Alongside ESOL, I also teach a couple of Literacy classes (just below GCSE level and a mix of ESOL and native speakers). Their main goal is to pass their exam as quickly as possible. They usually end up in the class because they're doing some kind of vocational qualification like an NVQ in childcare and they've been told they must improve their English to stay on the course.
Image by LucasTheExperience
This obviously isn't the best motivator so it can sometimes be more challenging. It becomes more acute at this stage in the year when a lot of the class has passed. Anway, this group need reading skills so I was in the midst of planning a reading session adapting a lot of the materials I used for the Arab Protest lesson described here.
Then I suddenly had a brainwave. What if instead of doing another practice exam they wrote their own? I know this idea has been around for a while but I just suddenly realised I could do it with them.
Full of renewed excitement I had a go at adapting another one of the English Raven's wonderful templates found here and ended up with this.
The question tips are based on the exam they have to do. (A tick box exercise)
I'm sure someone could do a much better job of it than this. The space to write questions is too small. However, my limited design skills aside, I was pretty pleased with it. I know technically I don't need to give them anything at all but they do need some paper to write on and I like that paper to look good or as good as I can make it!
And.... it was a very successful session. They enjoyed it and were really involved in the exam writing stage. Plus they were really thinking about the questions, getting inside them and behind them. For example they always struggle with purpose of text but that night they were writing great questions like "What is the purpose of this text? ... to inform, entertain or persuade."
They were also much more involved when it came time to answer eachother's questions. They were laughing and joking about it being too easy or too hard and were clearly very motivated because it was essentially their work! Not just another practice exam.
It's got me thinking about how else I could unplug my literacy classes!
Edit: Thanks again to Jason who suggested I adapt this template instead, producing this
Download Write your own exam take 2
a much clearer sheet for learners with actual space to write their own questions!
Anna!
As always, your blog is so thought provoking!
I need more information please:
Did you use a slightly easier text for this task? Did they need a lotof help as they worked?
Also, a technical question:
In the template, ii see where they write the possible answers but where do they write the questions?
Thanks again!
Posted by: Naomishema | 03/07/2011 at 08:23 AM
Very nice. I was just daydreaming this morning about how, when I've substituted lessons at the local ESOL college (they call on me if someone's off and I'll teach if I'm free), I will tell them I'm going to be a learner today, and not a teacher. Then they could teach me things, simple things like information about their family, or more difficult stuff, like what you've mentioned here. Richard Whiteside (I like to think... listed on my blog) taught me Spanish on Skype last week as I taught him how to make language plants. I was helping him uncover the limits of his knowledge because he was in the role of teacher. It's empowering being a teacher/exam question setter, and I think a lot of ill-discipline stems from not liking feeling powerless. A nice write-up, thanks.
Posted by: Languagegarden.wordpress.com | 03/07/2011 at 01:18 PM
You've inspired me to try out some more unplugged lessons. Thanks :)
Posted by: Alan Tait | 03/07/2011 at 10:32 PM
Thanks for the comments guys... you have no idea how much they encourage me :-)
Naomi - I used the texts from the Arab Scene it Lesson... you can download them from that blog post... they aren't particularly easy. I also gave them an actual practice exam so they could look at the way the exam questions were formed and get ideas of what to ask. They actually needed a lot less help than I expected. I just monitored and gave them tips e.g. if you cross out that word in the text you could ask "what word best fits in the gap" or "how do you spell this word" (and give the three options)
The template is just lacking really. Mine wrote their questions in the circle bubble to the left or scrunched up at the top. Unfortunately I don't have Jason Renshaw's design skills and I couldn't change the size of the bubbles or put in an extra line where the questions go. Someone else could do a much better job (and if anyone does do let me know ;-p) Does that help?
David - that's so interesting - I love the non hierarchical approach - that you're learning from them... that what's in them is just as worthwhile as what's in you and that connection with power. Wow yeah... empowering our learners, giving them a voice - and not just a token voice. Giving them control... and that link with discipline... you could write a thesis on it! (And I'm sure someone has) It does just feel like breathing fresh air... it releases us from so much and releases them too. I love it!
Alan - I really appreciate you taking the time to tell me that :-) ... I'd love to hear how it goes for you!
Posted by: Anna Rose | 03/07/2011 at 11:45 PM
Hi Anna,
I love the way you adapt the templates!
The template you've used here is not an ideal fit for the sort of application you've used, but another template I posted some time ago (which is much more in line with what you're trying to achieve here) could possibly be more useful to you:
http://jasonrenshaw.typepad.com/jason_renshaws_web_log/2011/01/when-answering-is-only-half-the-potential-of-a-question.html
The downloadable version of the template is in the comments section :-)
I think what you're doing with this sort of activity is great.
Cheers,
- Jason
Posted by: Jason Renshaw | 03/12/2011 at 06:39 PM
Thanks, I love the way you share the templates!
I've edited the post and added a new and much more learner friendly version based on the template you suggested.
Thank you :-)))
Posted by: Anna Rose | 03/14/2011 at 12:22 AM