dynamic activity that requires absolutely no preparation. Guess where the material for this activity will come from: students` own mobile devices! 

Level: any
Language skill: speakingFocus: vocabulary
Device needed: any device with a camera
Number of devices needed:  one per pair of students
Internet connection: off

Instructions:

Use ping pong to draw a metaphor to this activity: students are competing against each other and they have to think fast while they alternate their turn in the game. In pairs, they should choose a picture from their own mobile device's photo library. Explain that the challenge is to point out as many vocabulary words as possible from the picture they are looking at. Remind them that words do not need to be about concrete objects and that they can use words that describe feelings or abstract things (examples from the picture I took a while ago: Student A: statue, student B: church, student A: tired, student B:  family, student A:  money, student B: music, student A: shopping, etc). Each student should say a word at a time. If a student is unable to say any more words, then the opponent is the winner in this competition. Pairs can pick up another photo and compete against each other again. 


Tips:

-Model the activity before so that students understand how it works.
-You don`t need to set the time for each opponent to come up with a new word but remind them that common sense is a must. If  the student takes more than 15-20 seconds to think of a word, he/she should  admit the defeat.
-Since they are working on the activity in pairs and independently, set a 5-minute time limit and let them challenge each other as many times as time allows.
-It would be interesting to establish a rule: no naming body parts allowed in the competition. Otherwise, students might focus only on the body parts vocabulary. The idea is that they explore the picture as a whole. 
-This activity works better in tablets because the picture is larger and more details can be spotted.
-If the classroom has a projector and a VGA cable, you can project the photo on the board and turn this activity into a two-group competition. In this case, group members could raise their hand when it`s their turn to say a word.

Source: Vinicius Lemos

Activity 23- What is Bernardo Doing?

Here is an idea for a class project young learners will definitely love! It requires the parents` participation and might take up to a month, so plan it carefully before you carry it out. 

Level: beginning
Language skills: speaking, writing
Grammar Topic: Present Continuous
Device needed: any device with a camera
Number of devices needed:  one per student 
Internet connection: off

Instructions:
Bring a stuffed animal to class and explain he/she will be part of a very special class project.
Bernardo is the stuffed bat I own which was used in this activity. Reinforce the idea that their commitment and engagement will be essential to the successful completion of the task and that you believe they will be able to carry it out responsibly. Then, explain that each day a student will be chosen to take the stuffed animal home and take some pictures of him/her doing different things (ex: sleeping, watching tv, doing karate, having dinner, playing video games, etc...). Remind them that there is no limit to their creativity and that they are going to choose how they want their pictures to look like. Then, explain that their parents should send the pictures to the teacher`s e-mail address and that they will be used in a class activity after everyone has completed the task. Then, after you have collected all the pictures, show them to students and elicit sentences in the Present Continuous ("What is Bernardo doing?"). This can be done orally or you can ask them to write the sentences in their notebooks. 

Tips:
-Contact parents beforehand and explain the purpose of the activity and how they should help.
-Show students a few examples of how their pictures should look like. It`s always a good idea to model it before!
-Ask them to keep their photo shoots a secret. In class, comment you are getting very creative and sometimes funny pictures. This will boost their excitement and interest in the project!
- You don`t need to use all pictures you get, but make sure you use at least one from each student.
- If you have a very large group, you might consider using more than one stuffed animal  to make it more dynamic.

Variations:
- Have them write sentences instead of just saying them out loud.
-Have students ask each other Yes/No Questions (ex: Is Bernardo skateboarding?)
-Save the pictures to practice other verb tenses they already know or might learn in a future lesson (ex: using the Simple Present to describe Bernardo`s daily routine or using the Simple Past to describe what Bernardo did yesterday).

I tried this activity with a group of mine and here is what I concluded:
-They absolutely loved the idea of taking the teacher`s stuffed animal home. They were always excited to know who the next one to work on the task would be and they reported they loved spending one or two days taking care of Bernardo as if he were their little brother. 
-Students improved rapport among themselves and got to know a bit more about their classmates since many pictures, in a way, revealed their personal tastes and habits (Ex: some students took a picture of Bernardo playing their favorite sport or eating their favorite food).
-Parents responded very positively and enjoyed helping and being engaged in their kid`s school project.
-They developed a sense of ownership and active participation because they were entirely responsible for all the material produced and used. 
-Students had a chance to practice and learn new and more meaningful vocabulary.
_Students reported it as being a very "cool" and different "homework" and that they would love to work on another similar project.

So, how about trying this project with your own group of young learners? Everyone, including you, will have a blast!

