Just like everyone else on this planet, I’m dealing with a pesky flu. The good news is that I’ve almost managed to defeat it. Now I just need to regain my voice.
These days, in class, all activities revolve around the topic of Education and the problems in our education system. The video shared in this post proves to be an excellent resource for engaging discussions on these issues.
This video is perfect as it hits several birds with one stone. In the video, we’ll find a brief introduction, followed by the presentation of six potential problems in our education system.
Wondering why I say it hits several birds with one stone? On the one hand, students enhance their listening skills and work collaboratively, and on the other hand, we get a starting point to discuss the challenges in our education system. Besides, it doesn’t obviously hurt to introduce beautiful QR codes in class, does it?
Note: before the class, ask students to bring their earbuds and ensure they have a QR Code reader installed in their mobile phones/devices
LISTENING. Level. B2+
Play the introduction (0:00-0:32) for the whole class.
Explain that after the introduction, 6 problems related to our education system will follow.
Form groups of up to 6 students and assign each student a problem.
Direct the students’ attention to the walls of the class, where they will find a copy containing the QR readers for each student/problem.
Students scan their assigned QR Code and listen, taking notes and jotting down as much information as possible.
RETELLING AND DISCUSSING IN THEIR GROUPS
After wrapping up the listening phase, everyone in the group takes a seat. Student 1 takes the lead by sharing what they’ve gathered about their assigned issue. Once their account is complete, they invite group members to contribute with comments regarding the discussed issue. Then, it is Student 2’s turn.
These are the instructions I wrote on the board
Clearly state the problem
Summarize the information you have heard in the video
Ask the group’s opinion. Is it a problem in our current education system?
Note: they talked so much that we didn’t have time to discuss all the issues. I guess this is a good thing!
First off, Happy New Year! Fresh starts and the time of the year when you start thinking about New Year’s Resolutions.
I always try and think of some New Year’s Resolutions to accomplish but, let’s face it, I don’t have enough fingers or toes to count the number of times I have broken them, and then I think why bother? Do you know anyone who keeps their New Year’s resolutions? Or even remembers them after January 15? I sure don’t.
Anyway, let’s begin this new year with a post on New Year’s resolutions. To be honest, I just wanted an excuse to create some beautiful images using AI. They are so beautiful and so much fun to create!
In this post, aimed at B1- C2 students, you will find
Fun warm-ups including a small challenge playing against ChatGPT.
Some structures you might need to revise/learn when discussing New Year’s Resolutions.
Speaking practice with beautiful images created by AI.
A fun listening exercise with a song.
A written assignment created with AI based on one of the images above.
Warm-up (10 minutes)
Icebreaker 1: The video clip.
Start by writing on the board New Year’s Resolutions and ask students if they are familiar with the concept.
Ask students if they have made any New Year’s Resolutions, either this year or in the past. Some might say they have never bothered with resolutions, and that’s when you play this clip by the adorable little Charlotte A Tucker claiming” I don’t have any New Year’s Resolution, you don’t need one when you are perfect”. Share some laughs, and then get back to the original question:Have they ever made any resolutions in the past? If so, did they actually stick to them? What challenges did they face?
Icebreaker 2: ChatGPT Challenge: Have a fun activity! Invite students to jot down their thoughts on the most common New Year’s Resolution. Then, check with ChatGPT for its take. Give a round of applause to students whose responses coincide with ChatGPT’s answer.
Vocabulary building. (5-10 minutes)
1. Go through the list below, commenting on the expressions you can use to express your resolutions. Say the resolution is “to stop smoking”. Ask students to write down, in their notebooks, two or maybe 3 of these expressions.
Ten expressions to use in speaking and writing
1. I guess I’d better stop smoking
2. I suppose I really ought to stop smoking
3. I really should stop smoking, but then again…
4. I am determined to stop smoking
5. Never again will you catch me smoking.
6. No matter what happens, I’m going to stop smoking
7. Come hell or high water, I’ll stop smoking
Tell them you are going to show them some popular New Year’s Resolution. In their groups, they should talk about all or some of the following questions and try to use some of the expressions above, as well.
