Yongam Middle School Unlocking New Friendships Using the English Language

September 3- November 29, 2012 NT: Annabel Teacher Objective: Motivation is the key to learning a new language. Sometimes, students have an inner self motivation to tackle the difficult process of learning the English language, and yet sometimes, motivation must come from an outside source. I find that the easiest way to learn a new This penpal activity for afterschool language is through frequent communication with friends.

class will hopefully serve as that medium of motivation for Yongam students. Project 1: Creating New Friendships: Students will exchange new letters with their penpal every two weeks. The first week of every two week cycle, students will draft and construct a new letter to their penpal. They are allowed to write anything they wish to their new friend, but they must include in their letter, a segment about what they are learning about in afterschool. The second week of every two week cycle, students will receive a response to their letters from their American penpal. Students will spend the week, dissecting the letter and trying to decipher meaning from the letter. (On going for 3 months) Project 2: YMSPenpals Wiki Page: Students will participate in a Wiki group page where they will complete assignments and have their work stored online. Students will have an individual student page where they will store all of their work as well as a Partner page where the final pieces will come together. (On going for 3 months) Project 3: Write a Story Project: Students will create a story project with their penpal. This story project will be a month long project where each member writes snippets of their story and post it online. Yongam students will then create a cover for their story and record a voice narration. The story, cover and voice narration will be uploaded onto the wiki partner page for public view. (October 2012) Project 4: School Video Greetings: Students will create a video message to their pen pal. This

will be a way for students and volunteers to show their new friend a more personal view of their life in South Korea or America. Yongam students will give a tour of Yongam Middle school to their penpal. American students will respond by giving Yongam Middle school students a short tour

of their American school. (November 2012) Project 5: Holiday Post Card Greeting: Yongam students will create a postcard and send their holiday greetings to their penpal through the mail. (November- December 2012 if necessary)