A presentation given to help develop thinking about how we can help build greater levels of engagement amongst boys in MFL. And hopefully get them producing language a bit more spontaneously.

1. Eggbuckland Community College
Thursday, 7th November, 2013
Developing engagement and (hopefully then)
spontaneity amongst boys. Gulp.

2. Thinking WHY boys
might not respond
1) We tell them what
we want them to say
You have 25 minutes to…
Create a vocab list of at least 20 words for yourself on
the topic of “health”- not just drugs!
Write the Spanish and the English

3. Thinking WHY boys
might not respond
2) Respond mainly
when confident
Vocab mats

4. Thinking WHY boys
might not respond
Phonics
2) Respond mainly
when confident
www.rachelhawkes.com
www.doonceandshare.wikispaces.com

5. Thinking WHY boys
might not respond
2) Respond mainly
when confident
Points
scoring

6. Thinking WHY boys
might not respond
2) Respond mainly
when confident
Arguing
- Group Talk
- stimulating contexts to provoke
passionate responses

7. Thinking WHY boys
might not respond
3) No real audience for
work

8. Thinking WHY boys
might not respond
3) No real audience for
work
Blogging
A very old image now but the message remains strong and true- the power of a blog to
motivate is immense. A global audience is a far stronger motivating power than that of an
audience of 1 in an exercise book. When was the last time a student took a book home to
excitedly show a parent what they did at school today?!

9. Thinking WHY boys
might not respond
Blogging

10. Thinking WHY boys
might not respond
3) No real audience for
work
Blogging

11. Thinking WHY boys
might not respond
3) No real audience for
work
Podcasting

12. Thinking WHY boys
might not respond
5) No real audience for
work
Podcasting
Uses
1. Audio guides
2. Grammar explanations
3. Create own listening
exercises
4. Flipped grammar
5. Editing = learning
6. Learning anywhere
(why not set up a dept
iTunes account?!

13. Thinking WHY boys
might not respond
4) Redrafting
If you’re interested, watch
“Austin’s butterfly”
- Ron Berger

14. Thinking WHY boys
might not respond
5) Active
(not just on the tables)
Suggestions
• Class dominoes / build sentences from cards
• Classifying using ribbons bit.ly/MFLribbons
• Treasure hunt vocab searches

15. Thinking WHY boys
might not respond
6) We do too much
Suggestions
• Short, sharp instructions
• Visual support- from the moment they enter
• Fast-paced (but not TOO fast paced- need
for completion!)
• Uncluttered worksheets / tasks

16. Thinking WHY boys
might not respond
7) Positive discipline
Suggestions
• Praise for creative thoughts / suggestions
- not using it excessively (fakely)
• Positive roles within the classroom

17. Thinking WHY boys
might not respond
8) Female-gendered
content (how much of this would
boys want to talk about in English?!)
- school
- environment
- daily routine
- local area
- weather
- sports and leisure
- house and home
- food / healthy living
- family
- holidays

18. A few interesting articles
http://mflmeanderings.blogspot.co.uk/2013
/11/boys-in-mfl-classroom.html?m=1
(Jo Quatsch, MFL)
http://www.teachthemenglish.com/2010/02
/difference-between-boys-girls-in-languageclassroom-how-to-redress-the-balance/
(Adam Simpson, English)

19. Developing engagement
(for boys?!?!)
For more ideas
www.chrisfuller.typepad.com
To chat things over
@chrisfullerisms
To discuss and ask questions
Chrisfullerinspain@hotmail.com

20. Keep on
Stop
Do less
Do more
Start