2014 STARTALK/NHLRC Teacher Workshop

June 23-27, 2014 Arabic

Let's Celebrate!

By Anita Husen and Reem Mehdoui

Student Profile

• Intermediate-level, college.• - Mixed class (L2+HL).• - Typical HL Learner:

-1.5 or 2nd generation, one or both parents of Arab descent.-Familiar with regional dialect (speaking+listening)-Coming to class with:-Intermediate-Mid: Dialect, for listening and speaking.-Novice-Mid: MSA (Modern Standard Arabic), for all 4 skills.

-Main theme: Cultural Celebrations

-Possible sub-themes:• family• immigration• inter-generational changes• religion• rituals

Themes

Pre-requisites

• Have socio-linguistic awareness of varieties of Arabic.

• Comprehend a short video clip in MSA on familiar cultural topics.

• Write in MSA a paragraph-long essay on a personal, familiar topic.

• Speak in a ESA (Educated Spoken Arabic)-MSA, to a native speaker.

Objectives• Content Objectives-Learn about a festival in Sudan-Create interview questions-Conduct an interview• Language Objectives-Listen and summarize a video-Write a personal, persuasive essay-Practice using new vocabulary-Hypothesize and role play -Write a comparative essay

Resources (Authentic Materials)• Short video clip (Al Jazeera): "Mango Festival in Khartoum, Sudan"http://www.aljazeera.net/reportslibrary/pages/1ac4e476-defb-4757-87bc-137b62c684f2

• Community (interviews)

Day 0: Agenda and Preparation• From the previous week...

• Agenda explained this week's lesson plan, based on a 3 day/week class 55 minutes in length.

• Students were arranged in groups of 2-4 with at least one HL and one L2 based on varied proficiency.

• Students selected, contacted, and arranged interview appointment with an older native speaker in the local community.

Lesson PlanDay 1

• (5 min) Warm-up.• (15 min) Watch video once, discuss with partner. Watch

twice, confirm/deny with same partner. Watch third time.

• (15 min) As a class, we discuss video.• (15 min) Discuss with a new partner your favorite

holiday and report to class information from partner.• (5 min) Distribute basic vocab list. Re-explain

homework assignment to write about favorite holiday using 3-5 new vocab specific to their holiday.

Lesson Plan Day 2

• (5 min) Collect writing assignment.• (10 min) Write new vocab on the board.• (30 min) Work in groups to prepare 5-8

interview questions. Teacher rotates between groups to provide feedback, assistance, and reviews vocab on board

• (10 min) Review revised vocab list from board.

Lesson Plan Day 3

• (15 min) Role-play activity, round 1. Re-enact.• (15 min) Role-play, round 2. Re-enact with

embellishment off-script.• (15 min) Role-play, round 3. Re-enact without the

script at hand.• (10 min) Reflection in English. Explanation of

writing assignment #2. Compare and contrast how one holiday/event is celebrated at home vs. abroad or past vs. now.

Assessment• Formative Assessment:-Student-generated vocab list --> assessing appropriate lexical knowledge and contextual usage-Interview questions --> assessing knowledge and application of appropriate interview format and register• Summative Assessment:-Both writing assignments --> content, lexical variety, use of supporting an argument to defend preference, comparison and aspect• Meta-cognitive Awareness:-Discussion about interview process

THANK YOU!