II. 1. 1.

Motivating introduction in teaching festivals

The introduction in all festival lesson plans in this thesis pays special
attention to some kind of visual features typical for the mentioned festival and
through which the pupils learn at least basic characteristics, e.g. thanks to the
Father Christmas costume they see what he looks like, the use of scary Halloween
introduction with a costume hints that this festival is mysterious and nightmarish,
etc. And there appears the motivational stimulus in the pupils they realie that
the lesson will be taught either by Father Christmas or, for e!ample, by a party
person and they start to look forward to what will follow.
The "ew #ear$s %ay lesson plan uses one of the typical introductions called
&vocabulary spidergram'
(
, which is writing pupil$s associations on a suggested
topic on the board. This introduction is a good vocabulary e!ercise that practices
only words connected to "ew #ear$s %ay and this drags the pupils into the
lesson$s topic. )r as "*C+ ,-ACH-#
.
on his website says/ &They are very useful
tools to help you think about and arrange words or ideas as well as to show the
relationship between those ideas or words.' The teacher is also asked to wear a
cone hat and * will highlight this hat as the motivational point of the lesson the
pupils can see that the teacher is a part of the lesson and it is attracting for them to
see their teacher in a different way than only in the formal one. *t is sure that the
pupils will smile while seeing their teacher with a cone party hat and smile is &a
pleasant or favourable disposition or aspect'
0
which is needed in every lesson to
create a warm and motivational atmosphere. )n the other, hand the introduction of
1t. 2alentine$s lesson plan is a bit thrilling, easeful and enthusiastic at the same
time. The teacher is asked to come to the class and create the typical before3test
situation when the pupils are told to put away all their te!tbooks and keep only a
pen and a piece of paper. The pupils get nervous and angry because it seems that
they are going to write a test and the teacher did not tell them beforehand. Then it
comes to a huge relief when the pupils realie that they are not going to write a
test but that there is going to be an activity lesson instead. The introduction does
not involve the lesson$s topic as it is the aim of the first e!ercise. &For
most students authentic
1
Peachey, Nick. Remember more vocabulary. Nicks Daily English Activities. December !""#. 1!
A$ril !"". % htt$&''(aily)english)activities.blogs$ot.com'!""#'1!'remember)more)vocabulary.html*
!
+mile. ,he -ree Dictionary. !"". 1! A$ril !"" %htt$&''....the/ree(ictionary.com'smile*
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materials, because they are 4real$, are intrinsically more interesting and motivating
and they give students confidence when they understand them' 56)7-8,
,H*99*,1, 7A9T-81, 0::;, p.<.=
.
. Conse>uently the

crucial point of the
introduction of the -aster lesson plan is a little basket with ribbons and chocolate
eggs that the teacher has to bring to the lesson and that represent the authentic
material. *t is the first thing the pupils see and they will be curious and above all
interested what is inside and how all the things will affect the lesson. The teacher
uncovers the secret by asking what festival is approaching and then the use of
tongue twister cheers the class up. &The tongue twisters have been around for
many years and still cause a lasting laughing effect on everybody. Children really
en?oy the silly way a twister sounds when saying them fast.'
@
The last three
suggested lesson plans, that are 1ummer Aank Holiday, Halloween and
Christmas, have a similar introduction based on a costume and teacher$s dramatic
skills. &7hen summer is a few weeks away, the minds of students and teachers
alike can sometimes venture off on a premature vacation'
;
. And this is e!actly the
theme of the 1ummer Aank Holiday lesson plan. The introduction here is very
short but engaging. The teacher is asked to wear a colourful flowery shirt and
sunglasses this introduction is likable itself because the pupils look forward to
their holiday and they can see that the lesson will be somehow special and will
bring them closer to the desired summer holiday. "evertheless, Halloween lesson
plan uses a bit scary but attractive introduction based on a dramatic monologue
including basic thematic information before starting the first e!ercise and
Bniversity of Calaya highlights this dramatic start/ &%rama increases motivation
and provides the incentive to work hard.'
D
*n the end, Christmas is focused on the
teacher$s ability to make fun of himself and to be creative because/ &*n order to
create optimal conditions for learning, we need to include activities which develop
creativity fantasy and imagination that are so much part of the world of primary3
aged children and which can lead to positive new learning.'
E
The aim
.
6ower, 8oger, %iane ,hillips, and 1teve 7alters. Teaching ,ractice A handbook for teachers in
training. )!ford/ Cacmillan -ducation, 0::;. <..
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-unny ,ongue ,.isters. -un +ta// on the 1eb. A$ril !"" %htt$&''..../un)stu//)on)the)
.eb.com'/unnytonguet.isters.html*
2
3e.is, 4eth. A45 5ount(o.n to +ummer. About.com& Elementary E(ucation. 1" A$ril !""
%htt$&''k6e(ucators.about.com'cs'lesson$lanslea'a'abcount(o.n.htm*
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1am, 7an #ee. &%rama in Teaching -nglish as a 1econd 9anguage A Communicative
Approach.' C-9TA. Bniversity of Calaya. Fuly (GGG. (: April 0::G.
% htt$&''....melta.org.my'E,'1"'main#.html*
7
Rea(, 5arol. 2"" Activities /or the Primary 5lassroom. 89/or(& :acmillan E(ucation, !""7.
) ! )