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Big Brother application

 

Accuracy

Understandability

Listening for detail

Discussion

Presentation decisions

 

Procedure

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1.

Without giving any information apart from that the video is a short extract from a famous TV show, play the following YouTube clip on silent -

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Ask learners the following questions -

  • What is the name of the show? (Big Brother)

  • What is the idea behind the show? (A number of housemates live together for many weeks. They have to do weekly challenges. Every week on contestant is voted off)

  • Do you have it in your own country? (This is very probable)

  • Is it popular? (The concept has been around for many years and is a bit less popular than before)

  • Did you/do you watch it?

 

2.

Have learners work in pairs to discuss which kind of people make good housemates (remembering that conflict makes good TV). Together, they should create a checklist of personality traits and behaviours. If needed, they can use their cell phone dictionaries to help. Learners report back to the class and justify their answers.

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3.

Learners work as a pair to create a character who they think would be a successful candidate. They should prepare and record an application for their character using their cellphone voice recorder, that lasts no longer then 2 minutes. Learners should speak loudly and clearly.

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5.

Inform learners that they are now the judges. They get to choose contestants for this years show (define a number of applicants that can be accepted). Play each of the recordings, if possible by attaching the phone to the IWB or a loud speaker. As they listen, learners should write notes about what they liked/did not like about each candidate (This is an opportunity for the teacher to note incorrect utterances for later review and correction)

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6.

After listening to all recordings, put learners into groups and give them the following information-

  • What are the pros and cons of each candidate?

  • Which candidates would be friends? Which would be enemies?

  • Choose your favourite candidates and explain why.

When they have agreed on their candidates, have each group present their decision and give their reasons.

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7.

Ask learners questions such as -

  • Did they like the task? Why? Why not?

  • What was difficult or easy about the task?

  • How could recording your voice help you  to improve your English?

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