¡Carnaval 2012! -a communication gap activity

This is one example of a communication gap activity that could be adapted to any theme or language. The point is that one student gets part of the information and the partner gets a different set of information. They must talk to each other to fill in the missing pieces. This example is based on 2012's Carnaval in Rio.

Communication Gap

¿Dónde estás, Yolanda?

Get students up out of their seats and moving with this one! Students can dance and sing along as you lead them through gestures that help them understand the lyrics to the song. For example, when the line ¿Dónde estás, dónde estás, Yolanda? comes up, place your hand above your eyebrows and look all around.

This TPR-style activity is a great break-up or warm-up activity to get students out their seats and using nervous energy productively.

Memory Line (or Circle)

Students stand in a line (or a circle). The first person says their name or vocabulary term. The second person repeats the first person's word and adds their own. The third says the first's, then the second's, and then adds their own. The process continues until the first person repeats everyone's word.

This activity uses pure repetition to help students remember all the words. If the students have too hard of a time with this game, allow them to draw little reminders on a notecard. To make the activity more challenging, have a penalty of missing the word. This could be elimination from the game or moving to the end of the line or circle. To keep any eliminated students engaged, have them continue to play silently by writing down the words.

Brain Gym

1) Hydrate! 2) Find some personal space 3) Follow along 4) Have fun!

Brain gym is a way to wake up students and get the blood flowing. In the language classroom it can take on a whole new element of learning: TPS or Total Physical Response. TPS was developed by James Asher in the early 1970's and, put very simplistically, involves teachers giving "commands" to students in the target language and students following those commands to both show understanding and connect physically to the meaning of the language.

To adapt brain gym to your language classroom, think about the script you will use with your students. Is there any vocabulary they will need in advance of doing this activity? Is there any portion of your explanation that needs to be in the first language? (The really great thing about brain gym is the answer to this question is probably no!) Have fun!