The Internet TESL
Journal
Using Advice Columns with ESL Students
Amy Gwen Larson
amygwen [at] lycos.com
Introduction
This activity's purpose is to increase communicative awareness and
conversational skills. When people talk, it is with a purpose. They
desire to communicate their own ideas and more fully understand those
of others. Therefore, we can say that communication between individuals
fulfills a basic need and is a bridge to language acquisition. This
activity is appropriate for any age group of students.
Level: Intermediate and above
Starting the Lesson
To begin the lesson the teacher introduces the concept of asking for
and giving advice as well as any required vocabulary. Next, he or she
asks the students to brainstorm on the problems they face in school,
with friends, or at home. Write some of the more useful of these on the
board. Divide the class into small groups, give each group one problem
and ask them to create some "advice".
Introduce some common sentence patterns often used when giving advice:
- "If I were you I would..."
- "I think you should..."
- "Why don't you...?"
Practice sentence patterns using answers provided by students, and
write some of the more common answers on the board. Next have the
class discuss whether they agree or disagree with the "advice" given.
Solicit new advice and continue the conversation as long as time allows.
Reading
To add a reading element to this activity you will need advice columns
from newspapers. Divide the class into small groups and give each group
an advice column and answer. Have each group read and discuss the
question and answer. The teacher will need to circulate and check for
comprehension. Groups should decide whether they agree or disagree with
the published answers and what additional advice they would give.
Have the groups read the questions and answers to the class and give
their "advice". Class discussion should be encouraged. For advanced
students, advice columns from other countries can be introduced and
cultural differences can be discussed.
Writing
For a writing activity use advice columns from local newspapers.
Separate the answers from the questions. Work can be done individually
or the teacher can divide the class into pairs or groups. Students are
given advice columns without the answers. Take a few minutes to allow
students to review the column. Discuss any new vocabulary and check for
comprehension. Students are then requested to write answers to the
column. These can be read out loud in class or reviewed by teacher.
After students have completed the assignment, the published answers to
advice questions can be distributed and discussed.
The Internet TESL Journal, Vol. X, No. 10, October 2004
http://iteslj.org/
http://iteslj.org/Lessons/Larson-AdviceCoumns.html