1. Have you ever considered making a similar resolution for yourself?
2. How might incorporating this resolution into your life positively influence you?
3. Are there any specific steps you would take to implement this resolution?
4. Can you share a personal story related to this type of resolution?
Display the first slide with a popular New Year’s Resolution ask them to comment on it, elaborating on the answer.
Tell students each slide will be on display for 4 minutes and then a new one will be shown. There are 8 slides containing New Year’s Resolutions. Feel free to use as many or as few of them as you like.
NOTE: the images have been created using AI (have I already told you how much I love creating them? hahaha! I know. I have)
A bit of fun with listening?
Tell students they are going to listen to a funny song about resolutions. They will listen to it once. This is what they have to do:
1. Predict 5 New Year’s Resolutions they might hear in the song and write them down on a separate piece of paper
2. Exchange papers with the student beside you.
3. While the song plays, indicate on the exchanged paper which Resolutions correspond to the ones mentioned in the song.
To check the answers, enable the captions on YouTube
Writing Assignment using AI
Writing assignments are a fantastic opportunity for students to hone their creative writing abilities and writing skills, both of which are vital for learning. However, students are essentially cheating themselves if they just use AI to accomplish their homework. One way to prevent cheating is to assign writing prompts that are open-ended and require critical thinking and creativity, but clearly, the most effective way to stop cheating would be to create a culture of academic integrity in the classroom. Easy, as we all have beautiful students!
On the other hand, AI can help us a lot as teachers and reduce our workload. In this case, I have used Bingchat, uploaded one of my slides and asked to create a writing prompt based on the picture. Have a look!
Here’s one of them
As the clock struck midnight, ringing in the New Year, Alex made a resolution to step out of his comfort zone and travel more. With a world map spread out on the table, he closed his eyes and pointed to a random location - that would be his first destination. The next morning, with bags packed and passport in hand, Alex found himself at the airport for the first time in years. A mix of anxiety and excitement surged through him as he boarded the plane. Little did he know, this journey would not only take him to uncharted territories on the map but also within himself.
Some tips for writing a good narrative are:
Use descriptive language to create vivid images in the reader’s mind.
Use dialogue to show the character’s personality and interactions with others.
Use a clear structure with a beginning, middle, and end.
Use transitions to connect the events and show the passage of time.
Use varied sentence structures and vocabulary to avoid repetition and monotony.
Use feedback and revision to improve your writing.
I hope you enjoy this writing prompt and have fun with your creative writing.
A talking avatar + cleft sentences? Yes and yes!!! It only got better when one of the available options was a Santa Claus. Lucky chick!
The words “artificial intelligence” have become a constant hum in the background of our teaching world. But let’s get real – AI isn’t a magic wand. It might help you capture the interest of the students the first time you use them, but if they don’t learn anything from it, the interest will quickly fade.
Playing around with AI can be a blast, but the real payoff comes when learning and enjoyment are combined. Talking avatars are not new in the class and I have been using them on and off to spice up my lessons for a long time ( remember Voki or ChatterPix) but now…, now they have reached a new level. Our options are limitless when it comes to what we can do with them and how they can benefit students.
Let me share with you how I am going to use talking avatars with my students today.
In my C1 class, and in the last two sessions, we have been working with Cleft Sentences. Remember Cleft Sentences? Yes, those we use to emphasize or correct information. Well, so let’s ask a Santa Claus male and a Santa Claus female to help us with an exercise on Cleft sentences. Are you in? Follow me, then.
What I did and how I did it
Think about your previous lesson with the specific class you are going to give the exercise to; think about things you or your students did or said and then, feed the talking avatar with some wrong information. For example:
Information to feed the talking avatar. I have highlighted the inaccurate information so that my students can create cleft sentences.
On Tuesday, Cristina, our English teacher, decided to wrap up Unit 4. We revised Conditional sentences and then talked a bit about unusual people in our Spanish homes. Cristina invited Aisha to leave the class because he was not feeling very well. The class finished with a listening exercise.
