Conversation Class Lesson Summary
Language Resident/Assistant Name: Tamara Olivos
Day and Date: September 9, 2020
Language and Level (intermediate or advanced class): Spanish intermediate
Class theme/topics discussed: Movie Genres/Storytelling
Goal of the class: To narrate a story with a beginning, middle and end
How did you structure the class?
Ice-breaker: We play Taboo as a group. The instructor will send the “card” to a student in a private chat (see below). They will describe the word without using any of the “taboo” words. Students will take turns. You can add more words to the list or choose different words.
Warm-up: What’s your favorite movie? What is your favorite genre? Do you watch movies in Spanish?
Activity 1: Divide the class into groups. Each group will be assigned a genre (romance, horror, comedy). Add more genres if you have more students.
Step 1: each group writes the beginning of the story using the genre assigned.
Step 2: they exchange stories, and write the climax/middle using their assigned genre.
Step 3: exchange again and write the ending. The idea is that each story will have a mix of the genres.
Step 4: read the stories aloud
Create a Google Doc and share the link in the chat (make sure it’s set to everyone with the link can edit). All students will be working on the same document but on separate pages. The instructor can write lines or use colors to make it clearer (see link below). The teacher can see what students are doing in real time.
Activity 2: We choose a movie everyone has seen. In groups, students write a synopsis. The class votes on the most complete one. Then, we choose another movie and students write a synopsis with an alternative ending or changing some key details. We vote on the funniest one.
What technology, media or props did you use? (internet resources, playmobiles, handouts, etc.)
Google Docs https://docs.google.com/document/d/1Zf9lNI54FYsa1fYQ719ItKa0453HKi5TGa0HOjo5n5E/edit?usp=sharing
Zoom
What worked well in this class? What did not work?
I didn’t anticipate the instructions to be so difficult to explain. I will try this class with the advanced group, it might go more smoothly. Once students understood the point of the google doc, they were very engaged and seemed to be having fun. Because it took a long time to explain, we didn’t finish activity 1. Next class we’ll continue on the topic and finish these activities.
How could this class be improved/ modified?
With the advanced class the first activity did go better but we still didn’t get to do activity 2 so maybe you should plan for a two classes. Encourage them to be as creative as they can to get more ridiculous stories.
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.
Puente: NO PUEDES DECIR río atravesar colgante unir
Batería: NO PUEDES DECIR instrumento banda música tambor
Ayer: NO PUEDES DECIR mañana tiempo antes día
Noche: NO PUEDES DECIR luna estrellas oscuro día
Película: NO PUEDES DECIR cine actor director rodar
Cangrejo: NO PUEDES DECIR pinzas crustáceo caparazón caminar
Museo: NO PUEDES DECIR arte edificio pinturas cuadros
Sandia: NO PUEDES DECIR jugosa verano fruta semilla
Pijama: NO PUEDES DECIR ropa noche cama dormir
Pintar: NO PUEDES DECIR artista cuadro colores pincel
Doctor: NO PUEDES DECIR hospital anestesia operación enfermo
Flan: NO PUEDES DECIR leche molde postre huevos
Disfraz: NO PUEDES DECIR traje mascara fiesta carnaval
Vaso: NO PUEDES DECIR beber agua cristal vidrio
Aceituna: NO PUEDES DECIR negra olivo aceite verde
Hoja: NO PUEDES DECIR árbol papel cuaderno escribir