Lesson Plan | Teachy Methodology | Use and Variation of the English Language

Objectives

Duration: 10 - 15 minutes

The purpose of this stage is to establish an understanding of the main theme of the lesson, which is the use and variation of the English language. By identifying and comparing the different forms of English spoken around the world, students will be prepared to deepen this knowledge during the practical activities that will follow. Additionally, this initial phase serves to align expectations and objectives of the lesson, ensuring that all students are engaged and ready to participate actively.

Main Objectives

1. Identify the regional variations of the English language, including different accents, slang, and expressions.

2. Compare and contrast these variations to understand how English is used in different parts of the world.

3. Apply knowledge about these variations in practical activities that simulate real-life situations.

Introduction

Duration: 10 - 15 minutes

The purpose of this stage is to establish an understanding of the main theme of the lesson, which is the use and variation of the English language. By identifying and comparing the different forms of English spoken around the world, students will be prepared to deepen this knowledge during the practical activities that will follow. Additionally, this initial phase serves to align expectations and objectives of the lesson, ensuring that all students are engaged and ready to participate actively.

Warming Up

To start the class, introduce the theme highlighting the diversity and richness of the English language, which varies significantly between different regions of the world. Mention how the English spoken in London can be quite different from the English spoken in New York or Sydney, not just in accent but also in slang and expressions used. Then, ask the students to use their phones to look for an interesting fact about regional variations of English. Encourage them to share their discoveries with the class, which will help create a collaborative environment right from the start.

Initial Reflections

1. What interesting thing did you find about the variations of English in different regions?

2. What was the most surprising regional variation you discovered?

3. How do you think these variations affect communication between English speakers from different parts of the world?

4. Have you ever had a practical experience where you noticed these differences in accent or slang?

5. Why is it important to understand these variations when learning English?

Development

Duration: 65 - 75 minutes

The purpose of this stage is to deepen students' knowledge about the regional variations of the English language, using practical and technological activities that engage students in a playful and contextualized manner. By exploring accents, slang, and expressions through research, presentations, and games, students not only reinforce their knowledge but also develop communication, collaboration, and creativity skills.

Activity Suggestions

It is recommended that only one of the suggested activities be carried out

Activity 1 - 🌎 English Tour Around the Digital World 🌎

> Duration: 60 - 70 minutes

- Objective: Understand the regional variations of the English language and how different accents and slang shape communication in different parts of the world.

- Description: Students will be divided into groups and assigned a city or region where English is spoken (e.g., London, New York, Sydney, etc.). They will research the local accent, slang, and expressions using YouTube videos, podcasts, and social media platforms like TikTok and Instagram. Then, they will create a multimedia presentation using apps like Google Slides or Canva, incorporating audio and video from the accents and slang they found.

- Instructions:

• Divide students into groups of up to 5 people.

• Each group chooses or is assigned an English-speaking city/region.

• Groups use phones and computers to research the local accent, slang, and expressions.

• They should look for YouTube videos, listen to podcasts, and explore social media posts to collect real examples.

• Using Google Slides or Canva, each group creates a presentation that must include:

• A brief introduction about the city/region.

• Examples of accents (with audio or video).

• Common slang and expressions, with usage examples in sentences.

• Comparison with standard English.

• Each group presents their work to the class, highlighting the main characteristics of the language variation.

Activity 2 - 🎬 International Influencers 🎬

> Duration: 60 - 70 minutes

- Objective: Apply knowledge about regional variations of English in practice, developing digital communication skills and creativity.

- Description: Students will become digital influencers from different English-speaking regions. Each group will be responsible for creating a series of posts on a fictional social media platform, using regional slang and accents. They should also record short videos simulating content creation for their followers, using tools like Instagram Stories or TikTok.

- Instructions:

• Divide students into groups of up to 5 people.

• Each group chooses or is assigned an English-speaking region and becomes an influencer team from that region.

• Groups research local slang, accents, and trends using phones and computers.

• Each group creates a series of posts (images and text) for a fictional social media platform, using Canva or another similar tool.

• Groups also record short videos (30-60 seconds) simulating content creation as if they were influencers from the chosen region. These videos can be recorded with phones and edited with simple editing apps.

• Present the posts and videos to the class, explaining the choices of slang, expressions, and accents.

