MEANINGFUL ENGLISH

MEANINGFUL ENGLISH BOOK

“According to the way you choose, your learning is cultivated”

REGUEROS EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTION

NINTH YEAR

JOHN ALEXANDER DUCUARA

2012

Meaningful English Book

Contents

1. General information………………………………………………………………………4

1.1 Presentation……………………………………………………………………………...4

1.2 Target audience…………………………………………………………………….........6

1.3 Aims………………………………………………………………………………..........6

1.4 Methodological guidelines……………………………………………………………....6

1.5 Evaluation……………………………………………………………………………….7

2. Workbook: Meaningful English …………………………………………………………9

2.1 Unit 1 Introduction to the project……………………………………………………….9

2.1.1 Introduction on Facebook……………………………………………………………10

2.1.2 Quiz…………………………………………………………………………………..11

2.1.3 Assessment…………………………………………………………………………...11

2.1.4 Project: Formation of groups for the project…………………………………………12

2.2 Unit 2 Bringing the efforts together……………………………………………………13

2.2.1 Reading about Christopher Columbus……………………………………………….14

2.2.2 Video conference through Skype about what you did the last weekend…………….15

2.2.3 Assessment…………………………………………………………………………...15

2.2.4 Project: Making of scripts……………………………………………………………16

2.3 Unit 3 Building meaningful knowledge………………………………………………..17

2.3.1 Little Red Riding Hood………………………………………………………………18

2.3.2 Video conference through Skype…………………………………………………….18

2.3.3 Assessment…………………………………………………………………………...19

2.3.4 Project: Set up and recording of news video………………………………………...19

2.4 Unit 4 Picking learnings up……………………………………………………………20

2.4.1 Cartoons……………………………………………………………………………...21

2.4.2 Crossword about verbs……………………………………………………………….22

2.4.3 Assessment…………………………………………………………………………...23

2.4.4 Publication of the video and forum…………………………………………………..24

4

1. General Information

1.1 Presentation

Learning English language is one of the

structural challenges of the Education.

Communicating through linguistic signs is a

natural human condition, nevertheless, as

well as the geographical borders, the

communicative barriers though be

transparent they limit the chances of

exchange of meanings. The study and

acquisition of English as a Foreign

Language opens highways for the

development of the cultural patterns and the

same social transformation. This workbook with the mediation of ICT supports teaching

and learning of English as Foreign Language with the whole knowledge of the determinant

thing that is learning to express ideas, opinions and emotions, solving problems and

understanding and analyzing the reality in communicative situations across the English

Language.

This workbook has been called: “Meaningful

English”. It is constituted as a structured work

plan of four units, which articulates activities of

analysis and projection practice, individual work

with work group work activities.

5

Specifically, each of the four thematic units takes the student to carry out:

Activities for analysis, reflection, argument and exchange of ideas on the topics

proposed

Practical activities based on the development of a project by the group of students

for creation a newscast

The learning evaluation was made according to the positive assessment of the development

of the activities of each unit and the positive assessment of project work.

Based on:

Quality of participation and

the contributions made. Be valued

personal participation in group

activities and quality of the

contributions given by the students.

Relevance and quality of

project work.

6

1.2 Target audience

Sixth to ninth grade students of Regueros Educational Institution of Pitalito

1.3 Aims

After the completion of the proposed activities, it expects to support the following goals for

learning English

Reading and understanding narrative and expository texts from different sources on

familiar topics

Understanding simple and short argumentative texts

Taking part in conversations in which the students express opinions and exchange

some information on personal matters or daily life

Writing expository texts about issues of environment and personal interests with

good spelling and punctuation

1.4 Methodological guidelines

The proposed learning strategy is based

on reflection, awareness, analysis,

planning and development of a project

to create a newscast as a concrete

contribution to the English Language

learning. Thus, working techniques are

developed based on:

Reflective analysis of cases or situations where there is looked that the student, through

readings, experiences or analyzing materials, learn English without focusing so much on

the form but the need to communicate.

