View Content #28815

This activity was designed for learners of all levels. It was created to guide learners through searching for and utilizing reading and listening materials in a less commonly taught language.

Learning outcomes:
Learners will be able to:

• Name 3 search terms to use for finding a reading and/or listening material of their choice
• Explain their reason(s) for choosing a reading or listening text
• Identify 2 (or more) new words or phrases they encountered in their chosen text
• Identify 1 piece of new cultural information they learned from their chosen text

Mode(s): Interpretive

Materials: Finding Materials for Practice Video, Search Log handout, devices with access to the internet, headphones.

Procedure:

1. As a group, have learners brainstorm a list of types of materials they like to read, and a list of types of materials they like to listen to. Ask them which language(s) they typically read and listen in (L1, the target language, etc.)? Are there any differences in what they read or listen to in their L1 versus in the target language?
2. Next, show learners the Finding Materials for Practice Video. After watching the video, tell learners that they will be searching for their own reading or listening material, and give them a few minutes to decide between reading and listening, and to brainstorm potential topic(s) and places to find their chosen type of material.
3.  Give learners the Search Log handout. Explain that learners will work independently to come up with search terms for their source,
4. Learners can complete their search during or outside of the lesson, depending on time constraints. While they are searching, they will fill out questions 1 through 5 from the handout (choice of source type, 3 terms they used to find their source, where they found the source, the title and author of the source, and why they chose that particular source).
5. At home or outside of the lesson, learners will read or listen to their source, and fill in questions 6 and 7 from the handout (what new words or phrases they learned, and what cultural information they learned).
6. During the next lesson, have learners share their answers to questions 4 through 7 from the handout (what their source was, why they chose it, what new words or phrases they learned from it, and what cultural information they learned from it) in small groups.
7. As a whole group, ask for volunteers to share what they told their peers about their source.
8. Ask learners if they are interested in any of the sources described by their peers, and if so, why?
9. This activity can be repeated multiple times. Learners can fill out the Search Log handout each time they look for a new source material, which will create an ongoing record of what they have found to read or listen to in the target language.

Notes:
-Modifications (scaffolding): Lower level learners may be provided with a list of places to search, as well as a list of example search terms , if needed. This activity can be completed by learners independently (as written above) or in small groups based on shared interest, if learners would benefit from brainstorming and searching together.