The Language Teacher
November 2002

Stocking-Fillers for Teachers: Some December Lessons

James W. Porcaro

Toyama University of International Studies

<porcaro@tuins.ac.jp>


QUICK GUIDE

Key Words:Recitation, presentation, discussion, things Japanese
Learner English Level: From high (false) beginner
Learner Maturity Level: High school and above
Preparation Time: Time needed to make handouts
Activity Time: One or more class lessons
Materials: Copies of handouts


The days just before winter vacation are ideal for presenting lessons fit for the season. The gift-giving custom of the Yuletide and the variety of things Japanese that mark the yearend and New Year can provide material for some enjoyable and productive lessons.

Recitation

Recitation of stories is an activity suitable and adaptable for almost any language level class with at least basic reading proficiency. Story texts provide students with words in context and setting so that they can actively use the language with meaning and purpose. Recitation can be a stimulating and effective oral exercise for developing better pronunciation, articulation, intonation, phrasing, rhythm, pace, fluency, and voice projection and control (see Porcaro, 1999).

"The Gift of the Magi" by O. Henry is a wonderful classic story for the Christmas holiday season. I use it in a manageable, abbreviated form of 400 words from the textbook Spectrum (1994). The story line and characters are clear and simple, and it also contains some dialogue. It can elicit in recitation a range and force of dramatic expression, individual interpretation, and a variety of oral and other presentation skills.

After students have read the story and answered worksheet items for homework, I model a recitation of the story. I then divide the text into three or four approximately equal sections--or split up the dialogue of the characters and the narration within the story. Students practice their recitation in small groups, reading the text aloud several times, rotating among them the designated parts again and again. In this manner of cooperative learning, with successive readings, they can share, discuss, and critique their efforts, making the recitation a collaborative exercise, while developing individual interpretations for later presentation before the entire class.

Discussion and presentation

A natural follow-up activity for "The Gift of the Magi" is for students to talk about a special gift that they gave to someone (at any time for any reason) and one that was given to them. This may be done simply as pairwork or small discussion groups and/or prepared for public speaking presentation before the entire class. In the latter case, students speak without any notes for about one minute on each of their two gift stories.

A further follow-up activity is for pairs or small groups to discuss an appropriate Christmas gift for each of their classmates. Especially when members of the class know each other fairly well, this can be a lively and interesting discussion. The teacher should give out a class list with space for students to record their gift ideas. Afterwards, a composite list may be made and given to the full class so that each student can read and respond to the gifts their classmates have chosen for them.

Things Japanese

The yearend and New Year is a period rich in cultural traditions and activities in Japan. Here is a list of 20 prominent items. For ways in which to devise many lesson activities and tasks from them, see Summertime Things Japanese (Porcaro, 2002) in July's My Share column.

References

Porcaro, J. (1999). Recitation in an English language program. The Language Teacher, 23(8), 10-12.

Porcaro, J. (2002). Summertime things Japanese. The Language Teacher, 26(7), 39, 41.

Warshawsky, D. (1994). Spectrum: A Communicative Course in English, 4. NJ: Prentice Hall Regents.


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