Consciousness-Raising Task

What is it?

"A task that engages learners in thinking and communicating about language. Thus, a language point becomes a topic that is talked about" (Ellis 2003:341).

How can I use it to teach possessive structures?

Use Consciousness-Raising Tasks to present possessive structures in the target language. I use an example from Spanish here, which you can adapt to fit the grammar of your target language.

1. First, create a text that incorporates the following: plural possessors; singular AND plural possessed objects (possessa); and body part AND non-body part possessa (text from Samples 2022a, citing Richards & Rodgers 2014, Samples 2016, Sutter 2008).

Helena y Ramón limpian su cuarto. Recogen sus libros del piso y los ponen en sus mochilas. Siempre les duele la garganta, así que tienen medicamentos en su mesita de noche. Los llevan a su baño. Una vez que lo arreglan todo, pasan la aspiradora.

2. Distribute a copy of the text to your students, asking them to work in small groups to pick out phrases that express possession. 

• limpian su baño

• recogen sus libros

• los ponen en sus mochilas

• les duele la garganta

• tienen medicamentos en su mesita de noche

• los llevan a su baño

3. As an optional step, students can identify the kinds of possessed nouns that are singular and the kinds of possessed nouns that are plural (ACTFL 2021-2022, Ellis 2003 apud Samples 2022a).

• nombres singulares --> pueden ser partes del cuerpo u otros objetos

  • su baño

  • la garganta

  • su mesita de noche

  • su baño

• nombres plurales --> NO son partes del cuerpo

  • sus libros

  • sus mochilas

4. Ask the small groups to share their findings with the class.

5. Finally, point out any cognitive models students can use when deciding on the appropriate structure. For example, in Spanish, body part possessa are often singular and are often combined with definite determiners (el, la, los, las). It's less typical to make body part possessa plural and to use them with possessive determiners (mi, tus, etc.).

Task example from Samples (2022a).

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