It happened in 2016 / Speaking activity: Cultural diversity in the Olympics

This activity has been designed for my Spanish students, therefore most of the responses will be in Spanish and focused in the IB exam format. But this activity applies to all languages classes, remember that visual stimuli are great ice breakers to start conversations, debates, discussions, etc in your class.

Activity:
1.- Look at the image in this post and describe the scene [be as specific as you can, to the detail]
2.- Mention the topic this image is related to and justify it
3.- Give your personal point of view
4.- Develop your ideas and don't forget about supporting details 
5.- End with a personal reflection
Think about these three questions, they can help you develop your ideas:

Questions:

- What's going on in this picture? 
¿Qué está pasando en esta imagen?
- What do you see that makes you say that? 
¿Qué ves que te hace pensar eso?

- Do you find any connection to your own culture? 
¿Ves alguna conexión con tu propia cultura?

Then, join the conversation by posting comments below and responding to the comments of others. Your teacher can give you personalized feedback replying to your comments below.

Context information for the image:
Doaa Elghobashy of Egypt and Kira Walkenhorst of Germany compete in the preliminary beach volleyball event at the Rio Olympics.
Image's source: 
Website: Reuters
Photographer: Lucy Nicholson
Location: Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
Date: August 7, 2016.

Relájate y aprende

Related links:

• Interactive oral activities for Spanish B SL
• Individual oral for Spanish B SL
• Resources for the Individual Oral

Idea based on: The Learning Network, New York Times.

Lunaprofe 4/10/2017  No comment

It happened in 2016 / Speaking activity: Castellers

This activity has been designed for my Spanish students, therefore most of the responses will be in Spanish and focused in the IB exam format.
Activity:
1.- Look at the image in this post and describe the scene [be as specific as you can, to the detail]
2.- Mention the topic this image is related to and justify it
3.- Give your personal point of view
4.- Develop your ideas and don't forget about supporting details 
5.- End with a personal reflection
Think about these three questions, they can help you develop your ideas:

• What's going on in this picture? / ¿Qué está pasando en esta foto?
• What do you see that makes you say that? / ¿En qué te apoyas para decir eso?
• Do you find any connection to your own culture? / ¿Encuentras alguna conexión con tu propia cultura?

Then, join the conversation by posting comments below and responding to the comments of others. Your teacher can give you personalized feedback replying to your comments below.


Context information for the image:
Castellers de Vilafranca form a human tower called "castell" during a biannual competition in Tarragona city, Spain.
Image's source: 
Website: Reuters
Photographer: Albert Gea
Location: Tarragona, Spain.
Date: October 2, 2016.

Relax and learn!

Related links:

• Interactive oral activities for Spanish B SL
• Individual oral for Spanish B SL
• Resources for the Individual Oral

Idea based on: The Learning Network, New York Times.

Lunaprofe 3/10/2017  No comment

It happened in 2016 / Speaking activity: A house built on bombs

This activity has been designed for my Spanish students, therefore most of the responses will be in Spanish and focused in the IB exam format.
Activity:
1.- Look at the image in this post and describe the scene [be as specific as you can, to the detail]
2.- Mention the topic this image is related to and justify it
3.- Give your personal point of view
4.- Develop your ideas and don't forget about supporting details 
5.- End with a personal reflection
Think about these three questions, they can help you develop your ideas:

• What's going on in this picture? / ¿Qué está pasando en esta foto?
• What do you see that makes you say that? / ¿En qué te apoyas para decir eso?
• Do you find any connection to your own culture? / ¿Encuentras alguna conexión con tu propia cultura?

Then, join the conversation by posting comments below and responding to the comments of others. Your teacher can give you personalized feedback replying to your comments below.

Context information for the image:
A boy stands in front of a house built on bombs dropped by the U.S. Air Force planes during the Vietnam War.
Image's source: 
Website: Reuters
Photographer: Jorge Silva
Location: Ban Napia in Xieng Khouang province, Laos.
Date: September 5, 2016.

Relax and learn!

Related links:

• Interactive oral activities for Spanish B SL
• Individual oral for Spanish B SL
• Resources for the Individual Oral

Idea based on: The Learning Network, New York Times.

Lunaprofe 2/27/2017  No comment

Speaking activities: Niños fumando

This activity has been designed for my Spanish students, therefore most of the responses will be in Spanish and focused in the IB exam format.

