Sample Multilingual Activity Type Two
Audio & Video
Learners watch a film in one language and present an oral or
written report in another language.
A number of television programmes and films can be used for
this purpose. Many television programmes are available now in
English as well as in Hindi or other regional languages. One
simple way of using them may be to watch it in one language,
follow up with classroom tasks wherein the information is
shared through group work and pair work activities, games and
quizzes and then watch the programme in another language to
consolidate.
Learners could also be asked to translate part of the programme
and compare it with the one telecast. For example, in Star
Plus, the serial 'Ji Mantriji' was telecast. It is a translated
version of the BBC serial 'Yes Minister' which is available in
print in 'The Complete Yes Minister' edited by Jonathan Lynn
& Antony Jay. If we want to use this in our classes we can
make the learners read parts of the book related to the serial
and then ask them to view those parts and read the book again.
We can give the passages of the book in a jumbled order, ask
them to watch the programme and then rearrange the parts. We
can give two or three chapters of the book and ask them to
identify which section relates to the parts they watch. We can
ask the learners to compare parts of the dialogues or idiomatic
expressions from both the languages, prepare a report and
present it to class. If both the Hindi and English versions are
available for viewing we can have a number of activities based
on them including the cultural differences expressed by the
participants dresses, expressions, dialogue delivery, choice of
words, etc. Similar activities could be planned for a number of
serials like 'Small Wonder' in Star Plus and 'Flinstone' in
Cartoon Network which would enrich our classroom work and make
it enjoyable.
Learners listen to a conversation in one
language and participate in a debate in another language.
Learners listen to a conversation where two or more people are
caught in a controversy or are discussing a debatable issue.
For example, it may be a conversation between a girl and her
parents where the girl wants to study further or take up a job
while the parents want her to get married. This can lead to a
debate on a number of issues ranging from whether girls should
work or get married, whether children should do what they want
or obey their parents, priorities in life and so on. Learners
could be asked to take up the roles of the people in the
conversation and try to convince each other their point of
view. They can do this in their mother tongue first and then in
English.
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