RADIO PLAYS for ESOL STUDENTS

We have been researching how effective it is to use radio plays in an ESOL setting to improve spoken English. To become fluent in a script of any length requires determination and much rehearsal on the part of the students. This video footage is the end result of a group of Year 2/3 ESOL students in our school recording their radio play using Garage Band. Elena (aged 7 years) kindly created a series of images that were able to be linked to the radio play using iMovie. The students are now able to share their work on the Blog with you. They all thought that this work was a fun way to learn to speak English. Please feel free to provide feedback.

TERM FOUR

ESOL Morning Tea

The Senior ESOL group will host a morning tea for parents within our ESOL Community. The students would like to share their Riccarton Bush Inquiry with you and answer questions that you may have about their learning experience. We would also like to give the Year 2/3 group an opportunity to share their radio play with you. This has been made into a short movie. We hope that you can join us:

Celebrating Cultural Diversity

The children have been learning that clothing often enables us to identify with a cultural group. Shiako’s mother kindly allowed Room 7 and our ESOL group to share some treasured items of clothing that are worn on special occasions. Shiako said that he feels very special when he wears his suit. I’m sure that you will agree that he must look very grown up.

Shiako told us that his mother might wear this dress to a special wedding.

Thank you for sharing your treasures with us Shiako.

Nothing Beats Hokey Pokey

Kiwis are very proud to claim Hokey Pokey icecream as their own. One of the Year 2/3 ESOL groups found out what Hokey Pokey really tasted like. Prior to the cooking session, the children wrote the ingredients and instructions for their recipe. Here they are with their freshly cooked sample. At this stage it was too hot to eat.

Our Unit on Cultural Diversity The children have been exploring some of the ways in which groups of people express their cultural identity. Pride in national dress was a topic that fostered much discussion and opportunity to use descriptive language in their writing. Vianca was keen to find out if we could wrap all those metres of fabric around her tiny waist. Sari can be worn in a number of different ways. A choli or midriff blouse is worn under the top of the sari.

Here are a few of the many images that were discussed by the children

Celebrating Raksha Bandhan

On August 2nd 2012, the Hindu festival Raksha Bandhan was celebrated by a number of families within our school. On Raksha Bandhan it is customary for sisters to tie a Rakhi (a crafted and decorated silk thread) onto the right wrist of their brother as a symbol of their love and protection. The brother in return pledges to take care of his sister/s.

A group of ESOL children from Rooms 7 and 9 wrote about Raksha Bandhan and what it means to them. Aki wrote that the festival was very special to him. It was a day when he felt very important. Aki received this bracelet from his grandparents.

One of Rishik's bracelets came from his female cousin in America. We thank Rishik's mother for bringing the festival to our attention. We also thank Suma from Room 25 for speaking to her peer group about the festival.