February 14, 2014

Mobile Activity: Introduce a family member


How can I use the many smartphones in the classroom for a simple and real communicative activity? This post describes a mobile activity I have already tried where basic learners use their own devices to introduce family members to their classmates.

Level: basic
Language Skill: speaking
Topic: members of the family
Device: students' own cell phones
Internet Connection: off

After having learned vocabulary related to family, ask if students have pictures of any family member on their cell phones. Let them browse their photos and tell them if they haven't got a phone that day or a photo, there's no problem.

Once students have selected a photo with one or more family members, model the exchange below with one of the students:

Student A shows the photo: This is my brother.
Student B asks: What's HIS name?
Student A: His name is MaurĂ­cio.

Ask students to stand up and mingle while they show photos and ask questions. Students who don't have a photo to show, just go round asking questions.

I know this activity is VERY SIMPLE but believe me, I saw some smiles while they interacted with each other.


1 comment:

Anonymous said...

It is, Ana Maria, it is. But sometimes the simpler it gets the more effective it is. Nice idea. (@devlies)