Activity:

1.- Look at the image in this post and describe the scene [be as specific as you can, to the detail]
2.- Mention the topic this image is related to and justify it
3.- Give your personal point of view
4.- Develop your ideas and don't forget about supporting details 
5.- End with a personal reflection

Think about these three questions, they can help you develop your ideas:

• What's going on in this picture? / ¿Qué está pasando en esta foto?
• What do you see that makes you say that? / ¿En qué te apoyas para decir eso?
• Do you find any connection to your own culture? / ¿Encuentras alguna conexión con tu propia cultura?

Then, join the conversation by posting comments below and responding to the comments of others. Your teacher can give you personalized feedback replying to your comments below.

Enjoy!

Context information for the image:
You can see kids smoking, they are chatting out of St Louis Times, the newspaper they worked for, in 1910.

Related links:

• Interactive oral activities for Spanish B SL
• Individual oral for Spanish B SL
• Resources for the Individual Oral

Idea based on: The Learning Network, New York Times.

Lunaprofe 2/13/2017  No comment

It happened in 2016 / Speaking activity: Air Force One approaching to La Habana

This activity has been designed for my Spanish students, therefore most of the responses will be in Spanish and focused in the IB exam format.
Activity:
1.- Look at the image in this post and describe the scene [be as specific as you can, to the detail]
2.- Mention the topic this image is related to and justify it
3.- Give your personal point of view
4.- Develop your ideas and don't forget about supporting details 
5.- End with a personal reflection
Think about these three questions, they can help you develop your ideas:

• What's going on in this picture? / ¿Qué está pasando en esta foto?
• What do you see that makes you say that? / ¿En qué te apoyas para decir eso?
• Do you find any connection to your own culture? / ¿Encuentras alguna conexión con tu propia cultura?

Then, join the conversation by posting comments below and responding to the comments of others. Your teacher can give you personalized feedback replying to your comments below.

Context information for the image:
Air Force One carrying U.S. President Barack Obama and his family flies over a neighborhood of Havana as it approaches the runway to land at Havana's airport.
Image's source: 
Website: Reuters
Photographer: Alberto Reyes
Location: La Habana, Cuba.
Date: Monday, March 21, 2016. 

Relax and learn!

Related links:

• Interactive oral activities for Spanish B SL
• Individual oral for Spanish B SL
• Resources for the Individual Oral

Idea based on: The Learning Network, New York Times.

Lunaprofe 2/10/2017  No comment

It happened in 2016 / Speaking activity: Coexistence

This activity has been designed for my Spanish students, therefore most of the responses will be in Spanish and focused in the IB exam format.
Activity:
1.- Look at the image in this post and describe the scene [be as specific as you can, to the detail]
2.- Mention the topic this image is related to and justify it
3.- Give your personal point of view
4.- Develop your ideas and don't forget about supporting details 
5.- End with a personal reflection
Think about these three questions, they can help you develop your ideas:

• What's going on in this picture? / ¿Qué está pasando en esta foto?
• What do you see that makes you say that? / ¿En qué te apoyas para decir eso?
• Do you find any connection to your own culture? / ¿Encuentras alguna conexión con tu propia cultura?

Then, join the conversation by posting comments below and responding to the comments of others. Your teacher can give you personalized feedback replying to your comments below.
Context information for the image:
A Muslim woman wearing a Hijab stands in the waters in the Mediterranean Sea as an Israeli stands nearby on the beach in Tel Aviv, Israel.
Image's source: 
Website: Reuters
Photographer: Baz Ratner
Location: Tel Aviv, Israel.
Date: Tuesday, August 23, 2016.

Relax and learn!

Related links:

• Interactive oral activities for Spanish B SL
• Individual oral for Spanish B SL
• Resources for the Individual Oral

Idea based on: The Learning Network, New York Times.

Lunaprofe 1/30/2017  2 comments

It happened in 2016 / Speaking activities: Refugee children are still kids

This activity has been designed for my Spanish students, therefore most of the responses will be in Spanish and focused in the IB exam format.
Activity:
1.- Look at the image in this post and describe the scene [be as specific as you can, to the detail]
2.- Mention the topic this image is related to and justify it
3.- Give your personal point of view
4.- Develop your ideas and don't forget about supporting details 
5.- End with a personal reflection

Think about these three questions, they can help you develop your ideas:

• What's going on in this picture? / ¿Qué está pasando en esta foto?
• What do you see that makes you say that? / ¿En qué te apoyas para decir eso?
• Do you find any connection to your own culture? / ¿Encuentras alguna conexión con tu propia cultura?

