07 November 2013 / by Radmila Gurkova

TEFL Course October 2013: Our favourite P2 Topic activity

Topic: The 127 Year Old Woman

Objective: Discuss old age, how to take care of your body. Learn about food and China

Level: Beginner

Author: Guro Stuan

article-2198608-14D851E1000005DC-854_306x448

 

Topic activities are a tricky area when we're talking about a low-level class. Topics demand conversation, opinion, and expression; which beginners lack the structure and vocabulary to communicate.

We can successfully transmit a topic to beginners, though, as long as we demonstrate the structure and the vocabulary in a clear and accessible manner, and keep the text short and direct so it can be digested without being overwhelming.

Our recent graduate Guro's activity is just this: direct, simple and effective, with great target language, well-suited and graded to the level it's being shown to.



The 127 Year Old Woman

This is an old woman. She is 127 years old. She is China's oldest person.

She has 40 grandchildren. But she doesn't need help from them. She is still fit. She can still do a lot of things.

She feeds her chickens every day. The old woman also likes to eat and drink a lot. Her favourite hobby is singing.

(Target language in bold)

CCQs:

How old is this woman?
Where is she from?
Is she the oldest woman in China?
What is her favourite hobby?
How many grandchildren does she have?

Discussion:

What age is the best? Why?
Her favourite hobby is singing. What is your favourite hobby?
Do you have any children or grandchildren?
What age do you want to live to?
Do you have chickens?
Do you have any animals? Do you feed them?

Wrap Up:

Are you fit? Is Messi fit?
Make a sentence with the word feed.
What is your favourite age?

16

December 2011
I HAVE a quick tip...
by Radmila Gurkova
Verb to have  (P4) We normally use HAVE as a main verb with an object to talk about common actions. -    ...

16

December 2011
Transcript: Learning Languages with CAPTCHAs
by Radmila Gurkova
"How many of you had to fill out some sort of web formwhere you've been asked to read a distorted sequence of characters like this? How many of you found it really, really annoying? Okay, outstanding. So I invented that. (Laughter) Or I was one of the people who did it. That thing is called a CAPTCHA. And the reason it is there is to make su...

16

December 2011
Learning Languages with CAPTCHAs
by Radmila Gurkova
httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cQl6jUjFjp4 The term CAPTCHA (for Completely Automated Public Turing Test To Tell Computers and Humans Apart) was coined in 2000 by Luis von Ahn, Manuel Blum, Nicholas Hopper and John Langford of Carnegie Mellon University. Luis - the man who brought you the word CAPTCHA and reCAPTCHA, now unveils his newest a...

11

December 2011
S1 Question/Answer Guide
by Radmila Gurkova
This is a handy guide for S1 students to understand the structures of Questions and Answers using auxiliaries and interrogative pronouns....

09

December 2011
Experience the magic of the Polar Express
by Radmila Gurkova
httpv://youtu.be/UGejMmr5G6c The Polar Express comes to life when the train DEPARTS for a JOURNEY through the dark and quiet WILDERNESS for a special visit to the "North Pole." This is the story of a young hero boy on Christmas Eve who boards on a powerful magical train that's headed to the North Pole and Santa Claus's home. Wha...

09

December 2011
Psychiatrists, Psychiatry, Psychotic...
by Radmila Gurkova
Can you think of any other words beginning with psych... and their definition?...

09

December 2011
Norway Massacre: Breivik Declared Insane
by Radmila Gurkova
httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=734J821on0M&feature=related Psychiatrists assessing self-confessed Norwegian mass killer Anders Behring Breivik have concluded that he is suffering from paranoid schizophrenia. They believe he was in a state both during and after the twin attacks on 22 July that led to the deaths of 77 people and injured ...

09

December 2011
Miniature Wonderland
by Radmila Gurkova
httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ACkmg3Y64_s&feature=share After watching this video, Germany will become the next tourist destination you would love to visit! Amazing attractions and a bunch of fantastic vocabulary for town facilities, means of transport and travelling. These fantastic scenes depict fantasy and reality, summ...

30

November 2011
EU and US Summit. Listen to our leaders speak english...
by Radmila Gurkova
httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=We-eNqzmtEw "Talks of a joint working group to explore how to enhance “untapped potential” of a ‘Transatlantic economic co-operation’ were high on the agenda this week as both US and EU leader’s held a bi-lateral trade talk at the White House with Presiden...

30

November 2011
English tips #16 Compliment and Complement
by Radmila Gurkova
COMPLIMENT - a remark expressing praise and admiration (To say something nice). COMPLEMENT - Use complement when you are r...