andrewsvan88, thanks for posting this one.
I began by pretty much following your lesson plan. However, instead of using the powerpoint I printed off the gesture pictures on A4 paper to make large picture cards as visual aids. I find that I sometimes rely on powerpoint too much. I don't like to make it the main focus of the lesson. I thought visual aids might be better as the emphasis is on the picture, rather than just staring at powerpoint. I felt pictures might engage the students more. I did, however, begin by using the descriptions on your powerpoint to explain the meanings of the gestures and cultural significance(s). Later I largely dropped the cultural significance but still noted that the V-Sign was bad in the UK.
I found I was speaking too much in my lesson. As such I quickly began looking for ways to engage the students more and make the lesson fun for them. I am still trying to do that I feel.
One thing I have been trying is to split the students into 6 groups of 6 (there are 36 students per class). I would give each group one of the picture cards that I had made, with a number on the back. There were a total of 6 picture cards so picture cards were numbered 1 - 6.
Groups would write down what they thought the gesture on the card meant then after a minute I would shout 'CHANGE' and the groups would swap that card for a different card. This process was repeated until all groups had seen and written about all 6 cards. I gave each group a score based on how well they did.
Again, I felt this activity was dragging a bit and I could sense the boys getting bored. So now I am thinking how I can improve the lesson so that the children are more engaged, so that they don't feel bored.
One thing I have done to try and work on the students writing is to make some worksheets about the gestures. On the worksheets are miniature versions of the 6 picture cards they looked at. Beside each picture are some key words about that gesture and a space for writing a descriptive sentence about the picture.
In one or two classes I did write a descriptive sentence highlighting key words and verbs but the students found this boring. So, again, it is back to the drawing board to see how I can make this more fun and interesting for them.
I have attached the aforementioned worksheet that I made if anyone wants to download it. I did it on powerpoint. I made 6 slides. When I print it off I check the option that allows you to print off the 6 slides onto one sheet of A4 paper. I made sure the font and pictures were of an adequate size for students to see and write on.
Oh, we did do the charades game but I had to make long sentences for the students as short ones were too easy and took no time at all to get though. Just like andrewsvan88, I jazzed things up by adding random words.
Best wishes,
Oliver
