(go to my TESOL 2008 Presentation Webpage
for "Supporting Listening Comprehension
with Video Prompts" - click here to redirect

This page  is a sample lesson plan for this presentation)

Another sample lesson plan (for intermediate level students) can be found here

"You Can't Say You Can't Play"

A Multimedia/Multiskill Online Activity for

High Intermediate/Advanced ESL Students

Based on a radio broadcast from "This American Life"

Episode Title:  The Cruelty of Children

The language goals of this activity are:

• to introduce some new vocabulary
• to provide listening and notetaking practice using authentic material
• to provide opportunities for discussion and written response to the ideas in the broadcast

The social and cultural goals of the activity are:

• to think and talk about the education of children in the U.S. and other countries
• to think about human nature and social relationships

1. Previewing Activities

This story is about an experiment conducted with kindergarten children in the U.S. 

What do you think are some typical activities in a kindergarten classroom in the U.S.? 

How do you think kindergarten is different in your country? 

Have you heard of the book "Everything I Needed to Know I Learned in Kindergarten"? 

What do you think of this title?

Use the voice chat below to talk to your teacher or classmates about these questions.

Your teacher will tell you when to do a live chat or you can leave voice messages.

For help using the YackPack Walkie Talkie go to the support page here. 

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2. Vocabulary Building

Here is an online vocabulary matching exercise you

should do before you listen and watch the video.  

You will need to know these words and phrases.

You can check your answers automatically. 

Click here for Hot Potatoes Vocabulary Exercise

3. Questions for Listening/Notetaking Activity

Download this Question sheet to record your answers while you listen and watch the video. 

Your teacher may ask you to email

your answer sheet when you have completed the activity.

Questionsheet.doc

5. Discussion and Writing Activities

After you listen to the broadcast, you should prepare for an online chat discussion

or share your answers to the following questions on your class blog.  Your teacher will tell

you which to do. 

1.  What is your opinion of the "You Can't Say You Can't Play Rule"? 

Do you think it is a good idea? 

2.  Do you follow this rule?  If not, why not? 

3.  Do you think that it is human nature to exclude some people and include others?

4.  Have you ever been excluded?  What happened? 

5.  Do you think this rule should be taught to all children at a young age?  If so, should

it be taught in school?

6.  Do you think morality can be legislated?  Can people be forced to be kind to eachother?

7.  What other ideas do you have after listening to the broadcast? 

4. The Video from This American Life radio show

"The Cruelty of Children - You Can't Say You Can't Play"

The video is a radio broadcast with video.  The video is designed

to help you notice when a question has been answered. 

Try to answer the questions on the Question sheet you downloaded.

 You can also open the video in Google video by clicking here