Category Archives: Classroom activities

The one-sided phone conversation

Posted on April 25, 2014 by bryankandel

Have you ever listened to someone talk on the phone to someone else?  As you listen to half of the conversation, do you wonder what the voice on the other end of the line is saying?  Do you ever try … Continue reading →

Posted in Classroom activities, Communicative Activities | Leave a comment

El Tenedor (The Fork Game)

Posted on April 17, 2014 by bryankandel

I can’t remember where I first heard of this game.  It is typically played with a pencil and called something like the “True or False Game.”  I use plastic forks and call it “El Tenedor.”  Here’s how it is played: … Continue reading →

Posted in Classroom activities, Games | 10 Comments

Closers

Posted on March 10, 2014 by bryankandel

What happens when students finish an assessment and there are 10 minutes remaining in class?  Or when the internet goes out, or for some other reason, you cannot do what you had planned in class?  Or your first activity took … Continue reading →

Posted in Classroom activities, Games | 1 Comment

A few new twists on an old favorite

Posted on February 27, 2014 by bryankandel

We’ve been working with “El abrigo anaranjado“, which is an embedded reading I created based on Julio Cortázar’s “Continuidad de los parques”.   I’ve taught this reading a few times in the past, and I really enjoy it.  This time, … Continue reading →

Posted in Assessment, Classroom activities, Communicative Activities, Embedded Reading | 1 Comment

Story Game

Posted on February 11, 2014 by bryankandel

Here’s a game I tried last week.  I’ll explain the rules and how we “played” it for the first time.  Then, I’ll share some of my reflections for how it could be improved or adapted.  I would be very interested … Continue reading →

Posted in Classroom activities, Communicative Activities, Games | 8 Comments

A true friend always listens

Posted on November 23, 2013 by bryankandel

Here’s an idea that’s just quirky enough to work.  I wanted to do a quick retell/speaking practice, and  I wanted all students to speak.  I passed out little paper cutouts of the outline of a man and told students he … Continue reading →

Posted in Classroom activities, Speaking, Story activities | 2 Comments

Entrevista con Dr. Phil

Posted on October 28, 2013 by bryankandel

After reading the story about the woman who was in love with a duck (last post), we completed this activity.  Students work in pairs to complete two interviews.  In the first, one student is Dr. Phil and the other is … Continue reading →

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Los chistes

Posted on September 5, 2013 by bryankandel

About 6 years ago, I was teaching English in Costa Rica.  One day, something came up in class that made me think of a joke.  I think we were talking about animal paws, and it reminded me of the joke … Continue reading →

Posted in Classroom activities | 5 Comments

Freeze Frame

Posted on September 3, 2013 by bryankandel

The following activity was used today as a transition between two main vocabulary sets.  Last week, we watched and discussed the paperman video.  During the discussion, I focused on three terms: estaba enojado – was angry no quería trabajar – … Continue reading →

Posted in Classroom activities | 1 Comment

Examples of communication

Posted on August 21, 2013 by bryankandel

I am beginning at a new school this year with students who are not accustomed to TPRS/CI.  In an effort to help students understand my definition of “communication” and demonstrate how my class will probably be different than Spanish classes … Continue reading →

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