Source: Vinicius Lemos

Teaching Tip 3- Instagram Missions

Instagram is one of the most active social networks these days. People from all over the world, including celebrities and popular companies, share pictures that get loads of "likes" and  comments every day. So, why not take advantage of its potential to engage students in meaningful communicative activities using a tool in which many of them are already familiar with?
"Instagram Missions" are tasks or challenges in which participants have to post a photo and write a sentence related to a certain topic or theme previously determined by the teacher. When you give your students a mission, you should also provide them with a hashtag (#). When a hashtag is used in the posts, all pictures are grouped together and can be easily found and viewed by anyone who has an account on Instagram. However, it is important to think of a unique hashtag for the post, otherwise lots of other pictures from people who are  not part of the project will appear on screen.
Using Instagram in class is a decision that requires a good deal of pondering because of many issues  that come to the surface when linking social networks to the learning process.  The golden rule is: Is this suitable to my group and is this kind of activity allowed in the school and community where I teach? If the answer is "yes", then there are other things that should be addressed so as to turn it into a successful and effective experience:
1. Do not make it an obligation
At first, some students may feel uncomfortable to participate in the missions because many of them might not even enjoy being in social networks. Let them understand the dynamics of the project and after a while they might choose to participate in them.
2. Let them work in pairs/groups
Some might not have a device and some might not want to be in a social network. Let them work with a partner and explain that they can help their partners with the creative aspects of the posts.
3. Relate missions to lessons in the book
Even though they are using a social network in class it should be clear that the purpose is to complement their learning process with more interesting activities. Never use it only for entertainment.
4. Always model it before
Show students what is expected from their posts. When you model, they know exactly what kind of sentence and image is appropriate for the mission.
5. Remind them that they are in control of the images being used
Sometimes students don`t like to show their faces or reveal much of their private life online. Remind them that they can choose what image will be used, they never need to post pictures of themselves.
6. Do not focus on accuracy only
The purpose of the Instagram Missions is to let students use the target language is a more meaningful way and increase rapport among everyone. It is O.K if students make grammar mistakes in their posts. Never make corrections on Instagram, students might feel intimidated if they are drawn the attention to every little mistake they make. In another opportunity, talk to the students personally and let understand the mistake they made. 
7. Inform parents 
Many parents don`t like to have their children exposed online, so it is always a good idea to inform them on the project and get their authorization. If they understand the nature and dynamics of the missions, it is very likely that they will let their kids engage in the project. Inform them that the account can be private, avoiding other people from viewing the pictures and that they can always have a username that is not connected to their real names.

Here are two examples of ideas I have already tried with my own groups when they were learning the use of Present Continuous for future plans and the relationship between Simple Past and Past Continuous. I asked them to post a picture and  write a sentence using the grammar structured being studied and, in the other situation, I asked them to write the beginning of the sentence and instructed others to finish it.

Once students get fully engaged in the project, the missions can be assigned as homework. This way, students will start practicing the target language and interacting with their classmates outside the classroom. 
Give it a try and discover different ways your students can take advantage of Instagram to practice English in a meaningful and fun way! 

Source: Vinicius Lemos

Activity 22- His and Her Favorites

This activity is aimed at teen basic level students who are learning the use of possessive adjectives. It has been designed  for 1- iPad- only classes!

Level: beginning
Language skills: writing, reading and speaking
Grammar Topic: possessive adjectives
Device needed: a tablet
Number of devices needed:  only one 
Internet connection: off
App: Popplet Lite
Price: free/ $4,99 (Full Version)
Operating System: iOS

Instructions: 

Show students the pictures and popples with pre-established topics. Each picture can only have 4 popples, so use different topics for different photos. Suggestions of topics: actor, color, actress, tv show, movie, writer, book, sport, day of the week, month, animal, song, etc.

 Invite volunteers to add information to the popples. When all popples have been filled, show them the finished product and elicit complete sentences using the appropriate possessive adjective. 

Examples:
HIS favorite tv show is X-Factor.
HIS favorite color is yellow.
HIS favorite actress is Emma Watson.
HIS favorite writer is J.K Rowling. 

Tips: 
1- Project the poppet on the board if the classroom is equipped with a projector and necessary cables.
2- If there is internet connection, let them decide and find which pictures to be used.
3- If there are more iPads in class, students can work on this activity in pairs or small groups.
4- Students can use their own pictures making the activity even more meaningful.

Source: Vinicius Lemos

Activity 21 - This is Me

As teachers we know how good it is to share and exchange ideas with workmates. The post today was inspired by one of those moments! The idea belongs to my colleague Maria Cristina and I added a little flavor to it based on an idea suggested by blog visitor Denise Özdeniz. Thank you ladies!

Level: intermediate/advanced

Language skill: speaking
Device needed: any device with images stored in the photo library

Number of devices needed: one per student
App: Pic Collage (iOS and Android)
Price: free

Instructions: 

Explain that the purpose of this warmer is to get students to know a bit more about each other by having very informal conversations about meaningful things to them. Ask them to select some of their pictures in their mobile devices. Reinforce that they should pick pictures that they feel comfortable showing to everyone and that, in a way, reveal a bit more about who they are, what they like to do, their likes and dislikes, their hobbies, etc. Sit them in small groups and let them show their pictures and talk freely about them. As a follow-up, invite some volunteers to show some pictures and talk about them or invite classmates to report interesting things they have learned about each other.

Tip: You can ask students to select their images and use the app Pic Collage to put all the images together in only one. 

