Fun with Calendars #1Here is an old lesson plan. Heck, I know my college professors used this one, but I think my old high school teacher did as well. Enjoy
Topic: Practicing past or future tense.
Level: Can be any level depending on how hard you make the short speech or how hard you make the questions.
Objectives:
1. After listening to the teacher give a short talk/speech, the student will verbally answer questions (asked in the target language) concerning the short speech/talk in the target language.
Procedure:
1. First, photocopy a month of the calendar and make a copy for each student. Choose the previous month if you want to teach the past tense. Choose the following month if you want to teach the future tense.
2. Next, prepare a set of fake plans- either plans that you have completed or plans that you will complete, respectively. It is best to write an outline of what you are going to say about your fake plans because you will have to repeat what you say two or three times.
3. After handing out the worksheet to your students, tell them to listen carefully to your short speech and take notes. Tell them that you will be talking about plans that you either completed or have yet to complete. Tell them that you will repeat the speech twice. The first time they should try to listen and understand the main points. The second time through tell them to take notes, because you will be quizzing them after you are done talking.
4. Once you have finished, begin asking them as questions as you see fit. Variation: Hand them out a sheet with true and false questions, matching questions, or short answer questions.
5. If the students do not seem to be able to answer, say the speech one more time. Let them try to answer the same questions again.
6. If need be, go over the story in more detail with them. Help them to build confidence and let them practice. Then, do the same kind of activity the next time and practice till they can perform well.
