Lesson 4. Dealing with Language of Description

This is one part of the reflection on the lesson “Working with TA Text: Jonathan Seagull”

Jan 29
Aim: to classify the vocabulary used for description into different groups and see which aspects of creative personality are described and which are not mentioned at all
Material: Expressions with Jonathan’s description students found in the text “Jonathan Livingston Seagull”

1. Students were asked to work in groups and share the expressions they found. Then, they had to group the expressions according to what is described. One example was done together: “Jonathan Livingston Seagull, unashamed” – what is described? Attitude? Character?
2. Each group had to put down their finding on the board.

1. The result was compared to see who identified what. Sometimes, expressions belonged to different groups. 
2. I do not find the lesson successful. Students did not understand why they had to do it. I guess this is the problem with the challenge. Classification for the purpose of classification did not work. I was not sure how to create a context for this task. 
3. I also failed to focus on the aspects of Jonathan described by the author: which aspects are described, which are skipped and why?
4. Home assignment for the next lesson was Task 8.3 from the system of tasks: Describe Jonathan but don’t use any of the vocabulary used for his description in the text. You must produce a connected text rather than separate sentences.

Go to "Lesson 5: Evaluating Descriptions of Jonathan Seagull"