The “What happens next?” question is a fundamental way of engaging students with a video clip and using it to extract language. It therefore seems like a good starting point for this first posting.

Mummy and baby panda

1. Position the screen so that everyone in the class can see the two pandas. If anyone has seen the clip before, make sure that they don’t tell the others what happens.

2. Tell your students that something unexpected happens. Ask them to guess what it is. Write up all suggestions on the blackboard.

Tip: If you have difficulty getting your students to speak, tell them that you are not going to show them the clip until you have had 5 suggestions (or any realistic number of your choice). Tell them that you want them to use their imaginations - it doesn’t matter how silly their ideas are.

3. Dictate the following sentences (making sure you supply the appropriate sound effects):

• Baby panda farts and mummy panda gets a fright.
• Mummy panda is sick on baby panda’s head.
• Baby panda burps and mummy panda gets a fright.
• Mummy panda hiccups and baby panda gets a fright.
• Baby panda sneezes and mummy panda gets a fright.

4. Let your students compare what they have written with each other before making sure that everyone took down the sentences correctly (do this by giving out copies of the sentences, writing them on the board, etc).

5. Get everyone to decide which of the sentences describes what happens in the video clip. Everyone must make a decision before they see the clip.

Note: A good way to drill the language here would be to get your students to turn over their books and see if they can remember the 6 sentences. Get your learners to practice saying each sentence and concentrate on pronunciation of the third person singular -s.

Inuit fisherman

This video clip can be used in the same way as the previous one. It probably works best with the sound turned down.

What happens next?

• His wife calls and asks when he will be home with the dinner.
• An orca breaks through the ice and grabs him.
• He gets eaten by a polar bear.
• He calls his wife, tells her he’s bored and asks her to order a pizza.

Bush in China

1. Show your students the following clip but pause it after 20 seconds (just before George Bush gives his excuse).

2. Ask your students where George Bush is (Beijing, China), what is happening (a press conference) and if they know what happens next.

3. Dictate the reporter’s question:

“Respectfully, sir - you know we’re always respectful - in your statement this morning with President Hu, you seemed a little off your game, you seemed to hurry through your statement. Was something bothering you?”

4. Ask your class if they have any more suggestions for what happens next before dictating the following:

• He gets very angry with the reporter, says the question is stupid and refuses to answer it.
• He sneezes, says he doesn’t feel well and leaves the press conference.
• He uses jetlag an an excuse and and then tries to escape.

5. Give your learners copies of this text and use it for the basis of a reading activity of your choice.

NB This type of activity works best when it has a competitive element. Students can be put into pairs or small groups and awarded points for correct answers.

Posted by admin on Saturday, February 23rd, 2008 at 1:59 pm.