| Body | Stephanie Knight is the Language Technology Specialist at CASLS.
The purpose of this activity is to engage intermediate mid and intermediate high learners in critical thinking, discussion, and writing regarding access to education around the world. In completing this activity, learners will be expected to use descriptive language to discuss their ideas.
Objectives: Learners will be able to:
- Defend their ideas with descriptions in the target language.
- Compare and contrast their schooling experience with one in an international context.
- Predict the long-term implications of access to education for individuals and their communities.
Modes: Interpretive Listening, Interpersonal Communication, Presentational Writing
Resources: Statement Handout, Video regarding access to education in international contexts, Letter Handout
Procedure:
- Allow learners to express their opinions regarding education by providing the class with the series of value judgements listed on the Statement Handout. After hearing each statement, learners will move to one of three designated points in the room: I agree, I disagree, or I need more information. Once they move to each location, call on 1-2 learners in each group to justify their selections.
- So that learners may gain perspective regarding access to education around the world, provide them with a short video clip about an international educational context that is different from their own. Some good examples in English for most students in the United States are “Rural education in China: Breaking the cycle of Poverty” and “Time for School”.
- Next, return to the value judgements on the Statement Handout. As a class, learners will complete Step 1 again. Be sure to engage the class in discussions regarding if and why their opinions have changed.
- Finally, learners will work individually to complete the Letter Handout. On this handout, learners will pretend that they are studying abroad in the location featured on the video from Step 2. They will use this experience to write a letter or email home (depending on the technology access featured in the video) in which they compare and contrast the school that they are attending with their home schools. In this letter, learners will predict the possible long-term implications of the differences between the schools for individuals and local communities.
This activity can easily be adjusted to other proficiency levels. For novice learners, teachers may find it beneficial to either use the first language during some of the classroom discussion or to provide the learners with simplified statements from the Statement Handout. This handout can be distributed before the classroom discussion takes place so that learners may write down notes to support their discussion. In advanced classes, learners should be required to justify their claims with as much supporting detail as possible and should incorporate a greater linguistic variety than that which is expected of intermediate learners.
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