Class theme/topics discussed:
Requirements for the course;
Getting to know each other;
Winter Break.

How did you pick this theme or topic?
It is a logical outline for the first lesson.

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

How did students react?
There was one student in class, and she was speaking willingly.
Did they engage with each other and you?
Yes.

What materials or media did you use? (articles, satellite tv, digital projector, etc.)
Props include a chocolate bar for each student with a paper strip on it with a ciphered message.

Would you recommend this activity for a future class? Yes.
Why or why not?
It seemed to be an efficient lesson for warming students up after the break and a good ice-breaker since the groups are new and students don’t know each other and me.

Russian Intermediate Conversation
Lesson 1
January 19, 2010

1. Reading and signing Conversation Class Policy (5 min)

2. A game: find out six things that you and your partner have in common (High Five – Дай пять!)
Then tell about them. (15 minutes)

3. The Secret Code game: decode a message on a candy wrap!

Students get candies on the wrappings of which there is a ciphered message.
The clue is that each letter represents the previous letter in the Russian alphabet.
The first person to decipher the message wins and does what the message says.

The message: СБТТЛБЗЙНТГПЙЦЛБОЙЛФМБЦ (Расскажи о своих каникулах = Tell about your vacation) (20 min)

4. Yes\No Game:

Students have to ask me yes/no questions about my vacation, and I should avoid using yes or no. If time, I switch roles with a student, to whose question I answered “yes/no”. (10 min.)