Speaking Activities in the Foreign Language Class

Speaking Activities in the Foreign Language ClassMr. Stéphane Thos

MY BACKGROUND

JAKARTA INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL

THE HIGH SCHOOL MODERN LANGUAGE DEPARTMENT

LANGUAGES A: KOREAN, JAPANESE, INDONESIAN, MOTHER TONGUE

LANGUAGES B: INDONESIAN, FRENCH, SPANISH, JAPANESE, MANDARIN

DESCRIPTION OF SPEAKING ACTIVITIES THAT CAN BE USED IN THE FOREIGN LANGUAGE CLASS

THE CONTEXT: LANGUAGES B PROGRAM.

DEPARTMENT POLICY : SPEAKING / LISTENING ACTIVITIES: 30-40 % OF THE GRADE

ACTIVITIES THAT CAN BE USED AT ALL LEVELS. IB AND PRE-IB CLASSES.

3 MAIN TYPES:

- INDIVIDUAL ORAL: DISCUSSION INVOLVING THE TEACHER

- INTERACTIVE ORAL ACTIVITIES: STUDENTS’ DISCUSSION. ROLE –PLAY, DEBATE, ORAL PRESENTATION

- “ LIGHTER “ ACTIVITIES: ORAL GAMES, SONGS.

UNDERLYING LEARNING PHILOSOPHY:

- CLASS TIME : STUDENTS CAN PRACTICE SPEAKING SKILLS.

- IT MAKES CLASS FUN, ENGAGING

- CLASSES SHOULD NOT BE TEACHER-CENTERED

- A DEPARTMENTAL STRUCTURE TO TEACH AND GRADE SPEAKING

Individual oral

Ultimate goal : prepare students for a 10 –minute interview the day of the

exam

Gradual approach.

Individual oral done at every unit test.

Approach to the

individual oral

Each unit has 4 or 5 objectives

Each objective is orally assessed on the day of

the test.

We always start from a text.

Text-comprehension

Grammar explained

Approach to the

Individual oral

Students write the response to questions

( communicative objectives of the unit) on

a worksheet

.They have to re-use the grammar structures and new vocabulary when writing their response

I’m correcting their response

while in class

Individual oralUnit test

Test divided in three parts:- Reading- Writing - Speaking

An individual oral ( 2 max. 3 students) while other

students take the writing and reading parts of the

test

Discussion about the questions studied. Expand

Mark students on the spot.

Audio-visual worksheets -Mac program Pages-

A variation from the traditional worksheet

Same principle but with an audio-visual element

Help for practicing pronunciation.

Or students can just record themselves by using Garageband or

Quick Time Player

Individual oral at the IB

levelSame principle: a

conversation on a topic.

Difference: an unknown photograph

Technique studied in class. Practice in class

An excellent prompt for class conversations

Are traditions threatened to disappear ?

A new type of celebration ?Football supporters in Marseilles

Are children threatened by advertising ?

Are we addicted to medias ?

Les Choristes

Describe the main character

Describe the characters and the

scene

Interactive oral

activitiesAgain based on the IB

exam

Three main types:- role-play- debates

- oral presentations

A gradual approach

Role-playGive out the main idea

Exaggeration. Funny.

Give out some vocabulary ( good to learn idioms)

Let students prepare 3 or 4 stages in the scenario

They can’t write the script.

Time their performance: www.online-

stopwatch.com

Role-play

Perform in class ( 2 or 3 max.)

Grade immediately

DebateFor all levels ( as early as

level 2)

A controversial topic.

Start from a text

Divide the class in two groups

Let them brainstorm their ideas

Drag picture to placeholder or click icon to add

DebateTwo groups

Mark 4 students max.

Other students give support.

Grade them immediately

Keep the rubrics simple

Oral presentation

sA topic that will generate

interest

Based on personal experience

Make sure the class ask questions by organizing a

game.

Oral presentation

sGrade:

- The visual- The ability to generate

interest

Grade the presentation on the spot

Informal presentations: let the students take

ownership of the course..

Drag picture to placeholder or click icon to add

“ Lighter”oral activities:

games

The principle of competition

Ex. The game of the Champion

( vocabulary)

Ex: the brainstorm game

“Lighter” oral

activities: songs

Songs perfect to start or finish a class

www.youtube.com

Lyrics online

Karaoké

Language Clubs

Merci !Mr. Stéphane Thossthos@jisedu.or.id