Engage in Discussion
Literacy: Functional English - speaking, listening & communication, Engage in Discussion
Resource type: Discussion points, Ice breaker, Listening and/or speaking activity
Level: E3, L1
This task was originally used for Functional Skills although it can be applied just as effectively to literacy sessions. The task aims to encourage learners to work in small groups to discuss what each phrase really means and therefore explore the different interpretations that other people have of them. Also makes a good ice breaker. Includes proverb cards, answer sheet and worksheet.
Literacy: Functional Skills English, Reading: text focus (comprehension), Writing: text focus (composition), Engage in Discussion
Context: Motor vehicles & Transport
Level: E2, E3
Resource type: Discussion points, Reading comprehension, Writing prompts
Comprehension questions, writing and discussion based on car adverts. This resource is suitable for motor vehicle students, or a more general audience.
Learners can discuss the important features of a car advert and the advice they would give their tutor. They can then practice writing their own car adverts (not full sentences). They can also write down the advice they would give their tutor, using full sentences and paying attention to spelling and punctuation.
Literacy: Functional English - speaking, listening & communication, Functional English - writing, Engage in Discussion
Free tags: Equality and Diversity
Context: Art Film Media Music TV
Level: L1, L2
Resource type: Discussion points, Listening and/or speaking activity, Worksheet or assignment, Writing prompts
I first used this was used as practice for the written and spoken part of Functional Skills exams.
Learners need to begin by discussing TV shows and hopefully someone will mention Big Brother. Then they have to write about 150 words about what sort of housemate they would be in the house.
Next they have to read through the 20 housemate descriptions and choose 10 of them to join them. This needs to be a team decision.
Literacy: Functional English - speaking, listening & communication, Present information, Writing: text focus (composition), Functional English - writing, Engage in Discussion
Context: Art Film Media Music TV, Employment skills & Public services
Level: E2, E3, L1
Resource type: Hands-on / practical activity, Investigation or project, Lesson plan, Listening and/or speaking activity, Writing prompts
This is an adapted and expanded version of Jodie Travis’ ‘Hired or Fired’ resource which is of course based on the popular TV show “The apprentice”. I used Jodie’s resource last year with a really big group, getting them to create a poster to ‘sell’ Manchester. I added some more ‘Apprenticey’ bits in, such as getting them to pitch their ideas at the front of the class after they’d made the posters, and it worked really well.
Literacy: Writing: text focus (composition), Engage in Discussion
Context: Art Film Media Music TV, Electrical, Electronics & Technology
Level: L2
Resource type: Discussion points, Writing prompts
Set of challenging L2 discussion, writing (and even movie production!) tasks. Particularly suitable for older learners who remember the Tomorrow’s World TV show and/or technology lovers. A link to the BBC video archive is included. Writing tasks include informal and formal letters and a persuasive essay.
Literacy: Functional English - speaking, listening & communication, Writing: text focus (composition), Functional English - writing, Engage in Discussion
Context: Health, Social care, Early years, Independent living
Level: E2, E3, L1
Resource type: Discussion points, Writing prompts
I created these hand-outs for my Entry 1 to Level 1 learners and used them to accompany Saul Pope’s E3-L2 Problem Page resource (see below for a link to Saul’s resource).
I found the resources very useful for both motivational purposes (all students enjoyed the discussion aspect) and also to inform future planning (all students found it difficult putting pen to paper when writing their response).
The initial hand-out (page 1) is an example problem and response taken from a contemporary magazine.
Literacy: Functional Skills English, Functional English - reading, Rt/L1.1, Rt/L2.1, Rt/L2.2, Rt/L2.4, Rt/L2.5, Rt/L2.8, Writing: text focus (composition), Functional English - writing, Engage in Discussion
Context: Politics & News items
Level: L1, L2
Resource type: Discussion points, Interactive presentation, On-screen activity or video, Worksheet or assignment, Writing prompts
This is a topical lesson, looking at the Japanese tsunami disaster and its coverage in the media.
It introduces students to identifying facts and opinions. It also allows students to discuss their own views (appropriately) about this disaster. Students are also given the opportunity to write their own newspaper article based around the facts of the events.
The PPT includes links to news videos and is best used in conjunction with the Fact or opinion handout.
Literacy: Functional English - speaking, listening & communication, Engage in Discussion
Context: Education, Politics & News items
Level: E2, E3, L1, L2
Resource type: Discussion points, Informative presentation
Education Cuts!Stop FE/HE Education Cuts is a set of 6 photographs (taken in Hackney, March 2010). Each accompanied by questions to get learners thinking about the effects of proposed education cuts (spring 2010). Designed to accompany any of the 4 related resources on this topic (see below) and ideal for prompting discussion about the importance of education for all.
Contributed by Rebecca Galbraith, Rose Veitch and Rachel Emmett.
Literacy: Rs/E3.1, Writing: text focus (composition), Functional English - writing, Engage in Discussion
Context: Hairdressing & Beauty therapy
Level: E3, L1
Resource type: Discussion points, Worksheet or assignment, Writing prompts
A super writing and discussion exercise that gets hairdressing students thinking about the importance of writing clear instructions. Will also spark off other activities as suggested in the accompanying teacher’s notes. Also mapped to Entry 3 Functional English (writing).
Literacy: Engage in Discussion
Context: Health, Social care, Early years
Level: E3, L1, L2
Resource type: Listening and/or speaking activity
A great speaking and listening tool which involves discussing and sorting out myths and facts. The great thing about this concept (originally used in Junior science lessons) is the way it can be easily adapted for any topic and any group.
