Learning Activity

Saved by the Bell: Education Around the World

Subject Area

World Languages

Grade(s)

7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12

Overview

This lesson is intended for students with at least a proficiency rating of Intermediate High. Students will have to read, analyze, synthesize, and present information on education in both their own country and in a country of the target culture being studied. Students will learn how to search for information in the target language as well as how to present using academic language in the target language.

This activity was created as a result of the World Languages Course of Study Resource Development Summit.
World Languages (2017) Grade(s): 07-12 - World Languages

WL17.WL.L5.1

Communicate and share on familiar and new topics in various time frames and moods using varied vocabulary and more complex sentence structure.

Unpacked Content

UP:WL17.WL.L5.1

Knowledge

Students know:
  • the target language vocabulary for specific topics.
  • a variety of time frames and moods.
  • how to ask and answer questions.

Skills

Intermediate Mid & High Level
Students are able to:
  • exchange information related to areas of mutual interest.
  • use language to do a task that requires multiple steps.
  • use language to handle a situation that may have a complication.

Understanding

Students understand that:
  • effective communication requires knowing how when and why to say what to whom.
  • the purpose of language study is to communicate so one can understand others and be understood.
  • other understandings will depend on the theme being taught.
World Languages (2017) Grade(s): 07-12 - World Languages

WL17.WL.L5.3

Present information on a wide variety of both familiar and new topics using varied vocabulary and more complex sentence structure in various time frames and moods.

Unpacked Content

UP:WL17.WL.L5.3

Knowledge

Students know:
  • the target language vocabulary for specific topics.
  • how to communicate in a variety of tenses and moods.

Skills

Intermediate Mid & High Level
Students are able to:
  • create materials about their community for visitors from the target culture.
  • prepare stories or brief written reports about personal experiences, events, or other school subjects to share with others.
  • create and narrate a presentation on a current global concern.
  • prepare an oral or written summary of the plot and characters in selected pieces of literature.

Understanding

Students understand that:
  • effective communication requires knowing how when and why to say what to whom.
  • the purpose of language study is to communicate so one can understand others and be understood.
  • other understandings will depend on the theme being taught.
World Languages (2017) Grade(s): 07-12 - World Languages

WL17.WL.L5.5

Analyze perspectives through products of the target cultures.

Unpacked Content

UP:WL17.WL.L5.5

Knowledge

Students know:
  • how to communicate in a variety of tenses and moods.
  • the target language vocabulary for specific purposes.
  • background knowledge of the target culture.

Skills

Intermediate High Level
Students are able to:
  • nvestigate the products and perspetives of a target culture.
  • investigate the beliefs (perspectives) associated with the target culture's products in the contexts of arts, crafts, graphic representations, music, and short videos.
  • investigate and explain the relationship bewtween cultural products and perspectives.
  • investigate and explain the realtion between cultural practices and perspectives.
  • analyze the function of everyday objects produced in the culture.
    • compare and analyze perspectives reflected in news reports, social media, pamphlets, advertisements, etc.
  • discuss perspectives reflected in creative works of the culture.

Understanding

Students understand that:
  • language and culture are inextricably linked.
  • an ability to communicate in another language fosters a better.
  • understanding of my own language and culture.
  • custom and tradition vary within a culture, as well as between cultures.
  • other understandings will vary according to theme being taught.
World Languages (2017) Grade(s): 07-12 - World Languages

WL17.WL.L5.9

Compare products, practices, and perspectives of the target culture and the native culture using varied vocabulary and more complex sentence structure.

Unpacked Content

UP:WL17.WL.L5.9

Knowledge

Students know:
  • how to communicate in a variety of tenses and moods.
  • the target language vocabulary for specific purposes.
  • how to identify and distinguish between products, practices and perspectives of culture.

Skills

Intermediate High Level
Students are able to:
  • differentiate between when to use formal and informal register.
  • ecognize and understand idiomatic expressions in listening and reading.
  • use idiomatic expressions appropriately in speaking and writing.
  • communicate in the target language in a variety of time frames and moods.
  • compare and contrast the role and importance of family in the target cultures to their own.
  • compare and contrast school schedules, course offerings, and attitudes toward school in the target cultures to their own.
    • compare and contrast career choices and preparation in the target cultures to their own.
  • compare and contrast entertainment and leisure options in the target cultures and their own.

Understanding

Students understand that:
  • custom and tradition vary within a culture, as well as between cultures.
  • by studying another culture, one can better understand and appreciate their own.
  • other understanding will depend on theme being taught.

Phase

During/Explore/Explain
Learning Objectives

Learning Objectives

Students can exchange information related to areas of mutual interest.

Students can present about school and academic topics.

Students can analyze the importance of products of the target culture, related to government, education, religion, and economics.

Students can make comparisons between the products, practices, and perspectives of the target culture of the target culture and their native culture.

Students can analyze practices of the target culture.

Students can compare and contrast their own experiences within the target and native culture.

Activity Details

During Class:

  • Students will be assigned a specific country to choose from or will be given a specific country from a target language speaking country. Students will work individually, with partners, or in groups to research basic information on the education systems in countries of the target culture.

  • Students will research the education systems through an online search engine, such as http://www.google.com or by using school resources (if available) in the library. Students will focus on aspects of each education system that they discussed in class about the education system in the United States.

  • After the students have had time to research and make notes, the instructor will begin a discussion on education. They will discuss topics which are relevant to the students’ lives (i.e. - class subjects, homework, years in school, sports and extracurricular activities, prospects after high school, etc.). Students will take turns sharing the experience of students in their target country in relation to the topic being discussed.

  • As the class discusses a topic, the instructor will have students take turns writing the results on the board, in the target language (i.e. - Students in X take X courses:). The instructor will fill in any gaps in knowledge the students may have or provide more in-depth knowledge for the students.

Assessment Strategies

Assessment Strategies

As the students discuss the topic, the instructor should listen, making sure the conversation does not become stagnate. The instructor can ask leading questions to get the students on track if needed.

Formative assessment - observing the students as they interact in the discussion and write on the board.

Summative assessment - grade the final writing assignment for accuracy.

 

Background and Preparation

Background / Preparation

The instructor will first need to provide students with resources on education in the United States, in the target language. This can be done through various documents, including websites and videos. This will provide the students with the necessary vocabulary to discuss education. In class, the students will come together in a class discussion on the education system in the United States, in the target language.

Choose the countries ahead of time and ensure the instructor understand the education system there before assigning it to a student.

Decide on the topics to discuss about education in the United States ahead of time as these topics will lead the discussion for the final assignment.

Approved Date

Owner (Author)

nsgossett1
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