Self Introduction lessons in Elementary schools!

By Maya Lall

Overview

• Audience

• Introduction topics

• Length/Equipment/Location

• DOs & DONTs

• Representation

• Types of Activities

• Demo

• Question time

Your target audience:

• 1st and 2nd grade = 6-7 years old (teigakunen 低学年）

• 3rd and 4th grade = 8-9 years old (chugakunen 中学年）

• 5th-6th grade = 10-11 years old (kougakunen 高学年）

Your target audience:

• 1st and 2nd grade = 6-7 years old (teigakunen 低学年） • high energy, easily motivated • easily confused + cry easily • no patience - cannot sit and listen for long periods of time • minimal English knowledge & no world knowledge

• 3rd and 4th grade = 8-9 years old (chugakunen 中学年） • motivated • familiar with different English activities • know basic English vocabulary & basic world knowledge

• 5th-6th grade = 10-11 years old (kougakunen 高学年） • low motivation • self-conscious, timid, and afraid to speak up & make mistakes • basic grammar knowledge from Hi Friends & average world knowledge

Topics to cover in your Introduction

• your country/hometown.

• your age/birthday

• your family (parents, siblings, pets, friends)

• favorite color, food, animal, sport, fruit, etc.

• your home/room

• hobbies/talents

• likes/dislikes

• whatever you want to share about yourself!

Goal of your self-introduction lesson • To learn about you!

• To learn about where you’re from.

• To practice both their English speaking and listening abilities.

Meet with your HRT and/or the ALT 担当 (tantou – person in charge) • Tell them that you’ve prepared an Introduction Lesson.

LENGTH: • Ask them how long it should be.

• beginning of class? (10 minutes)

• half of class? (20 minutes)

• the whole class? (45-60 minutes)

Length/Material & Location

MATERIALS: • What materials do you need?

• computer/projector/tv/powerpoint/audio

• chalkboard/whiteboard, magnets

• will the students need their pencil cases or something to write on?

• nothing?

Length/Material & Location

LOCATION: • What room will be used?

• classroom? multipurpose room?

• will they be seated at their desks or on the floor?

• what materials do they have in the classroom/other room

Length/Material & Location

DOs and DON’Ts

DON’T • Don’t talk at them

for 45 minutes.

• Don’t just give them facts

DO • Make it interactive &

get them involved in any way you can.

• Ask them questions. • Make them guess.

DON’T • Don’t complicate your

English.

• Don’t talk at them completely in English.

DO • Use simple English • Emphasize words. • Balance your English &

Japanese but try to use as much English as possible

DON’T • Don’t just stand there.

DO • Smile a lot. Be expressive -

use all your genki power • Exaggerate your gestures

& reference pictures as you’re talking.

• Move around & get them to move around too!

DON’T • Don’t show only a few pictures.

DO • If you can, back up

everything you’re saying with real pictures, not clip art images

Other general tips:

• Use lots of props/anything to engage their senses • American flag, maps, money, something unique to you, your family, your

country, childhood pictures, things you’ve made

• Find what’s common between what you like and what they like! • Foods you eat? Anime/manga you watch/read, favorite character, band, etc.

• If you have any cool skills or talents, show them off! • Anything you think the kids could engage with at recess/outside of class

• Give them a reason to interact with you

• Show them you’re available!

Representation

• Figure out how you want to showcase yourself as a representative of your home country.

• Break down stereotypes the students have about your country, its people and its culture. Show them your culture!

• The kids view of America: • Trump, light skin, blonde-hair and blue eyed people, that we eat pizzas,

hamburger, and spaghetti everyday.

Representation (My personal experience)

Preconceptions: I am a native Japanese. • How am I American if I don’t look white? • Why do I look like them (my students)? • Why don’t I have an accent when I speak Japanese?

My goal: To break down their ideas of what a gaikokujin can look like.

• How? By sharing with them my cultural upbringing and show them that Japanese people in America do exist.

Types of activities

• Maru Batsu Quiz

I like…

I don’t

like…

Types of activities

• Maru Batsu Quiz

• Multiple Choice Quiz

オレゴン州では何が有名ですか？ A)Big bookstore! (世界で一番大きい本屋さん) B)Statue of Liberty (自由のめがみ) C) Disneyland (ディズニーランド)

A B C

Types of activities

• Maru Batsu Quiz

• Multiple Choice Quiz

• Two truths and one lie

Two Truths and One Lie

1. I can juggle

2. I have been to Japan 20 times

3. I can’t play sports

Two Truths and One Lie

1. I can juggle

2. I have been to Japan 20 times

3. I can’t play sports

Two Truths and One Lie

1. I can juggle

2. I have been to Japan 20 times

3. I can’t play sports

Two Truths and One Lie

1. I can juggle

2. I have been to Japan 20 times

3. I can’t play sports

Types of activities

• Maru/Batsu Quiz

• Multiple Choice Quiz

• Two truths and one lie.

• Which do you like?

WHICH DO YOU LIKE? CATS OR DOGS?

At the end of class • Always leave 5-10 minutes for question time!

• It’s the one opportunity they get.

• Student will have lots of questions to ask you. • If they ask you a question, ask it right back at

them or to the class! • Be prepared to get asked strange questions.

• If they don’t: • Ask them questions! • Favorite TV show/movie/anime • Tell them to teach you about this new town you

just moved to. • Favorite place, favorite restaurant, etc. • Have them discuss in groups to come up with one

question.

• If there’s extra time: • Fruits basket • Have them intro themselves to you one at a time

After class • Jot down observations and notes for each class/grade

• What did they react to the most? • What parts disinterested them? • What kind of questions came up?

• Did you have a hard time answering these questions?

• How could I have improved? • Slower and clearer speech? Simpler English? • More expressions/gesturing? • More diverse activities? • More English & less Japanese?

• Don’t be afraid to readjust accordingly! • Think of these beginning lessons as a learning process and experience. • It’s okay to change up your lesson.

Other forewarning • Teachers are very busy -- try to show up early, check in with teachers to make

sure they have everything set up for you. Sometimes, they are forgettable.

• Sometimes technology won’t work, and you’ll have to present without a screen. • Consider how you would present with only your props and a blackboard/whiteboard.

• Think about having a physical copy of your slides laminated.

• The students can sometimes be very quiet, not because they don’t like you, but because they’re nervous to meet you. Make yourself friendly.

Option 1: Demo lesson + question time Option 2: Discuss in groups & demo in front of class as we give you feedback + question time.

Option 1: It’s DEMO TIME!

NAME＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿

HELLO!

友達と挨拶をしてサインをもらいましょう！

Option 2: Now it’s your turn!

• Choose a topic about: • yourself (hobby, color, sport, animal, fruit etc) or

• your country (famous places, famous foods, etc)

• Think about how you want to present this. • by drawing? Gesturing?

• maru/batsu game?

• multiple choice quiz?

• other ideas?

*10 minutes to discuss* * 2 Volunteers to present*

Questions?