Teaching Foreign Languages K-12: A Library of Classroom Practices: Fruits of the Americas
In this course, students learn vocabulary for fruits grown in Latin America. Using iMovie and PowerPoint technologies to illustrate the fruits, Ms. Rodriguez introduces the vocabulary, then has students practice the new words in full-class and pairs activities. Next, the students taste the fruits and discuss whether they are sweet or sour and whether they like them. In a culminating activity, the students make and eat a big fruit salad.
Teaching Foreign Languages K-12: A Library of Classroom Practices: Communicating About Sports
In this course, students talk about sports. While their classmates learn the names and characters for eight sports, two native speakers learn more difficult Chinese vocabulary about the Olympics. Then students practice the new vocabulary and express their likes and dislikes about sports through a series of activities, including pair discussions and group skits.
Teaching Foreign Languages K-12: A Library of Classroom Practices: A Cajun Folktale and Zydeco
In this course, students learn about music and storytelling in the Cajun culture. They begin by comparing Louisiana and California life. Ms. Granville then introduces new vocabulary about agriculture while retelling a traditional Cajun folktale. Next, the students re-enact the story in groups, then use a story map to review elements of the folktale. Ms. Granville concludes the lesson with an introduction to zydeco music, including an opportunity for students to play authentic instruments.
Teaching Foreign Languages K-12: A Library of Classroom Practices: Touring a French City
In this course, students practice how to give and follow directions. Students begin by describing several buildings in a classroom-sized model they built of a French city. Then they assume the roles of tour guides and tourists and take turns giving and following directions. At the end of the lesson, students randomly select a building name from a bag and describe the building to the class.
Teaching Foreign Languages K-12: A Library of Classroom Practices: Hearing Authentic Voices
In this course, students talk about what they like to do when they are not in school. They begin by using new leisure-time vocabulary to make plans with a partner. In groups, they brainstorm a list of what young Americans like to do in their free time, and then prepare questions to ask native speakers about how they spend their time. Next, two young native speakers visit the class and describe typical out-of-school activities in Mexico. The class concludes with a comparison of Mexican and American activities, using a Venn diagram.
Teaching Foreign Languages K-12: A Library of Classroom Practices: Food Facts and Stories
In this course, students make connections to science, health, and math during a nutrition discussion. They talk about the effects of a fast-food diet, using a variety of authentic materials including the Food Guide Pyramid and a fast-food restaurant menu. Later in the lesson, they use Total Physical Response Storytelling (TPRS) to learn and practice new vocabulary.
Teaching Foreign Languages K-12: A Library of Classroom Practices: Exploring New Directions
In this course, students in Chinese II-IV work on the theme "directions." Chinese II and Chinese III students work together in groups: the Chinese III students in each group describe local restaurants to prepare for a restaurant review project, while the Chinese II students use a map to practice giving directions to the restaurants. Meanwhile, Chinese IV students prepare and present a dramatic interpretation of two poems to the class. Finally, the whole class reads and interprets a portion of a poem that contains "directions" vocabulary, and then watches a filmed, musical performance of the poem.
Teaching Foreign Languages K-12: A Library of Classroom Practices: Comparing Communities
In this course, students discuss community life at home and abroad and practice new grammatical structures. First, students share what they like about their community, then read an article about a French-speaking Canadian community and discuss what activities they would do if they visited there. Next, students learn the conditional verb forms using worksheets, and follow up with discussions about communities. Finally, Ms. Tulou introduces a children's book that uses the conditional tense, and students practice writing sentences similar to those in the book.
Teaching Foreign Languages K-12: A Library of Classroom Practices: Interpreting 'La Belle et la Bete'
In this course, students discuss the classic 1946 film La Belle et la Bête, written and directed by Jean Cocteau. The film is an adaptation of the traditional children's story Beauty and the Beast. Having seen most of the film, students compare it to the original story. Then, after watching the film's conclusion, they discuss the movie's symbolism and deeper meaning.
Teaching Foreign Languages K-12: A Library of Classroom Practices: Performing With Confidence
In this course, students participate in activities that improve their oral proficiency and prepare them for the AP French Language Exam. After a series of warm-up activities, students draw on prior research to discuss the French presidential election. Then they rely on research again to perform as celebrities and journalists in a class TV talk show.