Teresa MacKinnon

Creative Commons 4 http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Title of activity:
Help! Au secours!

Intended learning outcome(s):
Language learning Strategies: Developing awareness of how to analyse learning needs
Language learning Strategies: Identifying suitable learning
Transversal skills: Using asynchronous voice recordings to interact and collaborate.
Productive language: Giving instructions


Activity description.
This is a collaborative activity which has a shared end product. The aim of the activity is to produce a
shared resource using the voice presentation tool (Integrated within our VLE).The target group of
students have CEFR level A2+ language level (roughly a GCSE equivalent) and have been in class
for about 7 weeks (14 hours of face to face teaching). By this point they have been using a range of
language websites to improve their language skills and they have been encouraged in class to rate
these. In their language learning, they have covered the use of the imperative (cliquez, tlchargez..)
and infinitives (il faut trouver/rpondre) for giving instructions though passive skills such as reading
signs and understanding classroom instructions, the level of language production is well within their
grasp as it needs to be for this performance based activity.
The voice presentation tool is an asynchronous tool which facilitates the display of URLs alongside a
text and voice recording.



Teresa MacKinnon
Creative Commons 4 http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/



In session 1:
-using our writing surfaces around the room, students are asked in small groups to list in English the
aspects of the language they find problematic e.g. grammar (give detail making present tense of
irregular verbs), understanding radio or video, writing (give detail- agreements of adjectives). They
then agree which of these problems they are going to focus on for their contribution to the Au secours
voice presentation.
A screenshare demo of how to post a recording to the Au Secours voice presentation is shown and a
list of potential starting points for useful websites shown.

-Assignment: Each group (max. 4 students) has to reflect on the problem they are addressing and
prepare 2 website recommendations. They then have to prepare a brief guide to the website to show
others how to use it to address the problem. They add the site to the voice presentation board and
write the instructions into the associated text box. They then record a spoken set of instructions.

Tutor available online to give support and advice and keep task moving through moodle
messages/forum.



Session 2:
Tutor shows plays back some of the recordings and encourages students to interact with the
instructions and ask questions through the board. Emphasises that this is an ongoing resource and
that posting a problem to the Au secours board will bring more recommendations.




Timeframe for activity:

1. 20 mins in class task set up and demonstrated, 1 week to complete task
2. 10 mins: task review in class

You can view and try out a demonstration here:
http://talleyrand.horizonwimba.com/talleyrand/presentation?rid=_warmood_150-1400313803632
You will need java enabled to use this tool.


Teresa MacKinnon
Creative Commons 4 http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/