Teaching Foreign Languages K-12: A Library of Classroom Practices: U.S. and Italian Homes
In this course, students practice vocabulary relating to homes, furnishings, and directions. First, they compare typical U.S. and Italian homes, using their own drawings and a PowerPoint presentation by Ms. DiGennaro. Next, they practice vocabulary words as they match labels to pictures of furniture, play a card game, and even dance! Students then use the vocabulary in two final activities: they follow classmates' directions to place pictures of furniture on a floor plan on the board, and then work in pairs to draw a picture of a home described by their partner.
Teaching Foreign Languages K-12: A Library of Classroom Practices: Happy New Year!
In this course, students learn about the products and practices of the Japanese New Year's celebration. First, half of the class participates in authentic Japanese New Year's games and activities. The other half of the class breaks into four groups to discuss cultural aspects of the New Year's celebration, then jigsaws into four new groups to share their knowledge with each other. Then the two halves of the class switch, so that all students have an opportunity to participate in each activity and discussion. The lesson concludes with a discussion in English in which students compare the customs of their own cultural backgrounds with Japanese New Year's customs.
Teaching Foreign Languages K-12: A Library of Classroom Practices: Promoting Attractions of Japan
In this course, students learn about the regions and tourist destinations of Japan. Working first as a whole class and then in pairs, students use familiar and new vocabulary to discuss Japanese regions and landmarks. Next, they write questions and answers for a Jeopardy-style game about Japan, then play the game. As a culminating project, students create a travel brochure and begin planning a promotional video to attract visitors to Japan.
Teaching Foreign Languages K-12: A Library of Classroom Practices: Music and Manuscripts
In this course, students learn to distinguish between translation and interpretation in a classical language class. While the Latin IV students translate a passage from Vergil's Aeneid, Latin II-III students discuss how Mozart's opera Il sogno di Scipione reflects themes from Cicero's Somnium Scipionis. The class then comes together to create their own versions of Latin manuscripts and make historical connections to Roman culture.
Teaching Foreign Languages K-12: A Library of Classroom Practices: Russian Cities, Russian Stories
In this course, Russian I and Russian IV students meet to discuss Russian geography and the origins of Russian city names. Working in mixed-level groups, they read and interpret a story derived from their geography lesson. They conclude by creating and then presenting their own stories to the class. In a separate activity, Russian IV students debate the role of the leader in Russian history after reading an article about Vladimir Putin.
Teaching Foreign Languages K-12: A Library of Classroom Practices: Routes to Culture
In this course, students explore some historical and cultural aspects of the African presence in Latin America. After a warm-up activity of charades, students participate in pair-discussions of stories about an African woman enslaved in Latin America. Next, the whole class creates a web (concept map) for the cultural elements of the stories. Students then work in groups to add these cultural elements to the original stories they created for homework. Finally, student groups narrate their stories while their classmates act them out. The lesson concludes with Mr. Muirhead and the students playing Los Cajones (the big boxes). This video also shows a field trip to the local Latino community.
Teaching Foreign Languages K-12: A Library of Classroom Practices: Interpreting Picasso's 'Guernica'
In this course, students interpret and discuss Pablo Picasso's Guernica. First, as a class, students list vocabulary words suggested by the images in the painting. Then, working in pairs, they write a radio news announcement based on their interpretations of the painting. Finally, students read about and discuss the painting's historical background and prepare to use this information to revise their newscast.
Teaching Foreign Languages K-12: A Library of Classroom Practices: Creating Travel Advice
In this course, students learn to communicate about vacations. They work individually and in pairs to express their personal travel interests, and read a letter from a Chilean teacher requesting travel advice for her students. Working in groups, they identify places for the Chilean students to visit in the United States.
Teaching Foreign Languages K-12: A Library of Classroom Practices: Interpreting Literature
In this course, students discuss Dos Caras (Two faces), by New Mexico author Sabine Ulibarri. Having read the story in previous classes, the students begin by summarizing and interpreting the story and its moral message. To show they understood what they have read, students dramatize scenes from the story, then work in groups to create alternate endings. The class also listens to a student's oral presentation about a local artist.
Teaching Foreign Languages K-12: A Library of Classroom Practices: Politics of Art
In this course, students read a letter written by prominent Colombian artists and intellectuals to Spain's prime minister. The letter is in protest of a new Spanish policy requiring Colombians to obtain a visa in order to enter Spain. Role-playing Latin American artists, students formally debate the pros and cons of accepting an invitation to exhibit their work in Spain. After a vote, they prepare to write a letter in response based on majority opinion.