Conversation Class Lesson Summary
Language Resident Name: Marina Simonnet
Day and Date: Wednesday, November 29
Language and Level (intermediate or advanced class): Advanced Plus
Class theme/topics discussed: Vegetarianism and the question of meat and sustainability
Goal of the class: Listening comprehension, expression of personal opinions and argumentation about food, vegetarianism and sustainability.
How did you structure the class?
- Warm-up: What do you eat? Are you a vegetarian? What do you think of organic food/GMO?
- First video with questions (student draw a question and answer it).
- Second video with new set of questions and a text to fill with the missing numbers (so we practice a little bit of listening comprehension with numbers)
- Role-play with one debate about vegetarianism: I’ll use the bingo of “the classic arguments for non-vegetarian diet” and the students play the vegetarian people who have to answer to those arguments. If we have time we can also have a role-play with pros and cons of organic food.
- Conversation Class evaluations.
What technology, media or props did you use? (internet resources, playmobiles, handouts, etc.)
http://www.dailymotion.com/video/xx6t7x
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qcd4VIkCI3k
What worked well in this class? What did not work?
The topic is a little bit delicate because we (instructors) have to stay neutral as much as possible but it worked great! We didn’t spent much time on the fourth activity but the previous one were very interesting: students can share a lot of personal experience, the topic is political, ethical, economical, philosophical, scientific, so they can talk about anything very easily! It’s also fun to compare both French and American diets.
N.B. The next class, one student did some research and we talked about this topic again so they really have a lot to say!!
How could this class be improved/ modified?
If you have a more detailed lesson plan, please attach it below (OK to use target language for that).