Idea #25: PHRASE OF THE WEEK helps Interpersonal Skills
5February 5, 2012 by Kara
When the students do Interpersonal Speaking assessments with me, I found that they struggled to keep the conversation going because they didn’t know phrases like “Repeat,” “Slow down,” “I agree,” etc. I tried putting those phrases in some activities in class, but they were not remembering them long term. I later tried the “Phrase of the Week” and I finally saw some confident speakers!
Here’s what we do:
On Monday, I give them a phrase of the week. This past week we did “Estoy de acuerdo” (I agree). I put it on my cart and on the wall in my classrooms. I encourage the students to make a list and write it down. Some do, some don’t.
To practice at the beginning of class, we pass around a ball. One person says a statement “El substituto es muy guapo, no?” Then passes the ball to a student of their choice for them to say, “Estoy de acuerdo!” or “No estoy de acuerdo.”
I carry a bunch of blank tickets in my pocket. Every time a students uses the phrase correctly in context, they get a ticket. I’ve found that they listen to me more because they are listening for their chance to say it!
They put their name on the back and put it in a little bucket hanging on my cart. I got my cute bucket at Hobby Lobby for like $2 and the magnetic hook from Staples.
On Fridays, I draw one ticket from the bucket and that student gets a little prize (Flaming Hot Cheetos is all the rage right now).
I rarely stick with this for the entire semester, but it’s fun while we do it! I also let the students make these, especially when there’s a field trip and my classes are mostly gone. They come up with the best phrases! Here’s a list of phrases I’ve used in the past:
Como?
Que pasa, calabaza
No se, Jose
Por supuesto
Basta
Diviertete
Olvidalo
No te preocupes
Mira…
Estoy bromeando
Relajate
Megan
rachel573
Kara
Love love love this!! I knew you did the phrase of the week but I think the reward system with the drawing on Friday is sooo clever!
I’m starting on Monday!
The “Phrase of the Week” idea could also be a great way to teach kids idiomatic phrases or expressions that they might not learn in textbooks. Como “vale la pena” o “entre la espada y la pared”.
Exactly!!
On another note, you made me think of these posters that are sold on Teacher’s Discovery: http://www.teachersdiscovery.com/Item–i-01-050-Y00237
Easy to make in class too.
I had a Spanish 1 student say “Estoy de acuerdo” to me last week and I was so impressed. I asked her how she had already learned that expression after just one week of class and she told me that it was the Phrase of the Week. I had never heard of this idea before, so I headed right to the classroom the next morning to congratulate my fellow teacher and find out how she was using this great idea in her classes.
I just wanted to let you know that your good ideas are contagious. Students here in small-town North Carolina are using Spanish to communicate and it’s a wonderful thing!
–Anne
How awesome! Thanks for sharing.