English According to Blue Jeans Egg

Junior High School - Year 2

Unit	Lesson Number	Topic	Example
Unit 7	7.3	Giving Opinions - Talking About Clowns	I like Budja. I think he is funny because he has big red lips.

Resource Information
Level	Beginner
Age	This course is for 13-14 year olds, but of course any age is OK if the level is right.
Number in Group	Groups of about 4 students
Resources	Worksheet 1 Worksheet 2 Flashcards
Time	It depends on the level of your class. My classes for this grade find giving opinions really difficult. We spread it out over 2 classes. In the first class we work-shopped and practiced. In the second class we practiced some more and gave presentations.
Advantages	This lesson encourages students to express their own views in English (a lot of translation help may be necessary).
Disadvantages	Many students find it tough work and so it can take 2 lessons to finish.

Practice and check understand of the language on worksheet 1. Use the flashcards and gesture as much as possible to teach meaning.
Form students into groups of 4.
Using the images at the top of worksheet 2, tell groups to workshop characteristics of the two clowns, fat belly, etc. Some translation help may be necessary here.
Assign a clown to like and a clown to dislike for each group.
Using the example as a model, tell the students to write their own individual reasons for liking or disliking the clowns as assigned to them.
Practice.

Rather than have each group present in front of the whole class, try group rotations.
To begin with, half of the groups will stand and present, and the other half will remain sitting at their group tables and listen, or even better, grade the presenting groups.
Set a time limit for the rotations, about 3 minutes, and then tell the presenting groups to rotate to the next listening group.
Do this about three times.
The listening groups then have their turn at presenting and visa versa.
That's it.

I think because I have a banana.