Adapting Materials: Preparatory Coralyn Bradshaw Middle East Series March 2010

Adapting Materials: Preparatory Ice Breaker: Can you catch the ball? Ask me a question!

Adapting Materials: Preparatory What I would like to know about you!

Adapting Materials: Preparatory Why do we need to adapt materials?

Mixed Ability Workshop: Preparatory Is it important to write a lesson plan? Why/Why not?

Adapting Materials: Preparatory 1 hour What’s it called? Students are able to: Curriculum standards 7.8 use synonyms, paraphrasing, describing and other strategies to describe words not known in English; use common phrasal verbs Students listen to a conversation in which someone is asking to borrow a tool that he or she cannot name. Using pictures, students identify the tool that is being described. Elicit and write up expressions such as: What do you call the thing that …? You know the thing you use to …? What’s it called? It’s (big, small etc.) It looks a bit like a … Drill the pronunciation well. Practise the language with an information-gap activity in which students, working in pairs, have pictures of recognisable gadgets, appliances or tools. Student A has half of the names, and student B has the other half. Students describe the gadgets and write down the names. Discuss other ways of ‘getting the point across’ while speaking: using a gesture; using a word like thingamajig; trying the word in a different language; using paraphrase; describing the item. Adapting Materials: Preparatory

Mixed Ability Workshop: Preparatory How are we going to make this learner friendly?

Adapting Materials: Preparatory Warmer/warm-up Involve all the class Review relevant vocabulary: food processor, washing machine, kettle, toaster, vacuum cleaner, dish washer, fridge, cooker, thingamajig Be enjoyable!

Adapting Materials: Preparatory Presentation: Present the new language Which skills? Interesting context? What do you call the thing that…? You know the thing you use to.. What’s it called? It’s big/small/white/square It looks a bit like a… It’s a thingamajig to….

Adapting Materials: Preparatory Practice: In a controlled and guided way: eg:pair work reading/writing activity A What do you call the thing that keeps food cold?____________ You know the thing you use to mix up food? What’s it called? ___________ It’s big and white . It looks a bit like a box with a round door?____________ It’s a thingamajig to cook food?___________________ B What do you call the thing that washes plates and cups?____________ You know the thing you use to clean the carpet. What’s it called? ___________ It’s small and square. It looks a bit like a small box?____________ It’s a thingamajig to heat water?_______________

Adapting Materials: Preparatory Consolidation: In a freer and more autonomous way: speaking pair work activity

Adapting Materials: Preparatory How does this teacher carry out her instructions? What else do you notice?

Adapting Materials: Preparatory Why do speaking pair work activities?

Adapting Materials: Preparatory Why do speaking pair work activities It includes all pupils actively Allows all pupils to practice the target language Develops pupils’ ability to work independently Builds confidence and self-esteem Develops pupils’ ability to co-operate with others Allows the teacher to assess if all he pupils can do the task Is an enjoyable activity!

Adapting Materials: Preparatory Personality and relationship Ability to lesson plan Be creative Make activities participatory Classroom management skills Course Book In the two classes the course book was the same. The way to make it come alive to all the pupils lies within these 5 points. No matter whether primary, prep or secondary these 5 points will apply

Adapting Materials: Preparatory THINK What will you do next week to make your coursebook learner friendly? PAIR Share with a partner SHARE 2 pairs share ideas together

Adapting Materials: Preparatory When adapting the curriculum standards… Do you follow a lesson plan ? Do you use realia, flashcards word cards? Do you involve as many pupils as you can all the time? Do you use pair work whenever you can? Do you plan your instructions and make them clear?

Adapting Materials: Preparatory Thank you and have fun!