Now go to D-ID and sign up to create your talking avatar.
Note: I have gone the extra mile and used Canva.com ( I am a Canva Addict) to put together a more beautiful exercise, but don’t follow me here if you don’t feel like it. Creating the avatar should be enough.
Done!!!! Use the computer to display the avatar and have the students generate the cleft sentences, correcting the information.
Note: Although students might be tempted to correct more than one piece of wrong information at a time, instruct them not to. You want 5 cleft sentences.
For example: It was on Monday that Cristina decided to wrap up the lesson ( not on Tuesday)
More fun? Yes!!!!
I created a QR code with the URL generated in D-ID of the avatar. I use this one
I asked students to form groups of three or four and asked one student in the group to scan the code.
Groups listened to the talking avatar and generated 5 cleft sentences, correcting the information.
The winning group is the first to get them all right. The rest of the groups will have two more minutes to complete the exercise. Add a bell for more fun – and more noise.
Learning a language isn’t just about grammar rules and vocabulary lists; it’s about immersing yourself in the culture and language. And what better way to do that than by tuning into TV channels from all over the world? The icing on the cake? It is free, and you don’t even need to register.
I know. I know you don’t have much time, but let me suggest a couple of situations when you might want to take advantage of this free website.
While ironing: ’cause you iron, don’t you? (my son says only oldish people iron 👿 ) So, how about watching an English talk show while ironing away? Your clothes will thank you, and so will your language skills.
While doing exercise: (you know, New Year’s Resolutions and so on and so forth) . Imagine watching the BBC while walking on the treadmill or striding on the elliptical. Exercising your body and your brain? That’s what I call a double win!
While cooking : Forget about convenience food, so convenient btw, and pick up some yummy phrases while preparing a delicious Asturian “arroz con leche”.
I am sure you can think of more situations where this website Free Inter TV.comwill effortlessly help you boost your English.
Today, I am sharing with you an activity that’s as fun, as it is effective. Drumroll, please… introducing Tic Tac Talk with a Fun Twist!
Picture this: the traditional Tic Tac Toe grid is on the board and each square contains a conversation question related to the lesson or topic at hand; in my case, it was questions related to personal identity. If you pay attention to the picture of my board, you will see another difference; instead of the traditional 9-square grid, I designed a 12-square grid. More questions. More talk. More fun.
Another difference? They play in teams. Two teams: Xs and Os. And everybody talks here.
How to go about it. Let’s pretend Os start.
Pair up students; let’s say Student A chooses O and Student B, X. From now on, they will be called Os and Xs
Display the grid with the overhead projector. Less paper, more trees.
Ask a representative of Os to choose a square and read the question aloud.
Tell Os they have 90 seconds to talk to their buddy X answering the question. Encourage students to use target vocabulary. What do Xs do? They listen. Not for long. Soon, it will be their turn to speak.
Monitor the time and signal when the time’s up.
How Os win the Square
The teacher chooses a random O as representative of their team. (a different one each time, of course)
To win the square containing the question they have just answered, this representative will have to speak for 45 seconds, trying to deliver a continuous articulate monologue without repeating himself. If they manage to do so, their team, ie, Os, will have their icon written on the square but if they make pauses, repeat information or talk nonsense then the teacher, will a lot of drama and an apologetic face, will not grant them the desired square.
Now, it is Xs’ turn.
Who wins?
The rules for the traditional Tic Tac Toe apply here, too. Players take turns placing their “X” or “O”. The goal is to be the first to make a row of three of your marks, either vertically, horizontally, or diagonally. If all the boxes are filled up and no one has three in a row, it’s a tie. Needless to say, players can strategize to prevent the other players from getting three in a row, which adds to the fun.
How did I mark the Xs and the Os?
Remember that the grid is displayed on the board. I played the game with two different classes. In one of them, I had a digital board, so it was fun to draw the Os and Xs in different colours. In the other one, I used different coloured sticky notes. It was a colourful display and brightened up the whole board.
Here’s the grid with the questions I displayed in class
