The document summarizes a training workshop about improving the use of texts and dialogues in language lessons. The workshop covered identifying why teachers dislike certain texts, benefits to using texts, and ways to make texts more engaging for students, such as linking them to students' lives and moving quickly. Attendees brainstormed activity ideas, developed an activity menu, and were given homework to apply a new activity from a text they dislike teaching. The goal was to understand how to better utilize textbook materials and create clear learning aims when using texts and dialogues.

1. Training
Workshop
Teaching
Texts
and
Dialogues
17th
June
2015

2. Let’s warm up with…
A coat of arms
Used in medieval times to
show family lineage
Draw one to show the
background and spirit of
your team
Yo have 5 mins!

3. In today’s workshop, we’ll look at…
Teaching Terrible Texts

4. Why teach texts and dialogues?
✓ Give visible structure to a lesson
✓ Allow students to prepare and review
✓ Give students a sense of achievement
✓ Present a professional image

5. My name is
Harry, and I
hate teaching
texts.
Too long
Too much detail
Unrelated to students’ lives
M4AC1: You’re the Doctor!

6. Grammar Vocabulary
Functional language
What’s the aim of a text?
StructureSkills
Comprehension

7. So how can we improve them?
Make texts…
Fun
Useful
Quick
Play a game, have a competition or use humour
Link it to the students’ everyday lives and needs
Don’t take in every word, move on swiftly!

8. Activities a la carte
Entrees
Brainstorm activities that could help
use a text or dialogue in a lesson.
Mains
Consider the aim of each activity
and write a one line explanation.
Desserts
We will make an activity menu for
everyone to use.
Activity
Menu

9. Putting it into practice
Pick one of your
team’s ‘terrible texts’
Choose two
activities that could
be applied to the
text or dialogue
Prepare the two
activities, including
clear instructions
and materials
Present a
demonstration or
walkthrough of the
two activities

10. Re-visiting my ‘Terrible Text’
M4AC1: You’re the Doctor!
Demonstrate CPR;
Students choose the
correct order
Pairs demonstrate other
first aid methods, with a
similar activity

11. What was the point of all that?
✓ Understand the benefits
of using texts and
dialogues.
✓ Establish clear aims when
using a the textbook
material
✓ Create activity ideas we
can all use in our lessons
Any
questions?

12. Homework
Yes, homework…
1. Pick one lesson on your schedule where you hate the text
or dialogue.
2. Develop a new activity for the text, with a clear plan.
3. Use the activity in your lesson.
4. Send me an email with the activity plan and feedback on
how it went.
Due: Before the next workshop (15th July)