Adam, Hana, Rosana
Technology
Google Sites, Padlet, smartphones (QR code)
Students' Level
A2 / B1, teens
Objectives
Students will be able to:
Describe facts and information about a country.
Narrate travel adventures for each country they “visit”.
Ask and answer questions about their travel adventure.
Target structures
simple past tense, wh-questions, -ed ending pronunciation
Vocabulary: means of transportation, clothing, directions, adjectives.
Before (Preparation)
Demo on using Google Sites
In class, students get into pairs and choose a country to research.
In pairs, students will create a Google Sites about their country.
The website could include:
Where is it located
How to get to the country
Best time to visit
Interesting things to do
Places to visit
How to prepare to visit
Include pictures, video, descriptions, and links
Students also make a small flag of their country.
During (next class)
QR codes are spread around the building and campus, and link to the student pair’s Google Site. Student-made flags are installed near the QR codes. Each QR code directs students to the next location.
In their pairs, students travel to each location (country) and read their peers’ websites. Depending on time and number of students, the ‘traveling’ might not include all of the countries.
On Padlet, and based on the information on the country website, the students write a narrative of their travel. Things to include: what adventures took place in that country, who they met, how they traveled from the previous country to this one, what they enjoyed there, etc. Crazy stories are welcome!
The students are given some nouns and verbs to use in their writing, like an adlib.
Student pairs are also welcome to post photos of their trip, perhaps with the flag.
After
When students come back to the classroom, they will share their travel adventures in small groups (asking and answering questions in simple past using wh-questions). Then as a class, each student can share what they found interesting about their partners’ presentations.
Alternative activities.
In the same groups, students can further work on their narrations and present them in another session. They can choose from different formats including comic strips, audio recordings using sound effects, animated videos, plays, etc.
Feedback
-Specify audience.
-More culturally meaningful approach.
-Direct them so they avoid falling into stereotypes.
-Elicit critical thinking.
-Make other activities using authentic websites (book a ticket, buy clothes according to the weather).
-Change it to cities so it’s more specific.
-Reflect on how stereotypes and privilege are socially constructed concepts.