7

Solving problems, understanding the approach and the development of a project to create a

newscast as a way “to live” the English Language. It is intended that the students make

decisions, plan actions for the development of a product with pertinent features to their

social reality through the need to understand and be understood in English

1.5 Evaluation

Comprehensive assessment and

training process includes several

elements that must be taken fully into

account to achieve the expected

results:

Fulfillment in time and form of

the indicated activities

Participation in group activities

Quality and relevance of student involvement in group work activities

Collaborative and participatory attitude in the group (group organizational skills,

willingness to work, response to requests from peers)

8

Inputs (individual and group)

Resulting documents of analysis, argument, reflection and evaluation activities

Quality of contributions: content, formal presentation, rigor of the final delivered

document and use of documentary sources

Project Development

It is considered the relevance, recognition or

approach the problem by the student according to the

school, family or the village context

Reflective attitude evidenced in proposals for

the creation of the newscast in which the students

demonstrate the construction of ideas and ownership of

English Language.

9

2. Book: Meaningful English

2.1 Unit 1 Introduction to the project

Week Activities Modality Value Delivery date Way of

delivery

Weeks

1 and

2

2.1.1 Introduction on

Facebook

Individual 5 Not applicable Student's

Facebook

Account

2.1.2 Quiz Individual 5 Week 1 Teacher

e -mail

2.1.3 Assessment Individual 10 Week 2 http://meaning

fulenglishtests.

wikispaces.co

m/Unit+1.+Te

st+1

2.1.4 Project: Formation of

groups for the project

Group 5 Week 2 http://meaning

fulenglishnews

.wikispaces.co

m/Forming+gr

oups

Purposes

Understanding the general ideas when you talk to other persons about what you do in

school or in your spare time

Participating in conversations to express opinions and exchange of information about

personal matters or your daily life

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Grammar

Present of the verb to be: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q5B5YTorYu4

Affirmative sentences: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8x_786jLhsg

Negative sentences: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=udxC4ieCaIk&feature=related

Interrogative sentences:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_v1FemwoWig&feature=related

Yes/no questions: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0LRmWdlOZkc&feature=related

Present simple

Affirmative sentences, case 1: I, we, you, they

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pTK_IwnoQFU&feature=related

Affirmative sentences, case 2: he, she, it

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fxNVEWUb4GA&feature=related

Negative sentences, case 1: he, she, it http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tM6k-

Ebd3Ic&feature=related

Negative sentences, case 2: I, we, you, they

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ykPdN5K8uCE&feature=related

Questions, case 1: he, she, it

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BaO_DdmD2x8&feature=related

Questions, case 2: We, they, you, I

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BaO_DdmD2x8&feature=related

2.1.1 Introduction through Facebook

Create a Facebook account, after in the wall, make a

presentation in English of your profile. Minimal

information to be included in the presentation:

1. My name is ...

2. I am a student of grade ...

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3. My age is ...

4. I live in ...

5. My family consists of ...

6. My tastes are ...

Next, make three comments to the presentations of three partners and respond to comments

given to your profile.

2.1.2 Quiz

Answer the questions on the use of

Wh questions: What, Who, Where,

How on glogster:

http://jducuara.glogster.com/211act-

quiz/ . Quiz consists of seven

questions; the first two questions will

be guided by the teacher as an

example, for the remaining five

questions, firstly, you can see each

one; secondly, the teacher will stop the video and thirdly, later two minutes you shall give

an answer and finally I will be able to verify if your answer was correct or not. Given this

process, you get a valuation of one point for each correct answer to a possible top mark of

five points.

2.1.3 Assessment

Answer the test 1 in class which consists

of twenty multiple choice questions with

one answer. Read, carefully, statements

and instructions that appear in each of the

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topics of questions and select the option you consider to be correct.