Sources: Maria Cristina and Denise Özdeniz

Activity 20- Things in Common

Here is another speaking activity that requires zero preparation and a lot of critical thinking!

Level: intermediate/advanced

Language skill: speaking
Device needed: any device with images stored in the photo library

Number of devices needed: one per student

Instructions:

Pair up students and explain that for this activity they are going to be using the images from their photo library. They should randomly pick out any image from their device`s photo library (an object, a place, food, people, a situation, etc) and share them with their partner. Then, they should discuss what their chosen images have in common. Set up a time limit (2 minutes, for example) and check out what pairs were able to come up with. Have students do it a few times with different partners so that they can use different images and explore different ideas.

Tip: If you wish, you can turn it into a competition to see who can come up with more similarities faster. 

Source: Vinicius Lemos

Picture credits: Flickr (Loony Libberswick)

Activity 19- Odd One Out!

Does everyone in your class have a mobile device? If so, here is a speaking activity that requires zero preparation and a lot of critical thinking!

Level: intermediate/advanced

Language skill: speaking
Device needed: any device with images stored in the photo libraryNumber of devices needed: one per student

Instructions:

Sit students in groups of 3/4 and explain that for this activity they are going to be using the images from their photo library. They should randomly pick out any image from their device`s photo library (an object, a place, food, people, a situation, etc) and share them with group members. Then, they should discuss which image should be considered the odd one out and provide a reason for that.  Remind them that there is no right or wrong answers, anything is possible as long as they explain it properly! Have students do it a few times so that they can use different images. Be ready to witness how creative your students can get!

Source: Vinicius Lemos
Picture credits: Flickr (@thejustifiedsinner)

Activity 18- Caption Me!

Level: any
Language skill: writing
Device needed:  a cellphone or a tablet
Number of devices needed: one per student

Instructions:

Explain that  students can use an image from their photo library or they can use the camera in their devices to take a picture and then use it. The objective is that they look at their classmates` images and get inspired to write down a caption for it. After everyone has selected the image they want to use, allow them 10 minutes to mingle around and look at the images and write down the captions on their notebooks or digital notepads. Then, have students show their image to the whole group and elicit the captions they have created.
Examples of captions for the picture above (all coming from the little baby on the right):
" Oh god, give me patience!"
" Don`t stop the massage , it`s sooo relaxing..." 
" maybe if I keep my eyes closed I am going to keep everyone away from me."

Tips: 
a) Tell students to write down captions for 3 pictures only 
b) Instead of using an image from their photo library they use the internet and search for a celebrity picture
c) Suggest that students use a funny picture, creative and interesting captions may come more easily

Source: Vinicius Lemos
Picture credits: Flickr (@beyondrandom)

Activity 17- He Said, She Said

Here is another simple idea using the app POPPLET, but this time to practice Reported Speech

Level: Low-Intermediate/ Intermediate
Language skills: writing, reading and speaking
Grammar Topic: Reported SpeechDevice needed: a tablet
Number of devices needed: one per student
Internet connection: on (only for the photo search part)
App: Popplet Lite
Price: free/ $4,99 (Full Version)
Operating System: iOS

Instructions: 

Explain that students are going to create a poppet using the picture of a famous person and that they need to type in sentences of what that person is saying. Show them a model poppet and ask them to report what the famous person said (Ex: Se said  she had gone to the mall the night before/ She said she was going to eat chocolate that night/ She said she loved Ian/ She said she was beautiful.) Remind them to backshift all verbs since that is the main objective in this practice. Allow them some time to search for/take a picture and prepare the sentences. Ask them to work in pairs and report their partner`s sentences.

Tip: In case the internet connection at the school is not reliable, turn this project into a homework assignment. Another alternative is to have students take pictures of their classmates and make up interesting sentences to be reported. 

Source: Vinicius Lemos

*If you are not sure how POPPLET works , check out this YouTube video posted by Taylor Ness:

Activity 16- Celebrity Report

Level: any
Language skills: listening and speaking
Device needed: a tablet
Number of devices needed: one per student
Internet connection: on (only for the search part)
App: Popplet Lite
Price: free/ $4,99 (Full Version)
Operating System: iOS


Instructions:

Explain that in this project students are going to report some interesting information on their favorite celebrity using the app POPPLET (watch the app review video below in case you have never heard of it before). Show them a model beforehand ( Her first album was released in 1990/ She is married to actor and tv show host Nick Cannon/ Her mother was an opera singer/ Capri, in Italy, is her favorite summer destination/ Marilyn Monroe is one of her greatest idols/  She has had 18 number one hits so far/ She is going to be one judges for the 2013 American Idol.) and allow them some time to find a nice picture and search some data. Explain that they should not write the full sentences in the popples, only key words and phrases.  In pairs or small groups, students show their popplets and do their celebrity report.

Tip: In case the internet connection at the school is not reliable, turn this project into a homework assignment. Another alternative is to have students take pictures of their classmates and interview them in order to collect interesting information to be reported. 

Source: Vinicius Lemos

Popplet YouTube video review by Taylor Ness: