So you have read how to get started with your pen pal exchange and now you need some ideas for what to do during these exchanges. You have found a co-teacher, you have permission slips signed, you have admin approval, basically, you are ready to go but don’t really know what to do for these exchanges.
Ideas for the project-based exchanges…
Project-based exchanges can be fun, enlightening, educational, and culturally focused. So what can be done?
- Group research projects and presentations
- Make a documentary
- Create a movie
- Research a famous deaf person
- Study and create a poem
- Present a children’s book together (original or already written)
Most students these days know how to share video files and edit work together. Students can also use a FREE version of WeVideo. Their final work will have a watermark on it, but it cans till do the trick.
What to do for communication-based exchanges…
For communication-based exchanges, provide students with topics that they are comfortable with. Start simple like introductions, activities students are involved in, and interests the students have. Then move to more complex topics after students are more comfortable with each other.
If you are teaching specific themed units, your co-teacher and you can create communication topics that match what students are learning or culture topics. Students can practice interpersonal communication skills in a real setting.
- Discuss DPN and the effects it had on the Deaf community
- Talk about their opinions of #deaftalent
- Discuss celebrity fashion trends
- Have each student share ideas about AGB
- Discuss the weather
Whatever your exchange consists of, make it fun and educational for the students. This may be their only opportunity to use the language in real-world settings.
Share what you are doing for your exchange in the Creative ASL Teaching Facebook group.
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