Test 1 link: http://meaningfulenglishtests.wikispaces.com/Unit+1.+Test+1 (Sample for

teacher)

2.1.4 First phase of the project: formation of groups

The project consists of four phases. The first

phase is the formation of groups, for which four

teams will be organized of four or five students.

the first team will be responsible for carrying out

whole-mount section of national news; second

team: international news; third team: sports and

celebrity. This organization is done on a wiki at

http://meaningfulenglishnews.wikispaces.com/For

ming+groups

Students will express their motivations and interests to participate in a particular group so,

through dialogue and exchange of views to reach agreement on the formation of teams

13

2.2 Unit 2 Bringing the efforts together

Week Activities Modality Value Delivery

date

Way of delivery

Weeks 3,

4 and 5

2.2.1 Reading about

Christopher Columbus

Individual 5 Week 3 http://unit2act221

chriscolumbus.wi

kispaces.com/

2.2.2 Video conference

through Skype about what

you did the last weekend

Group 5 Week 4 http://skypediscus

sionforums.wikisp

aces.com/

2.2.3 Assessment Individual 5 Week 5 http://meaningfule

nglishtests.wikisp

aces.com/Unit+2.

+Test+2

2.2.4 Project: Production

of scripts

Group 10 Week 5 http://meaningfule

nglishnews.wikisp

aces.com/Screenw

riting

Purpose

Writing expository texts on topics of their environment and interests with good spelling and

punctuation

Use the vocabulary and grammar in the writings, although you make mistakes when topics

be unfamiliar or you have to express complex ideas

Grammar

Past of the verb to be

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HxwoO7kYd2U

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eEfLbZR-ggk&feature=related

14

Past continuous

Affirmative sentences http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nHQcV-WcnpQ&feature=related

Negative and interrogative sentences

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PTNCsqBEv4c&feature=related

2.1 Reading about Christopher Columbus

Read carefully the text: Christopher

Columbus and answer the following five

questions: Where was Christopher

Columbus born? Why did Christopher

Columbus learn Latin? Besides the support

with ships and money, what other things

did Christopher Columbus demand to the

King and the Queen? What first land did Christopher Columbus discover? Did Christopher

Columbus become rich? Why?

Put your answers through space at the following wiki at

http://unit2act221chriscolumbus.wikispaces.com/. Then, check the contributions of your

peers and perform a feedback to the answers of five peers, pick out one different question

for each one of them. After, comment on the feedbacks that your classmates make to the

answers you gave to the five questions.

15

2.2.2 Video conference in Skype about what you did the last weekend

Previous conformation of groups of four or five students, make a description on a page

about what you did last weekend and put it in the wiki space at

http://skypediscussionforums.wikispaces.com/. Then, review the descriptions of your peer

group.

Prepare for the skype forum some comments on the answers of three classmates. This way,

through videoconference each student will take a turn for talking about what he/she did last

weekend and then regarding, the classmates will comment. Finally, the team will present in

one or two paragraphs the findings of videoconference across the space provided in the

wiki.

2.2.3 Assessment

Answer the test 2 in class which consists of

twenty multiple choice questions with one

answer. Read, carefully, statements and

instructions that appear in each of the topics of

questions and select the option you consider to

be correct.

Test 2 link: http://meaningfulenglish.wikispaces.com/Unit+2.+Test+2 (Sample for teacher)

16

2.2.4 Project: Production of scripts

According to the news section, each

team must make a script about five

minutes through wiki space at

http://meaningfulenglishnews.wikispac

es.com/Screenwriting. The script must

be made taking into account fables or

tales of literature and to create news

from these stories. For example for the

sports section, starting of the fable:

“The hare and the tortoise”, you can

build on a report as: "Yesterday, took

place the race between the hare and the

tortoise, at the beginning the hare took

the advantage, the turtle started very slow”; however ...” The script must be a team-

building, so that each group member should make contributions through the wiki and

therefore being evidenced by them a collective and participatory preparation of the script,

besides a leader of each team must make a contribution or opinion about scripts of the other

teams. At the same time, each team must respond to comments or contributions that other

teams make.

