Conversation Class Lesson Summary
Language Resident Name: Mirja Schoderer
Day and Date: Thursday, 1/29/2015
Language and Level (intermediate or advanced class): German advanced
Class theme/topics discussed: Gestures review and slang
Goal of the class: consolidate the vocabulary from Tuesday and introduce them to the most important slang words in German as well as one of the best and most famous German singers right now
How did you structure the class?
Ice Breaker: We talked about our plans for the weekend (one of my students is turning 21 and everyone spontaneously came up with ideas for how he could spend his birthday) and about Halona
Activity One: The students asked for a review of Tuesday’s topic right in the beginning, so I got out the same cards and had them act out the gestures and guess the names for them again.
Activity Two: We listened to the song “Oh Jonny” by Jan Delay twice and I gave the students the lyrics where they had to fill in the blanks. We then discussed the cultural references the song makes both in the video and the text
Activity Three: We discussed the slang words in the text and what other slang words the students know
Activity Four: There is this thing in Germany called “Your mom” jokes, which basically are mean one liners about people’s mothers. At this point, everyone back home is so familiar with those that just the words “your mother” are enough to start or finish a whole conversation. We look at a couple of the jokes
Activity Four: I prepared a slang puzzle and the students have to match the slang expressions with their standard German equivalents
Activity Five: Work in groups of three and write a short dialogue using as many slang words as you ca
What technology, media or props did you use? (internet resources, playmobiles, handouts, etc.)
Video, whiteboard, handout
What worked well in this class? What did not work?
Everything worked great! The students enjoyed the game, loved the song and were interested about its cultural implications. And they got the chance to shine with knowledge you can’t usually shine in a classroom with. They knew the most obscure expressions and the class was a lot of fun for all of us.
We didn’t get further than activity three, though. I’ll do the rest of the lesson on Tuesday next week
How could this class be improved/ modified?
More time!
If you have a more detailed lesson plan, please attach it below (OK to use target language for that). Please attach any handouts as well.