Oops! I haven’t posted in aaaages! Will hopefully make up for that in the next few weeks.
Someone in the staff room today showed everyone a video for a new Flemmish TV channel – you may have heard of it, it’s a bit of a sensation… It’s called “A Dramatic Surprise on A Quiet Square”. Have a watch… it’s brilliant!
So how could you use this video in the classroom? It could be a more interesting, visual way to practise using narrative tenses (or present continous for lower levels).
Any other ideas? Please let me know!
Love the video. Two ideas: to do present continuous, sit ss in two lines, one facing (watchers) one not (writers). The watchers have to tell the writers what is happening (i.e. present continuous). They then swap half way through.
You could also do some sort of predictions activity – either a straight prediction: play one section, discuss what they think might happen next.
Or a more detailed version: pre-teach the key “people” and objects (paramedics, cyclist, American football players, etc.) – then watch the first few moments (until the button gets pressed) before getting the ss to discuss what might happen with each of these people.
The prediction tasks could then be followed up with the watching and something, as you say, around narrative tenses.
If you were feeling really adventurous, maybe ss could plan their own stunt in college, remembering health & safety, etc., and video it.
Love the idea that the students should make their own… with the right class that could be fantastic! I did some filming with students the other week and they were so funny and imaginative, not at all camera shy like I thought they would be!