Class theme/topics discussed:

Spring break plan

How did you pick this theme or topic?
It is almost spring break and students love to share their spring break plans. It’s also a good opportunity to help them expand their travel-related vocabulary.

How did you present the material? (handouts, group work, general discussion, student presentations, etc.)

Group work, general discussion
How did students react?
good

Did they engage with each other and you?

yes

What materials or media did you use? (articles, satellite tv, digital projector, etc.)

N
Please attach a copy.

Would you recommend this activity for a future class?

yes

Why or why not?

This is a close-to-life topic and students are easily get excited and therefore talk a lot.

Class theme/topics discussed:

How was your summer?

How did you pick this theme or topic?

Students like to share their fresh experience and memories of summer vacation.

How did you present the material? (handouts, group work, general discussion, student presentations, etc.)

Group work

How did students react?

They like to talk about their summer and share interesting stories.
Did they engage with each other and you?

Yes.

What materials or media did you use? (articles, satellite tv, digital projector, etc.)
N/A
Please attach a copy.

Would you recommend this activity for a future class?

Yes.
Why or why not?

It helps students to get to know each other’s summer stories and find hobbies in common. The story telling also helps students to get their Chinese back gradually with less pressures. And students’ reaction is pretty good.

How was your summer?

8 MIN
Show students topic samples for this semester and they can discuss and add what kinds of topics they would like to talk about.

Warm up: 8 MIN
4 groups discuss the handout and get to know all the vocabulary from the handout (3MIN)
Handouts for students to walk around and found somebody who matches the question and write down their name
Process: 32 MIN
Brainstorm: What will you think when talking about this summer? 2MIN
Write down vocabulary students offer Story telling:
Group discussion: 4 persons as 1 group talking about:
The most awesome thing I’ve done in the summer or the worst thing I’ve done in the summer using the vocabulary they just offer.
Pick up the best two stories in the group, 1 best or 1 worst 8 MIN
Write down the key words of each story by time sequence on the white board 2 MIN
Group discussion: each group need to discuss and figure out other groups’ stories based on the key words (3 MIN each, 15 MIN in total)
One group tell a story of another group and other group needs to guess which story it is.10MIN