Keeping Students

Engaged at

Every Level

�  Meredith Brady ~ mbrady@pacificridge.og

�  Shirley Chu ~ schu@pacificridge.org

�  Steve Stella ~ sstella@pacificridge.org

�  Cecilia Shrivastava ~ cshrivastava@pacificridge.org

Pacific Ridge School, 6269 El Fuerte St, Carlsbad, CA 92009 www.pacificridge.org

Engaged! � Relevant to their lives � Using Technology � Meaningful, real-life context

�  Working together to achieve

concrete goals �  Interpersonal Connections �  Building Cultural Competence

FLES Program Cecilia R. Shrivastava cshrivastava@pacificridge.org

Goals: � Hands-on, interactive program � Material is relevant to students lives � Cross-curricula; making connections � Differentiated instruction � Geared towards Multiple-learners �  Instill a love for the language and for

learning

The Project: TV News Show � Describing Self, People and Places and it

is intended for Upper-Elementary school (4th and 5th grades).

�  Interpretative/informative group project. � Anchors and Global reporters for a

Spanish TV show. � Fashion trends, weather & cultural aspects

of the visited countries.

Previously Learned information: � Recognize places in Latin America and Spain � Produce basic vocabulary on describing people

and things (ser, estar, tener, descriptive adjectives)

� Produce introductory/greeting sentences describing of who they are, where they are, talking about a place

� Recognize vocabulary on colors, numbers, and differentiate word gender/plurality.

The Learning process: �  Review of previously learned vocabulary �  Learn more about Spain and Latin American

countries �  Introduce vocabulary on clothing & weather �  Use of Technology for reinforcing and building

vocabulary, and listening activities. �  Reading & Writing for understanding: Writing

pieces to reinforce the learned material. �  Production pieces

�  Writing –sentence building, short scripts �  Video: interpretative/repetition, confidence building

Technology, Listening Games & Activities:

� School policy � White board game, Flyswatter, Eggspert, Quizlet,

BuenSoft, KidSpeak ~ team building, writing, reading & listening comprehension skills.

� Songs ~ “Cabezas, hombros, piernas y pies”; “tengo un color escondido”, etc.

� Listening & Writing activities ~ ¡Escúchame! � Technology ~ Popplet (web), Puppet Pal (movie

with voice recording), Explain Everything (speaking, voice recording & writing), Kidspiration

Word document for writing and creating shapes.

Popplet

Descriptions, Colors and Body Parts:

� Kidspiration 3

Technology: Weather and Clothing

The Project: Noticiero 4, Madrid

Ready for the Next Level �  Reading Comprehension (beginner level) �  Cultural differentiation/comparison/appreciation �  Grammar is imbedded as part of learning

�  Basic sentence structure writing, describing things that are familiar and/or they can see/feels �  Hoy el día está soleado �  ¡El Amazonas es un lugar fantástico, con muchos animales

como la anaconda!

�  Produce basic presentational phrases �  Me llamo María y soy de Los Estados Unidos �  Tengo 11 años, soy estudiante. Mi pelo es castaño, largo y

tengo ojos azules. �  Hoy es jueves, es otoño y hace frío. Mi hermano lleva

puestos pantalones grises, botas negras y un suéter amarillo.

�  Instill a love and enthusiasm for learning languages

Middle School Program

Meredith Brady mbrady@pacificridge.org

Amigos por Correspondencia

A fun, long-term project that reinforces ACTFL’s five C’s

and keeps students engaged

Keeps Students Engaged: �  Creates meaningful personal connections

with similarly aged students in the target-language country.

�  Can utilize social networking and picture/video sharing.

�  The back-and-forth nature of interpersonal communication sustains interest over time.

�  Fosters empathy and cultural awareness �  Puts grammar and vocabulary into action in a

fun, purposeful way.

Project Ideas: � Traditional pen and paper ‘snail-mail’

correspondence. Pro - good for communities without access to computers. Con – takes time to receive return letters.

�  ‘Key pals’ through email exchanges. � Educational social networking sites such

as Edmodo make communicating and sharing fun and easy.

Preparation/Front loading � Use technology to research the

demographics, cultural dynamics and historical context of the population of target students

� Practice cultural competency and sensitivity (know your audience!)

� Practice the local vernacular

Educational Objectives: �  Writing – can be tailored to be a formal or informal

register. �  Reading – when letters/posts are received �  Speaking – students can record messages, Skype,

conduct interviews with classmates about their pen pals, play immersion games (¿Quién es?) or use formal speaking to present their letters to the class.

�  Grammar and vocabulary – review previously learned material and also put new content into practice in a relevant context.

�  ACTFL 5 C’s – all covered!

Pen Pals in Zapallal, Perú

Edmodo Pals in Tijuana, México

High School Program

Shirley Chu schu@pacificridge.org

Relevance � Relevant to students’ lives, interests,

passions � Connection to the community � Comparable to culture product, practice

and perspective

Technology

� Film skills ~ phone/camera �  Record �  Edit

� Google Drive �  Collaboration �  Share

� Edmodo~ platform for writing

Sample project ~ Campus Tour Chinese 2 Advanced Video Project �  Video Project: Campus Tour Guide �  Description: You are a campus tour guide of PRS.

You want to show the prospective students where are the library, music classrooms, art classrooms, middle school classrooms, high school classroom, athletic center and teacher's offices. You should give verbal directions how to get to those places. You may start from any point on PRS campus. Be as elaborated and creative as you can!

�  Requirements: (1) Type a script on Google Doc, share with Mrs. Chu; (2) Use all nine grammar points from Lesson 13 in the textbook; (3) Your video has to be more than 5 minutes long.

Sample Project – Sports Anchor Chinese 3 Honors

�  Description: You are a TV sports anchor. Choose three different college sport matches to write a report. You will present the power point file in class as a sports anchor.

�  Requirements: �  Use all Lesson 18 grammar points in the textbook. �  Use 15 phrases from vocabulary list �  Make a presentation file: Two slides for each game �  Type a script of your report on Google Doc., share

with Mrs. Chu. �  Your report has to be six minutes long. �  You will be video recorded in class

⾜足球: 美国对中国 ⽐比赛 0.28 1.04 2.41

Ready for the Next Level � Reading Comprehension (intermediate) � Writing with correct grammar

�  Expresses opinions �  Abstract thinking

�  Speaking/Listening skills �  Negotiation/Discussion of ideas �  Spontaneous �  Presentational

Upper High School Program Steve Stella sstella@pacificridge.org

The activity was front loaded with….

� Newspaper articles � Video clips � Textbook excerpts

� Listening & Comprehension � Reading Comprehension

activities � Harkness discussions

�  Students use the formal register �  Students wrote from the perspective of a young

Senegalese student �  Students demonstrated knowledge of the

Diambars Institute

The Admissions Committee

� Collaboration � Negotiation � Empathy � Relevance

�  Students wrote rejection letters �  Conveyed rationale for decision �  Offered advice and suggestions �  Used the formal register

La Lettre de refus