In
the second letter, students will introduce their own immediate surroundings.
They will be asked to describe their homes and the area in which they live.
From now
on, it is possible to let
the students add informal information and/or put in some questions at the
end of each letter. They could write about things which have recently happened
at school or in their personal environment. In this way an even more personal
tie can be established.
Explain to them that they should
not ask the same questions which they have answered in the theme because
their partners work with the same book. They should also be made aware
of the fact that a lot of subjects will be touched on in the coming themes.
Try to prevent them from repeating themselves.
Point out to your
students that they
must never forget to answer their partner's questions and that they should
always try to react to the extra information they may have received in
the previous letter.
In the next
themes, lists of questions
will be provided to indicate the type of information that should be given.
Point out to the students that this is just a basic list. Merely answering
the questions will not be enough to write a real letter. They should always
add more information.
From now
on, the students will also
be provided with some specific words and sentences which may be used in
their letters and in forthcoming assignments.
Other
ideas
Images
photos or scanned drawings could also be exchanged via e-mails with attached
documents edited in word processor.
After writing the letters
students may create Webpages, one per pupil, where they provide information on
the following topics:
-
the best place in my
home
-
the place where I
usually study / do my homework
-
the thing/s I like most
in my neighbourhood
-
the thing/s I
dislike most about my neighbourhood
The information they will
make available comprises pictures or drawings (scanned or taken with a digital
camera) of the above mentioned items which will be illustrated with captions
where they shortly describe the images.
Every time you start with a new
theme,
it is advisable to go through this list. This will save a lot of questions
afterwards.
When your
students receive the letters
from their partners, or surf
through their published web pages, it may form a picture of the partner's
social environment
which they did not expect at first. There is always a possibility that
there is a big social difference between the two schools. Guide your students'
reactions and use them to their benefit.