Conversation Box
When?
This is an interesting activity that could be incorporated in a variety of ways, but the teacher will have to be careful that it doesn't become a chore that students dread. This should probably be a short center or an option during choice time at the listening station.
Materials?
How?
Why?
Often, EL students are hesitant to speak. Also, their English speaking classmates may not know how to begin a conversation with their EL peers. Therefore, this box will create reasons to conversations that hopefully will continue onto the playground and beyond. The teacher could include topics that have recently occurred so that students are able to discuss shared experiences. EL students could also add their own topics to the box or make suggestions so that they are discussing what they would like.
Resources:
http://miss-linda.hubpages.com/hub/Teaching-Speaking-in-a-Language-Classroom-Creating-a-Conversation-Box-for-your-ESL-or-EFL-Classroom
This is an interesting activity that could be incorporated in a variety of ways, but the teacher will have to be careful that it doesn't become a chore that students dread. This should probably be a short center or an option during choice time at the listening station.
Materials?
- Decorated box
- Conversation starters: words, phrases or questions that spark a conversation
How?
- The teacher has a box that is decorated.
- The teacher has prepared and laminated questions or speaking prompts that students will take turn drawing and listening. Ideas include:
- An assortment of completely random words
- Amusing or interesting pictures
- Vocabulary to review
- “Would you rather” questions
- Writing prompts
- Quotations
- “Find the mistake in this sentence” activities
- Useful idioms
- Students should sit in pairs or trios and take turns drawing from the box. The idea is just to practice dialogue in a low risk atmosphere. There could be a slip of paper in the box that offers a prize to motivate students to participate.
Why?
Often, EL students are hesitant to speak. Also, their English speaking classmates may not know how to begin a conversation with their EL peers. Therefore, this box will create reasons to conversations that hopefully will continue onto the playground and beyond. The teacher could include topics that have recently occurred so that students are able to discuss shared experiences. EL students could also add their own topics to the box or make suggestions so that they are discussing what they would like.
Resources:
http://miss-linda.hubpages.com/hub/Teaching-Speaking-in-a-Language-Classroom-Creating-a-Conversation-Box-for-your-ESL-or-EFL-Classroom