Egzamin ósmoklasisty – exam preparation with Vocabulary Race Competition, Trimino and Storyjumper book – “Człowiek”
A new school year is a new challenge, especially with our grade 8 students. Preparing them for their end-of-school exam is not an easy task and it requires a lot of effort and creativity from us, teachers. Therefore, I decided to proceed with my series of lesson ideas whose aim is to help the students prepare for their final exam in a less conventional way. Hopefully, it will provide them with some fun and the opportunity to work on teams.
1. Introduction
Split the learners into small groups (2-4 students). Give each team a copy of the example sentences worksheet 1 – example sentences with useful phrases (printable) and two sets of cards: the phrases cards and the definitions cards – phrases and definitions cards (printable). In order to elicit the meaning of the phrases in bold, ask the students to read and study the example sentences. Then, based on the sentences, have them match the phrases with their definitions.
In your groups read and study the following sentences. Then match the phrases with their definitions.
1 He’s really keen on visiting new places. I would call him an avid traveler.
2 I know you’re anxious about the exam. Everything will be ok. Just make sure you will get enough sleep at night.
3 They get on well with each other like twin sisters. It’s a good example of a perfect friendship.
4 I’m sure something bad happened yesterday and that’s why you are in such a bad mood this morning.
5 The way you look at her is special. You’re very fond of her, aren’t you?
6 Would you like to meet up with me after work?
7 Danny, I haven’t heard from you for ages! It’s good to know you’re ok.
8 Your exam results are excellent! I’m so proud of you.
9 Patricia and Ivonne spent the whole day hanging out by the pool.
10 About 500 people took part in the protest.
11 I’m not interested in social relations. I’d rather study something related to our state history.
12 Hi, Claire! Let me introduce you to my colleague, James. We’ve been working together for three years now.
Phrases and definitions
| introduce somebody | you do this when you give the person’s name and explain who the person is |
| be proud of somebody | it’s when you feel really good about a person because the person has done something good |
| hear from somebody | get a letter, phone call or other messages from someone |
| take part in something | you do this when you are actively involved in something, e.g. a game or competition |
| hang out | spend a lot of time in a place or with someone |
| meet up with somebody | you do this when you see and talk to someone after making an arrangement |
| get on well with somebody | have or stay in good relationship with someone |
| be anxious about something | be worried or nervous about something |
| be keen on something | be very enthusiastic about something, be a big fan of something |
| be interested in something | it’s when you want to become involved in something because you like it and you want to learn more |
| be in a good/bad mood | feel well or badly at a particular time |
| be fond of somebody | like someone very much |
2. Immediate practice with Trimino
Let the learners stay in the same groups and ask them to do the Trimino task. The aim is to organize 12 triangles into one big star. To complete the task, the students need to find all the twelve phrases they have just learned.
Trimino – phrases to make (printable)
3. More practice with Phrase Race Competition
Let the students stay in the same groups or form new ones. Give each group a stack of cards with the phrases written on them.
The layout can look like this:
The competition starts with you reading a definition of a phrase. Once students hear the definition, in their groups, they select the correct phrase from the cards. The designated student runs to the designated spot and puts the card with the correct phrase on the table.
The group with the winning student earns a point.
A new student is designated for the next round, and so on. The group with the most points wins.
4. More practice with Storyjumper
The next step is to encourage the learners to use the phrases in practice. It can be done with some help from Storyjumper. You can arrange the students into two competing groups. Taking turns, the teams are supposed to complete the other sentence so that it has the same or similar meaning to the first one. They are supposed to use the words in brackets and add any other necessary words.
Next, students work individually and complete the sentences on paper in order to check how much they have learned and remembered. Complete the sentences – worksheet 2 (printable)
1 Marta really likes Brian.
Marta ……………………………………… Brian. (fond)
2 His duty is to be at every single business meeting.
He ……………………………………… all business meetings. (have/take part)
3 Mark is not a sociable person. He doesn’t like meeting new people.
As a rather unsociable person, Mark ……………………………………… meeting new people. (keen on)
4 The rain was so heavy that the farmers started to worry about the harvest.
Because of the heavy rain, the farmers ……………………………………… the harvest. (anxious)
5 If you want to get on well with other people, you aren’t supposed to be rude to them.
You ……………………………………… rude to people if you want to get on well with them. (can/be)
6 There’s no need to meet up with him. You can make a phone call.
You ……………………………………… meet up with him. Just give him a call. (have)
7 When I was a kid I spent a lot of time playing with other children. I really liked it.
When I was a child I loved ……………………………………… other kids. (hang)
8 I haven’t received any news from you for months.
The last time I ……………………………………… you was months ago. (hear)
9 Noah came first in the school race. We’re so proud of him.
Noah is ……………………………………… runner in the school. We’re so proud of him. (good)
10 Joan is not a big fan of s-f movies.
Joan is ……………………………………… s-f movies. (interested)
11 I’d like you to meet Amy, my official fiancé.
May ……………………………………… to Amy, my official fiancé? (introduce)
12 I’m sorry I wasn’t good company yesterday.
I’m sorry about yesterday. I ……………………………………… yesterday. (mood)
Answers:
1 is fond of 2 has to take part in 3 isn’t keen on 4 were anxious about 5 can’t be 6 don’t have to 7 hanging out with 8 heard from 9 the best 10 not interested in 11 I introduce you 12 wasn’t in a (good) mood/was in no mood
Finally, ask the students to change the colour of their pens, and while checking the answers with the help of the Storyjumper book, they are supposed to correct their own mistakes. Based on my previous experience, I know that this way my students can learn faster and they learn more effectively.
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