Korean Job Discussion Forums

[poet13]

Having an awful failing of imagination here. I have an activity for the verb "To Be" for my alternate school. Classes there are only 17-20, and they are arranged at tables with 3 or 4 to a table.
But, in my day to day school, we have a regular class set up. I want to do an activity that will include as many as possible, beaing in mind that the moment I turn my back, they will stop doing the activity. So, it needs to be something that excited and interests them.
I had a few thoughts.
Sentence constructs leaving out different parts. ie;
I ___ a student now.
I ___ late for school yesterday.
I ___ rich when I am older.
___ am hungry.
___ was at home last night.
I am eating lunch ___.
I was playing soccer _______.
I was thinking about creating maybe three examples of each pronoun and tense combination, leaving out different parts, laminating them, and handing them out in class. That would be 72 sentences, enough to go around twice. Then I could have each student stand and read his sentence filling in the blank space. I would allow each student a lifeline...that is, if they get stuck, they could ask ONE of the students nearest them for help.

That is ok, but not very exciting. I DON'T hand out candy.
I have typed up sentences for every pronoun and in the three primary tenses; simple present, simple past, simple future....though I think I will add the progressive tense at some point.
I have found it very difficult though to make simple sentences that are pronoun exclusive. I mean, "___ is at the doctors office now.", could be he, she, or it.

Does anybody have any really good, get 'em dancin' in their seats, activity ideas for teaching the verb "to be"?

[xCustomx]

[bosintang]

Teach it in combination with something to elicit language and introduce it more naturally.

This week's lesson I taught the "Be" verb in relation to a family tree. The grammar point was the verb and the language was family language. Who is he? He is my brother. Who are they? They are my cousins. etc. etc.

[poet13]

bosintang. That could be interesting as they have had a family tree lesson plan, but I would have to figure out how to make them really WANT to participate....

[poet13]

Ok, so I made the laminated sentences. 72 in all.

WOW. They're all over them. I was really surprised.

We do a review of pronouns, tenses and some time phrases such as tomorrow, next week, later.....yesterday, last week, last weekend, ... now, today, right now, etc.
Then we create a conjugation chart on the board using the pronouns and the three simple tenses.
I hand out one laminated sentence to each student. When I'm done, I ask who has solved thiers. That student reads his sentence aloud, and we fix any pronunciation problems at the same time. Even the very low level students (the non-speakers) get into it, cause their seat mate will help them solve it, and then all they have to do is sound out the words. I help with that, even to "repeat after me". At least they're speaking.

The laminating machine at my school is turning out to be my best friend!

I also changed the lesson plan order for the first year boys.
We start with family, then pronouns, then the verb to be. I think it flows better. We spend two classes on each subject, then we will have a review combining all three lesson plans.