17

2.3 Unit 3 Building meaningful knowledge

Week Activities Modality Value Delivery date Way of delivery

Weeks 6 ,

7 y 8

2.3.1 Tale: Little

Red Riding Hood

Individual 5 Week 6 http://unit3act231l

ittleredridinghood.

wikispaces.com/

2.3.2 Video

conference through

Skype

Group 5 Week 7 http://skypediscus

sionforums.wikisp

aces.com/

2.3.3 Assessment Individual 5 Week 8 http://meaningfule

nglish.wikispaces.

com/Unit+3.+Test

+3 2.3.4 Project: Set

up and recording of

news video

Group 10 Week 8 http://meaningfule

nglishnews.wikisp

aces.com/staginga

ndrecording

Purposes

Reading and understanding narrative and

descriptive texts from different sources on familiar

topics and understanding simple and short

argumentative texts

Holding monologues which you make short

presentations for explaining in a simple way your

preferences, hobbies and other topics related to your

environment and interests

Grammar

Past simple

Affirmative sentences http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HcDfR8xQP1o&feature=related

Negative sentences http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oA2EdfhZttc&feature=related

Interrogative sentences http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tQuw76chagM

Regular verbs http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9chlT2IH9xs&feature=related

Irregular verbs http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LN9HkPmjdL4&feature=related

18

Present perfect

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P6aiGiWwvIU

List of verbs

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gL4nd0tjhgc&feature=BFa&list=PL9E26A4272E969269&index

=55

2.3.1 Little Red Riding Hood

Watch the video of the performance of tale: Little Red Riding Hood on a Glogster at

http://jducuara.glogster.com/231actlittleredridinghood/ and make a description in a two-

page report about the way how the characters were dressed, the organization of the stage

and your opinion on the theatrical production made of this story. Submit your work on the

wiki space.

2.3.2 Video conference through Skype

In the defined groups of 4 or 5 students, tell in

about one page what you have done this year and

submit it on the wiki space. Then, check the

descriptions of your peer group.

Prepare for the skype forum some comments on

the answers of three classmates. This way,

through videoconference each student will take a

turn for talking about what he/she has done this

year and then regarding, the classmates will

comment. Finally, the team will present in one or two paragraphs the findings of

videoconference across the space provided in the wiki.

19

2.3.3 Assessment

Answer the test 3 in class which consists of twenty multiple

choice questions with one answer. Read, carefully,

statements and instructions that appear in each of the topics

of questions and select the option you consider to be

correct.

Test 3 link:

http://meaningfulenglish.wikispaces.com/Unit+3.+Test+3

(Sample for teacher)

2.3.4 Project: Set up and recording of news video

Firstly, each team must

make the selection of the

presenter or presenters of

each section. Secondly, it´s

necessary revising and

learning of the script taking

into account the

pronunciation, fluency and

clarity. Thirdly, each group must make the rehearsals for the news section and recording on

video camera. Fourthly, It´s required to select the best three takes and to upload videos to

the group space at the wiki. Finally, through a discussion forum at the wiki, each group

should make a feedback as opinions, contributions, suggestions or insights on the

rehearsals, the rehearsal videos can be watched by students at

http://meaningfulenglishnews.wikispaces.com/stagingandrecording.

After this process of consensus about the best way to introduce each section, with necessary

adjustments should be made a final recording with video camera of each section, for which

students must carry out the setting of the stage and prior preparation costumes for the

presenter or presenters, among other things.

20

2.4 Unit 4 Picking learnings up

Week Activities Modality Value Delivery date Way of delivery

Weeks

9and 10

2.4.1

Cartoons

Group 5 Week 9 http://jducuara.glo

gster.com/unit4act

241cartoon/

2.4.2

Crossword

about verbs

Individual 5 Week 9 http://meaningfule

nglishtests.wikisp

aces.com/Unit+4.

