Serious Play: Young Learner Techniques in the Business Classroom

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Serious Play Young Learner Techniques in the
Business Classroom Niki JosephBESIG MILAN 2006
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Profile

• Level Upper Intermediate
• Course book
• Why? Official language of company is english
  multinational
• BEC Vantage in June 2007 or 2008
• Classes for 3 years
• Key Account Managers, Sales Director, Credit
  Controllers

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• We want more games and more fun
• C.A, Sales Director/future Area Manager Iberia

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4 fun activities adapt for your own
context

• Paper folding
• Vocabulary review
• 3. Summarising
• 4. Defining game

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http//www.origami-club.com/en/accessories/necktie
/neckite/index.htm
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Word definition game

• Give a definintion of the word on your card to
  your partner
• Then, together put the triangles all together to
  form a square. (tangram)

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Read the article

• Think of a headline summarising skills
• Display the headlines around the room.
• Making the board room the classroom

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Reveal the picture

• 1. Find a picture
• 2. Cover with numbered post-its
• 3. Make a quiz each number has a question.
• 4. If correctly answered, remove post-it.

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Principles for the YL classroom

• Plan-do review
• Arouse curiosity
• Include something visual/audio/kinasthetic
• Stir/settle
• Variety
• Differentiate
• English vs speed
• Involve parents/carers

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Principles for the Business English
classroom

• Plan-doreview
• Arouse curiosity
• Include something visual/audio/kinasthetic
• Engage learners so that they arent thinking
  about orders, phone calls etc
• Differentiate level,needs
• Variety
• English vs speed
• Involve the whole company if possible

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Side by side

• YOUNG LEARNERS
• Plan-do review
• Arouse curiosity
• Include something visual/audio/kinasthetic
• Stir/settle
• Variety
• differentiate
• English vs speed
• Involve parents/carers

• BUSINESS
• Plan-doreview
• Arouse curiosity
• Include something visual/audio/kinasthetic
• Engage learners so that they arent thinking
  about orders, phone calls etc
• Differentiate level,needs
• Variety
• English vs speed
• Involve the whole company if possible

More similarities than
expected!
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Some Ideas

• Google images - for company logos
• Writing activities on coloured paper
• Self assessment _ reflection
• Temporary classroom - visually appealing
• Games
• Songs

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My own students

• Positive feedback
• Open minded
• Enjoyed the change
• Felt that learning was the same not more, not
  less.

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• Thank you!
• niki.joseph_at_netcabo.pt
• www.language-project.com