Language Resident/Assistant Name: Feiya Suo
Day and Date: 2021.09.15
Language and Level (intermediate or advanced class): Intermediate
Class theme/topics discussed: 新牛郎织女 A New story of Niulang & Zhinv
Goal of the class:
By the end of this class, students will be able to creat their own story about Niulang and Zhinv, and be able to perform their stories in front of the class.
How did you structure the class?
Warm-up: The story of Niulang & Zhinv
- Questions:
When is the Valentine’s Day here in the U.S.? Why is it on Feb. 14th? Is there a story about it?
When is the Valentine’s Day in China? Do you know the story of it?
- Presentation: A brief introduction of the story of Niulang & Zhinv
- What would the story look like if it happens in modern times?
Characters: Niulang, Lao Niu(the cow), Zhinv(the weaver girl), Wang Mu Niangniang(the queen mother)
1. How did Niulang and Zhinv meet each other?
2. What did Lao Niu do?
3. Wang Mu Niangniang(the queen mother) doesn’t agree that Niulang and Zhinv fall in love. What did she say? What should Niulang and Zhinv do?
4. How does the story end? Is it a good ending or a bad ending?
What technology, media or props did you use? (internet resources, playmobiles, handouts, etc.)
PowerPoint slides (23 in total)
Handouts
What worked well in this class? What did not work?
Things that worked well:
Students need to get to know the orginal story first, and then creat a modern version of the story. They really enjoyed creating a story by themselves! There was a group created a story like: Niulang was a student in CMC, while Zhinv was in Scripps. While they were watching a basketball game, Niulang was hit by a cow and then taken to a hospital and met Zhinv… The stories they creat were pretty convincing, and the words and sentence structures they used were actually exceeded my expection.
The thing that did not work:
The story that I presented to they was a little bit hard for the intermediate group to understand. So I adjusted some words when telling the story. Since there are many pictures about the story on the slides, students were able to understand what was going on eventually. However, I think to make it easier for students is a good idea.
How could this class be improved/ modified?
The text that I put on the handout should be modified into a easier version in order to match students’ level.
If you have a more detailed lesson plan, please attach it below (OK to use target language for that). Please attach any handouts as well.
| Time/step | Teacher focus | Student focus |
| PresentationWarm-up (5 mins) | Warm-up: The story of Niulang & Zhinv1)Questions: When is the Valentine’s Day here in the U.S.? Why is it on Feb. 14th? Is there a story about it?When is the Valentine’s Day in China? Do you know the story of it? | – Greet the instructor |
| Presentation (10 mins) | A brief introduction of the story of Niulang & Zhinv 很久以前，有一个善良的小伙子叫牛郎，他和一头老牛一起生活，他对老牛很好，老牛一直都想报恩。有一天，天上的织女来到人间。老牛突然开口说话了，它说……。于是，牛郎听了老牛的建议，晚上去河边找织女，他们俩果然一见钟情。织女于是留在人间，和牛郎结婚了。不料，这件事被王母发现了，她……。老牛不忍他们分离，撞断头上的角，牛角变成一只小船，让牛郎乘船追赶。突然王母在天空划出了一条一望无际的银河，小船无法渡河，夫妻二人从此只能隔河相望。这件事感动了喜鹊，…… | – Understand the story. |
| Guided & Communicative practice (25 mins) | Ask students to think about the questions below:1) How did Niulang and Zhinv meet each other?2) What did Lao Niu do?3)Wang Mu Niangniang(the queen mother) doesn’t agree that Niulang and Zhinv fall in love. What did she say? What should Niulang and Zhinv do?4) How does the story end? Is it a good ending or a bad ending?2.Ask students to write a story outline with your partners(In groups of 3/4)3.Ask students to make some props for the performance4. Ask students to rehearse the story5.Ask students to perform the story | – Think about the questions;- Write a story outline with partners- Make some props for the performance- Rehearse the story- Perform the story |
| Communicative practice (5 mins) | Evaluation of each group’s performance | Discuss in the whole class. |