Then, join the conversation by posting comments below and responding to the comments of others. Your teacher can give you personalized feedback replying to your comments below.

Context information for the image:
Refugee children play with a stuffed toy at a muddy makeshift camp at the Greek-Macedonian border, near the village of Idomeni, Greece.

Image's source: 
Website: Reuters
Photographer: Alexandros Avramidis
Location: Idomeni, Greece
Date: Tuesday, March 15, 2016.

Relax and learn!

Related links:

• Interactive oral activities for Spanish B SL
• Individual oral for Spanish B SL
• Resources for the Individual Oral

Idea based on: The Learning Network, New York Times.

Lunaprofe 1/23/2017  9 comments

Preguntas y respuestas para el examen oral

El examen oral es uno de los huesos para nuestros alumnos, así que cualquier tipo de ayuda que podamos brindar para esta destreza será bien recibida.

En este caso, la actividad es muy simple (y al mismo tiempo muy efectiva), ofrecemos preguntas difíciles a nuestros alumnos y les damos tiempo para que preparen sus respuestas [incluso se las podrían llevar a casa, ¿por qué no?]. Además les invitamos a que usen un lenguaje técnico, con conectores complejos, estructuras gramaticales complejas...

Después [nosotros] proyectamos cada pregunta y la analizamos entre toda la clase, vemos qué podemos mejorar, barajamos varias posibilidades de decir lo mismo con otras palabras...

De esta manera el alumno se familiariza [a su propio ritmo y con apoyo colectivo de la clase] con los temas y posibles preguntas en el examen oral y ve, escucha, analiza distintas respuestas posibles.

Preguntas y respuestas Español Nivel Medio:



Preguntas y respuestas Español ab Initio:



Esta actividad también funciona muy bien para la expresión escrita o prueba 2, después de la discusión se puede pedir al alumno/a que escriba un tipo de texto concreto: una entrada en su blog, una carta a alguna autoridad...

No quería terminar esta entrada sin agradecer a mis siete magníficos de este año su aportación y su duro trabajo. Gracias Valentina, Guillermo, Eduardo, Óscar, Santiago, Amelia y Anita. Y también, ¡mucha suerte!

Para ver el documento completo pincha aquí.

Entradas relacionadas:

• Español B [Página general]
• Recursos, ejemplos y prácticas para el examen oral [web]
• Preguntas y respuestas para el examen oral [pdf]
• Frases útiles en español [web]
• Ideas para elegir un buen tema [web]
• Rúbricas para Español B y algo más [web]

Human beings are curious by nature.

Aristotle

Lunaprofe 5/11/2016  1 comment

Using technologies to enhance interactive learning: Edpuzzle

This is a Spanish interactive visual activity I've created for an IB unit. I found out about Edpuzzle last year, since then, I have been using it with amazing results in my class. You can just copy and paste and URL from a YouTube video and make it interactive for your language class.
You can make multiple-choice questions, open-ended, comments and also record your own voice making a question/explanation on a particular action on the video or just clarifying something that was on the video. 
Believe me, it is real simple to use, if I can use it everyone can.
This activity has been designed to introduce the concept of old technologies and get perspective on how unknown are for new generations.
At the same time the students will work through different structures and skills like comparing, justifying their opinions or using patterns to learn or practice subjunctive along with conditional.
I like to start units making predictions, and for that, we use the image on this post comparing a type writer and a laptop to make students wander about the theme of the unit. They make predictions on how the unit is going to look like, what the topic is going to be, what grammar topics are going to be covered, which verb tenses are going to be used...
Before watching the video we do this activity to activate prior knowledge introducing the unit along with essential questions to inspire, motivate and make them start thinking about the unit.

Find below some activities to use along with this video:
- Pre-activity for the video [pdf]
- Writing skills [pdf] 

Some skills that can be develop with this activity are:

Skills:  comparar / pretérito imperfecto / perfecto / indefinido / condicional

[if you click on this keywords you'll get to my GDrive where you will find varied materials/resources to learn/practice these skills]

Fact: Using videos along with EDpuzzle super-powers to engage students improve their grades by 17%!

Learning is not a spectator sport.

Anonymous

Lunaprofe 11/02/2015  3 comments