Sometimes I don’t know how to help novice learners (with almost NO L2 vocabulary foundation) practice language in the interpersonal mode. I learned a great strategy at a RLRA presentation at ACTFL 2012. Read below to see how well this activity can work for teaching basic vocabulary (like classroom object nouns). Keep in mind that you can use the same activity for many different vocabulary units.
1- Get the materials ready. On index-sized cards, make a classroom set of pictures and their matching words. (i.e. a picture of a pencil will be on one flash card and the L2 word for pencil will be on another flashcard.) Make enough so that each student can have either a picture or one of the matching words.
2- Here’s how the ‘Find Your Match’ activity goes.
- Students are randomly giving 1 picture or 1 matching word.
- All students hold their picture (or word) against their body so no one else can see.
- Each student must use the target language to find ‘their match.’ Students find their match when they find the person that is holding the flashcard that matches or corresponds to theirs. (i.e. The student with the L2 word for ‘pencil’ must find the student with the picture of the pencil. The student with the L2 word for ‘scissors’ must find the student with the picture of the scissors.)
- Students walk around the classroom asking their classmates the following question in the target language, “Do you have _____?” (i.e. Do you have a pencil? or Do you have scissors?)
- When Student A asks Student B, “Do you have ____?” student B responds with, “Yes,” or, “No” in the target language.
- If the answer is, “no,” then student A continues his/her search for the match by asking other students, “Do you have ____?”
- If the answer is, “yes,” then the two students have found their match. They must sit down quietly together until the rest of the class has found their match.
3- How to give students meaningful directions while staying in the target language.
- Make sure the students can pronounce all of the L2 words before you attempt this interpersonal mode activity. If students don’t know how to say the word for the flashcard that’s in their hand, the activity will breakdown.
- Model the ‘Find Your Match’ activity with the help of 4 students. Ask 4 students to come to the front of the class. Give them 4 large, sample pictures (the same pictures that will be used in the ‘Find Your Match’ activity). Have students hold the pictures in front of them so the whole class can see which picture they have. Show the class that you have a written L2 word that matches one of the 4 pictures. While the whole class is watching you, put a confused look on your face as you examine your word and the four pictures. Go up to the first student (who is holding the first of 4 pictures). Say in the target language, “Do you have ____?” (and say the word that your holding in your hand). If the student stares at you, repeat the question and tell them to answer with “Yes” or “No” in the target language. The answer should be “No.” Go down the line and repeat this until you get the fourth picture which will be the matching picture. After the 4th student says, “YES,” show excitement because you’ve found your match. Then grab your “match’s” hand and sit down together to show that all students should sit down quietly until all other students have found their match.
- Ask a confident student to model the ‘Find Your Match’ activity with your guidance. The confident student will repeat all the steps under #2 above.
- If the class still looks confused, ask another confident student to model the ‘Find Your Match’ activity.
- When it looks like most of the students get the gist of what’s happening, hand out the matching flash cards. Each student should have one.
- Using the two hand method, signal the start of the “Find Your Match” activity. Repeat, “Do you have ____? Yes/No.” in the target language over and over so that the students realize that you are doing what they have to do with each other.
- Circulate through the room. Remind students to sit down quietly when they have found their match. Help the students who are not sure what to do.
- When everyone has found their match, consider mixing up the flash cards and starting again.
Thanks to RLRA for this idea.
Part 4 – Making The Interpersonal Mode As Easy As Possible For Novice Learners
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