HELP! I'VE GOT AN INTERVIEW!

[Sharon Bird]

Got an interview at OU on 15 Dec for Flexible PGCE (2ndry but never mind!) Need to do a short presentation (in Spanish of course) on a TOPIC that would interest 11-14 yr-olds, why it would interest them and how to make it appeal. All this with only a flipchart/ohp!!

Anyone got any ideas, ie what might appeal to 11-14 yrs that I could put across without any technology???

Thanks guys!

[Lisa Stevens]

That's a toughie - why no technology? Is that cos you're not allowed to use it??

I'd think of making links with things that appeal to them - football, pop music etc.

Focus on presenting in a way that ticks boxes of multiple learning styles - visual, auditory, kinaesthetic etc , so using flashcards, repetition, games, physical repsonse, movement, song. And ICT is going to have to be mentioned even if you;re not allowed to use it!!

Good luck and I'll have another think and put kore ideas when thy come to me ;o)

Lisaxx

[Sharon Bird]

Thanks Lisa You still in Madrid? Que suerte!

Best topic idea I've come up with so far is THE FAMILY using the SImpsons. Already got flaschcards, can talk about family members, what look like, where live, jobs etc. If can incorporate physical response too could work.

Tricky bit is you have to explain how you would do it (5mins), and not actually do it!

[Lisa Stevens]

Not in Madrid anymore - off to lovely Bromsgrove tomorrow for repeat of conference you did in June/July.

So - family! Tricky one for gestures I think!! Could use masc / fem - stand up for masc, lift hand for feminine etc.

I've done 'imagine you're Lisa and talk about your family' before!!

Could use small card game - perhaps with animals?? Like Happy Families - have to go round introducing themselves until they find their Mum, Dad and sibling!! Or make it complicated and have Uncles, Grandads, Aunties, Cousins etc

More ideas may come later!!

Lisaxx

[Jo Rhys-Jones]

Maybe go for something with a bit more teeth than family? Are 11-14 yr olds really that into family? Even the Simpsons version which I hate to say it but has been used in classrooms for over 20 years now. Not that it's not nice but it's not exactly new and exciting either. Sorry, in a fairly negative mood today.

Why not large numbers/descriptions and footballers? - students are divided into groups would be encouraged to create fantasy teams, select and describe their players (which you would have pictures of stuck on flipchart with a few details such as number of caps, goals average, strengths and price) and then bid for them in an auction? Don't give them quite enough money to choose all their favourites so the children have to justify their choices and argue amongst themselves.

You could do similar with an x-factor style contest, even using the present contestants and making up some simple sentences about their strengths/weakness and get the students to be judges.

The new KS3 is trying to move away from traditional topics towards skills (like the KS2 framework) so you have the freedom to do ANY topic/theme you wish and teach a structure/grammatical point through it. Be ready to experiment with themes about saving the planet, green issues, poverty, the technological divide, radio & tv, anything from earthquakes to space, virtual worlds, mobile technology, theatre and film, music, history, and pop science. The content is not important - the focus is the language - which might be comparitives, tenses, verb and subject agreements etc.
Try googling CLIL and consider going for something a little more interesting than family - did you really want to discuss yours at 11? Especially if half the class will have covered a similar theme in KS2. And if it is too late to change your chosen theme/topic, at least consider and mention these points at interview, saying you did not have time but it is what you would like to explore in future with their support.
Good luck! Jo x

[Sharon Bird]

Thanks Jo, appreciate your comments. Not really that in touch with 11-14 yr olds' interests at mo cuz teach primary.

Had already thought about somehting to do with X Factor, so may go with that.

Still got a month to go so not too pressured yet!

Will let you know what I come up with. Thanks again for help - I need criticism that's constructive!

[Jo Rhys-Jones]

Hi again Sharon

Just read my comment again and I was so negative - sorry! - and thank you for taking it in the spirit I intended! I'll rack my brains too and maybe some others on the site can come up with some more options too?

Like you say you have plenty of time and you only have to describe what you would do, not actually create the resources which is good.

best wishes
Jo x

[Jo Rhys-Jones]

oh - this might have some ideas
http://www.specialeducationalneeds.com/NC/Thinking/MFL.html

[Helen]

Hiya Sharon
It's me again! Tried to scan my ideas when I got home from course but as they were scribbled in green I couldn't see them- (they were still by my bed so it's no wonder I couldn't find them when I was with you!)

So will try to explain them here- not that I know much about 11-14 year olds!
Could start with a film or part of film which introduces characters _was thinking High School Musical but probably too young??. They could then take on those characters and role play, hot seat, talk about their lives, ask and answer questions as if they were them, what they like don't like? their thoughts on various topics/issues (saving the planet?), Re enact part of the film- write a new scene, video it and comment on it to improve it writing diary entries as the characters, letters to Agony Aunts. Just ideas! Not sure if any good or any help?

Cheers Sharon
See you Thursday

Hx

[Sharon Bird]

Sounds similar to what's beginning to gel in my mind ...

How about "X FACTOR:TU ESCOGES ...". Kids watch short clips of last eg 6 contestants. Then make own Top Trumps style cards eg name, age, family, job, style of music, entertainment value etc and give each category a score. Play Top Trumps in small groups of eg 6 - 8.

Plenary: who like/dislike and why.

To develop, could do "Hot Seat", imagine they are a contestant and interview them. Your thoughts on saving planet, credit crisis, Barack Obama etc ...

Further: writeand record own song/rap/poem and perform and record. Other students act as judges

How accessible/appealing? Strongly visual & auditory. Creative. Competitive. Current and topical.


Is is kinaesthetic though?

See you Thurs xx

[Helen]

sounds good to me! Could also offer opinions on the last six contestants, saying what they liked, didn't like if the can sing can't sing etc! Have you just got to offer ideas for one lesson or a series? Will talk more t'row!
Hx

[Jo Rhys-Jones]

Ooh that sounds like fun! - Go girl!

[lesley Dodson]

Hi Sharon, Just wondered if I could ask you about your Interview with the ou. i hope you were successful. I have one with them next week and I am a bit worried about the written test in the target language. Can you help please?

Thanks

Lesley