The Way Ahead   Chat Show Index (Student's book)

Teacher's Notes
- Lesson 1 -

WE NEED "STAR SIGNS" CARDS (TEACHER'S RESOURCE, PAGE 50).
DON'T FORGET THE ATTENDANCE SHEETS!

Student's book page 50: "Learning Strategy Notes"

Materials: Student book; (click here for the student's page).
Students: Individually
Rationale: Making notes; organising learning.
Method: Note-taking pages occur regularly in the book. These are to give students opportunity to make notes of new language, but also to brainstorm, organise ideas, write scripts, collect data - whatever they need for their project. The empty pages in the book are therefore important for learner training, and encourage as well as facilitating note-taking.
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Student's book page 53. "Star Signs" - Warm-up:

Materials: Student book (click here to see the student page)
ID Cards (Teachers?Resource).
Students: Groups or pairs
Rationale: Conversations on a common Chat-Show topic ?Astrology.
Method:

Stage 1: Students ask each other birth dates and write the names under the relevant Horoscope title.

Stage 2: Students make groups according to shared signs (an "Aquarius" group; an "Aries" group, etc.) and discuss the attributes of people born under that sign. A list of suggested words appears on page 182 (student's book). Students should agree on a number of words which typify people born under their Star-Sign

Stage 3: The teacher gives "Star-sign IDs" to the students, who write on the cards their name and up to 5 of the attributes that the group has decided upon as being characteristic.

Stage 4: Students put on their IDs and make new groups in which everyone has a different birth sign. They talk about the characteristics, astrology, etc.

Notes:

This activity introduces a topic that often appears on Chat Shows, and encourages students to talk about personal characteristics. This can lead into discussion on beliefs, fate, spiritual matters, etc.

The initial warm-up activity grows into a more extended discussion and finally into discussion in different groups. From this stage it can be developed further by asking students to look at Horoscopes in newspapers and perhaps think about using this topic in the Chat Show.

The first two stages appear in the students' book, but the activities using ID cards are not mentioned. Teachers can introduce these as they wish.

Student's book page 54. "Brainstorming" - Project-work:

Materials: Student book (click here to see the student page)
Students: Groups or pairs
Rationale:

Choosing initial aspects of the Chat Show. Preparation.

Method:

Method: Stage 1: Students think about associated words and ideas and write them in the book.

Stage 2: Students make an initial plan for the Show. Decisions on the type of guests and the topics are made.

Notes: Students should be able to produce something in this Project, so activities in the Alternative Schedule focus more on getting things under way.

Student's book page 55. "Prepare a ¡®Me-bag?- Homework:

Materials: Student book (click here to see the student page)
bag; items of personal value.
Students: Groups or individuals
Rationale: Personal conversations.
Method: Students choose items of personal value to them; items which arouse memories and document their life (e.g. a family photo, a letter, a toy, etc.). They put these in a bag and bring them to the next lesson.
Notes: The items should say special things about the students and should spark memories and ideas. The bag itself can be part of this and can be decorated with pictures of favorite pop stars, etc.
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