Activity 3 - 🎮 Variation Game Show 🎮

> Duration: 60 - 70 minutes

- Objective: Reinforce learning about the regional variations of the English language in a fun and competitive manner, promoting interaction and teamwork.

- Description: Students participate in an interactive game show about variations of English. Using platforms like Kahoot! or Quizlet Live, the groups compete by answering questions about accents, slang, and expressions from different regions. After the game, each group creates a mini-quiz or question game for their peers, using the knowledge they acquired.

- Instructions:

• Divide students into groups of up to 5 people.

• Explain that they will participate in an interactive game show about variations of English.

• Use platforms like Kahoot! or Quizlet Live to create a quiz with questions about regional accents, slang, and expressions.

• Groups compete against each other by answering the proposed questions.

• After the game show, each group is tasked with creating a mini-quiz or question game about a specific region using tools like Google Forms, Kahoot!, or Quizlet.

• Groups share their quizzes/games with their peers, who will have the opportunity to test them and learn more about the variations of the English language.

Feedback

Duration: 15 - 20 minutes

The purpose of this stage is to consolidate learning by allowing students to reflect on their experiences and gain new perspectives through the sharing and constructive evaluation of peers. This promotes not only the retention of acquired knowledge but also the development of social and communication skills, essential in educational and personal contexts.

Group Discussion

🗣️ Group Discussion 🗣️

Organize a discussion circle with all students. Ask each group to share their findings and experiences while conducting the activities. Propose that each group briefly present the main characteristics of the regional variation of English they studied, highlighting examples of accents, slang, and expressions found. Use the following outline to introduce the discussion:

1. General Introduction: 'Let's hear from each group about their discoveries. How was the experience of exploring English from different regions?'
2. Group Presentations: 'Each group will have 3 minutes to share their main discoveries. How does English vary in the region you researched?'
3. Comparison and Reflection: 'What were the most impactful similarities and differences you observed between the regional variations?'
4. Impact on Communication: 'How can these variations affect communication between English speakers from different parts of the world?'
5. Practical Application: 'How do you think this understanding of variations can be useful in daily life, especially in a global context?'

Reflections

1. What was the most interesting discovery your group made about the regional variations of English? 2. How do you think these variations can impact international travelers or immigrants? 3. How can technology and social media influence the dissemination and change of variations in the English language?

360° Feedback

🔄 360° Feedback 🔄

Instruct the students to conduct a 360° feedback within their groups. Each student should give constructive feedback to at least two classmates, focusing on positive aspects and suggestions for improvement. Guide the class to use respectful and constructive phrases, such as 'I liked how you...', 'I found it interesting that you...', 'Maybe next time you could...'. Encourage students to reflect on their individual contributions and how they can improve in future activities.

Conclusion

Duration: 10 - 15 minutes

📚 Purpose 📚: The purpose of this stage is to consolidate and reflect on the learnings of the lesson, connecting them to the real world and highlighting their practical applications. This helps reinforce the importance of the topic, providing students with a clear view of how the knowledge acquired can be relevant and useful in their everyday lives. The conclusion also serves to motivate and inspire students to continue exploring and valuing the linguistic variations of English. ✨

Summary

🌟 Fun Summary 🌟: Imagine a superhero traveling the world learning about different accents and slang in English to save global communication! Today, our students embarked on this mission, exploring how English is spoken in London, New York, Sydney, and beyond, discovering nuances like 'cheers' in England and 'g'day mate' in Australia. They became language investigators, mapping variations and sharing their discoveries with creativity and enthusiasm. 🎉

World Connection

🌍 In Today's World 🌍: This lesson is directly connected to our globalized world, where the ability to understand and adapt to variations of the English language is crucial. Whether on social media like TikTok and Instagram, in international travel, or in online interactions, knowing these linguistic differences facilitates communication and promotes cultural empathy. In a digital and dynamic world, understanding the variations of English is a powerful tool for exchanging knowledge and building bridges between cultures. 📱✈️

Practical Application

🚀 Applications in Daily Life 🚀: Understanding the variations of the English language helps students communicate better with speakers from different regions, making them more adaptable and open to new experiences. This is especially useful in situations such as traveling, international studies, consuming global media, and professional interactions in multicultural environments. This skill broadens horizons and strengthens communicative competence in a global context. 🌐