+Activity+2.+Cro

ssword

2.4.3

Assessment

5 Week 10 http://meaningfule

nglishtests.wikisp

aces.com/Unit.+T

est+4

2.4.4

Publication

of the video

and forum

Group 10 Week 10 http://meaningfule

nglishnews.wikisp

aces.com/Final+D

iscussion+Forum

Purposes

Make short writings and presentations to describe, narrate, briefly justify and explain events

and processes, at the same time dreams, hopes and ambitions

Speaking with clear pronunciation and fluently

Grammar

Will

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oTUAlhWbV6A Will

Affirmative sentences http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qszGlLkJqwA&feature=related

Negative sentences http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I4MIW7ahl3o&feature=related

Interrogative sentences http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=47Y5rqg-EVY&feature=related

21

Going to

Affirmative sentences

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G1DnDngcFiU&feature=BFa&list=PL9E26A4272E969

269&index=42

Negative and interrogative sentences

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s31ioOGd0j0&feature=BFa&list=PL9E26A4272E9692

69&index=44

Gonna

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nZfyKv3XP_s&feature=BFa&list=PL9E26A4272E969

269&index=43

2.4.1 Cartoons

Watch the video of Garfield chapter:

"Knights and Daze" on the Glogster at

http://jducuara.glogster.com/unit4act241

cartoon/, then translate the closed

captions that accompany the story for

analyzing and answering the following

questions:

1. Why doesn´t Norma prefer to watch a movie?

2. What does it make Garfield in a bad mood?

3. What does Jon Arbuckle need an envelope and a postage stamp for?

4. Why reason does John Arbuckle “get the chance” to fight against Boulder?

5. Why does Jon Arbuckle faint?

22

Present your answers in the forum of the wiki and make a comment on the contributions of

three classmates. Respond to comments that your classmates made you

2.4.2 Crossword about verbs

Read the clues and do the crossword at

http://meaningfulenglishtests.wikispaces.com/

Unit+4.+Activity+2.+Crossword. Analyze the

meanings given and complete the puzzle

according to the vertical and horizontal

organization of words, considering that the

descriptions correspond to verbs in the

infinitive form.

The exercise is in html format, when you open the crossword, you can see it. Then, you

must click on the numbers in the puzzle, so a box will appear where the response must be

entered via the keyboard. This process is repeated until you complete the puzzle.

You can get help by pressing the "help", but keep in mind that asking for help, it means

losing some fractions in the final score. Finally, you must press "check" to verify the

answers and knowing the score achieved.

23

2.4.3 Assessment

Answer the test 4 in class which consists of twenty

multiple choice questions with one answer. Read,

carefully, statements and instructions that appear

in each of the topics of questions and select the

option you consider to be correct.

Test 4 link: http://meaningfulenglishtests.wikispaces.com/Unit.+Test+4 (Sample for

teacher)

2.4.4 Publication of the video and forum

With recordings of each section, each of the four groups shall prepare an edition and final

set up of the news broadcast using Movie Maker.

For the use of Movie Maker program, students may support on the following tutorial at

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z5f6_4daneY&feature=related

Through Wiki at http://meaningfulenglishnews.wikispaces.com/Final+Discussion+Forum,

it is necessary that each group provide evidence in the interaction space about the

collaborative process of editing the video of the newscast. Each group must publish the

video in a thread called: “Fair news videos” at the following location

http://meaningfulenglishnews.wikispaces.com/Publishing+English+News+video. Then,

each group will make at least three inputs on the videos published, one to each of the other

three teams, so each team will argue why the video should be made selected or the

opposite. At the end, a voting will be held to pick the best video out. This act of voting will

24

be quantitative and qualitative, so besides you should assign a score to each video, you

should make a reasoned explanation about the reason why your assessment too.

Once selected the best video editing, it should be uploaded on YouTube and then on the

wiki space provided for this. In this space of the video, each student must make at least

three comments about newscast video and the content of it. Also, you must provide

feedback to at least two opinions your classmates have made.

Finally, each student must submit a one page report

on this newscast project. This report must consider

the benefits, difficulties, leanings, experiences and in

general opinions regarding the process developed.