Bridging Cultures: International Student Connections
After exchanging emails for several weeks, two classes (one from Marcellus, MI and the other from Mexico City, Mexico) will meet and discuss a pre-selected topic. Discussion is done both in English and Spanish. Topics are to be determined by the teachers and may include:
1. school 2. holidays 3. career plans 4. immigration
Expected learner outcomes: 1. Students will develop their listening and speaking skills in the second language. 2. Students will gain an insight into the target culture.
Project time frame
The entire project continues throughout the semester beginning with weekly emails. Two videoconference connections will be planned during the semester. Depending on the topic selected, two or more days will be required to prepare students for their discussion. Students will be pre-selected to participate in each section beyond the greeting. They will prepare visuals, details to discuss and questions ahead of time.
Length of VC: 50 minutes. (This is to fit into one class period.)
IP or ISDN?
Marcellus uses IP and the Mexican school used ISDN so we will need to be bridged through the ISD.
Materials
May include a powerpoint presentation or other visual depending on the topic selected.
Agenda
(topic is 'school')
10 minutes: greetings - each student will say their name and age in the target language.
10 minutes: each class will have 5 minutes to present pictures or other visual about their school.
10 minutes: each class will discuss the classes offered at their school.
15 minutes: students will ask each other questions about their school.
5 minutes: goodbyes.
Who does what
Everyone will get a chance to at least say their name, age and goodbye in the target language. Each class will be divided up into small groups, one to present the visuals, one to talk about their school, one to discuss their classes, and a last group to ask questions. Each student is to be included in a group.
Credits:
Cooperating teacher - Artemisa Sangerman, ESL teacher at TEC de Monterrey HS, Mexico City.
This project was written by Cyndy Ross in the class Planning Interactive Curriculum Connections.
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