Class level: Elementary – High school / Lesson Time: 60 minutes
English level: Beginner to Advanced / Expected number of students: 20 - 40
Context: Understanding and practicing English conversation to get to know fellow students.
Teaching aids: White/chalk board. interview questionnaires, math puzzle name game, and a soft foam ball for playing conversation hot-potato
Learner objectives:
For all students to speak in English in a comfortable setting by speaking with classmates, who they may or may not already know. Students should also have the opportunity to practice correct pronunciation. / Teacher aims:
Involve all students in an engaging lesson. Assess student learning.
Expose students to speaking English in a structured learning environment.
Procedure / Phase / Timing
Although this is an ice-breaking lesson for the first day, or week of class, it is also a lesson for students to practice speaking English in a non-threatening environment.
*Prior to this lesson, the teacher should have done the introduction lesson of himself/herself so that the students feel comfortable with the teacher and know something about the teacher who is not with them.
Begin the lesson by re-telling the students some basic information about yourself, where you are from and your personal interests. Use the interview questions that you will be giving the students during this lesson to guide you in your short introduction (or re-introduction) of yourself.
Ask a few of the students a few of the questions that will be studied during this lesson later on as a way of “testing the waters” to get them ready to answer the questions with each other.
Interview Activity:
1. Have the students get into pairs.
2. Have the students complete the interview Questionnaire with their partner.
3. The students will also complete the puzzle name game to discover their name score.
4. Upon completing their interviews of each other the students will introduce their partners.
Closing Activity
1. The teacher will gently toss the foam conversation ball to one of the students in the class and ask the beginning English language learners who catch the ball one of the interview questions they answered during the interview. For Advanced students the teacher can ask a simple question that is not on the list of questions they previously answered, such as “Do you play video games?”
2. The student who responds to the teacher’s question will then gently toss the foam ball to another student and ask that student one question.
3. The ball and conversation continue around the classroom until all of the class members have answered at least one question during the closing activity. / Engage
Study
Activate
Closure/
Study / 10 minutes
15 minutes
20 minutes
15 min minutes
Please scroll down to see the Student Ice-breaker Questionnaire and the puzzle name game.
Student Questionnaire
My name is ______
I am going to introduce you to______.
He / She is ______years old.
He / She goes to ______high school.
He / She grew up in ______(city name).
His / Her hobbies are ______and ______
He / She has ______brothers and ______sisters.
After high school he / she wants to go to ______College / University.
After graduating from college he / she wants work as a /an______.
His / Her favorite food is ______.
His / Her favorite sport is ______.
His / Her favorite color is ______.
His / Her favorite animal is the ______.
His / Her favorite movie is ______.
His / Her favorite celebrity is ______.
His / Her favorite musical performer / group is ______.
One special talent that he / she can ______.
He / She would like to travel to ______(name of a country).
His / Her favorite television program(s) is / are ______(program).
Name______Date______
Code Breaker Name Game
A / B / C / D / E / F / G / H / I / J / K / L / M2 / 3 / 4 / 6 / 7 / 10 / 13
N / O / P / Q / R / S / T / U / V / W / X / Y / Z
14 / 15 / 17 / 20 / 22 / 26
Example:
N / o / o / n / g / G / o / o / ㅡ / Z / o / o / t14 / 15 / 15 / 14 / 7 / 7 / 15 / 15 / 26 / 15 / 15 / 20
14 + 15 + 15 + 14 + 7 = 65 7 + 15 + 15 = 37 26 + 25 + 15 + 20 = 86
65 + 37 + 86 = 188 188
First Name Code
Corrected Name Code from Chalkboard
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