Carnival safety success – Lesson plan - © BBC | British Council 2002

Teacher’s notes – Carnival Safety Success
This news report is about the Notting Hill Carnival 2002 held on the 25th and 26th August, in London. The report describes the carnival and the problems caused by so many people being in such a small place.
For more information about the Notting Hill Carnival you can visit: http://www.bbc.co.uk/london/carnival/For this lesson you will need
• Copies of Worksheet A (optional)– Introduction and first reading questions
• Copies of Worksheet B – Reading questions and Writing activity
• Copies of Worksheet C - Vocabulary
• The audio or written text- Carnival Safety Success
Introduction – worksheet A
Aim – Raise awareness of Carnival. Introduce vocabulary and a language prediction task.
For this stage you can give out Worksheet A.
However, you can easily do this stage without the worksheet, as follows.
• Start the class by writing the word CARNIVAL on the board.
• Ask students what they know about this word.
Information for teachers:

CARNIVAL
This is a period or occasion or public enjoyment and celebration. There are often processions and parties. This is very common in Roman Catholic countries. Brazil and Jamaica are two countries that are famous for their carnival celebrations.
Next,
• write the headline on the board and the vocabulary choices (Worksheet A, question 2)
• Ask the students, in pairs to choose some words they think they will see in the article.
• Next, give the students the first reading question:-
3. What was the problem two years ago and why was Carnival 2002 called a safety success?
• Play the audio or hand out the text.
• Students read to check their predictions and answer the first question.

Answers for Worksheet A:-
2. These words appear in the article.
Street
festival
Cloudy
Murder
Party
Balcony
Colourful
Costumes
Arrest
Music
Wonderful
3. What was the problem two years ago and why was Carnival 2002 called a safety success?
Two years ago, two people were murdered. In 2002, there was only a little crime, and there weren’t any murders. The organisers had made changes to the carnival, and these changes were successful.

Main reading / listening – Worksheet B
Aim – Understanding details
• Hand out worksheet B
• Students answer the true/false questions.

Answers for Worksheet B:-
1. Are the following statements true or false?
a. In Europe, there is a bigger festival than Notting Hill Carnival –
Answer: False – It is the biggest
b. The weather was very good at Carnival 2002 –
Answer: False – it was cloudy
c. The carnival parade went a different way this year –
Answer: True – the route was changed
d. Many activities continued till midnight –
Answer: False – the ending time of 9 p.m. was closely observed
(followed/obeyed)
e. Over a million people wore special costumes –
Answer: False – 3000 people dressed up in costumes. A million came to see the parade
f. For some people, it was difficult to see the parade –
Answer: True – the crowds were large (5 people deep) and many people only had a glimpse of the carnival – a brief look
g. Some police danced and partied -
Answer: True – Some of the police got in on the act, they joined in
h. There were many kinds of music –
Answer: True
g. More than half the arrests were for theft –
Answer: True – pick pocketing and robbery are types of theft
h. The carnival represents only one group or community in London –
Answer: False – it represented the multicultural aspect of London, many different types of people and communities

Vocabulary – Worksheet C
Before doing the writing follow up exercise, you should do the vocabulary exercise – worksheet C
You can do this in three ways.
a. Hand out Worksheet C
b. Put the items from Worksheet C on the board
c. Mingle activity.
• Cut up the words and definitions into individual pieces of paper
• Give each student a word or two.
• Distribute the definitions around the class.
• The students then find the definition(s) for their word(s).
• Feed back to the board, be sure to check and drill the pronunciation.

Vocabulary answers:-
hailed as
described / called
To deal with something
to take action about something
Residential area
a place many people live
Steward
someone who helps control a big event
Paraded
walked in a public procession
Lined the route
stood next to the path of the parade
Glimpse
a quick look
Sound system
something that plays music in a public place
Pick-pocketing
stealing from someone’s pockets
Ill founded
unjustified / without good reason

Writing – Worksheet B
It is a good idea for students to work on the planning stages of this writing in
pairs or threes.
Refer the students to the writing advice on Worksheet B

ANALYSIS
This plan includes some innovative characteristics such as the using of a video which catches the student`s attention and provides realia. Also, the writing activity provides students the opportunity to write about celebrations from their native country, it is not only writing but also writing for specific purposes. In this activity students are free to express and they are motivated to write for an international public.
Moreover, the matching is innovative because it is carried out almost at the end of the plan in order to encourage students from the beginning to understand words and phrases using the context. Also, the matching is not reduced a traditional way, in contrary students receive the vocabulary and definitions so that they have the chance to communicate and solve problems one another.

Innovations Survey

*According to the question 1 “How many year have you been teaching English” five teachers answered they have taught from 6, 15, 22, 30, and 33 years.

*According to the question 2 “Which levels are you teaching” the teacher answered they are teaching from seventh to ninth, seventh to eleventh, seventh to eleventh, seventh to eighth and eighth graders.

*According to the question 3 “What is innovation for you” the teacher answered that innovation is…

To use different methods, techniques or tools in the classroom for students better understanding.
It is something new, creative.
To apply new techniques and strategies in the classroom.
To do something new and creative for the students in order to motivate them to learn English.
It is new things I don’t know and can be learn either technological or written.

*According to the question 4 “Do you consider yourself as an innovator teacher” the teacher answered…

No. I have to move to different places, so for me is so difficult to carry out extra material. I use books and flashcards but those are not innovative material at all.

Yes. I try to use my computers, presentations, new learning activities
Yes. Because I try to make my classes in different ways, using different materials, games, stories etc, in order to catch students’ attention
Yes. Because I try to do interesting my class.
No. I’m not that proficient with modern technological tools.

*According to the question 5 “What tasks would be put in practice to achieve an innovative class” the teacher answered…

Videos, recordings, listen to natives exchanging points of view about different topics.
New activities related with dialogues, songs…
Songs, movies, videos etc.
Brainstorming to get information from my students, interactive practice in which students can improve their language.
Watching videos and they can guess what’s coming up, scaffolding and I like trying role plays.

*According to the question 6 “What are the main techniques you use to teach English” the teacher answered…

Reading comprehension, repetition, recognition of pictures or drawings, games, role plays…
Repetition of vocabulary, readings, dialogues
Pictures, realia and tapes.

*According to the question 7 “What kind of technologies do you use” the teacher answered…

None.
Computer
Tape recorder, computers,
DVDs, tv, computer, video beam
CD Player and Laptop

*According to the question 8 “Do you consider that teacher’s attitudes affect the environment in the classroom” the teacher answered…

Yes. If students have a good relationship with the teacher it is very easy to develop the teaching- learning process, but if the students are uncomfortable with the teacher they are not going to participate and they will not pay attention what the teacher is trying to teach.
Yes. Because if I arrive to classes with a negative attitude or angry, they are going to realize about that, and the environment is going to be affected.
Yes. Teachers need to be serious and strict with their teaching and friendly to increase students’ interests.
Yes. Because a wrong teacher attitude can interfere in the students attitudes too.

*According to the question 9 “What kinds of teacher’s attitudes affect the environment in the classroom” the teacher answered…

Disrespectful, disinterest, arrogance…
Superiority, to be an insolent person or using bad manners
When teachers are angry or they don’t want to answer student need.
Bad temper, lack of communication with her/his students.
When teachers are lazy and they are not creative.

*According to the question 10 “Do you consider that student’s problems and feelings affect the environment in the classroom” the teacher answered…

Yes. Students use to behave as they feel. If they are happy, they are going to participate; but if they are sad they are not going to do it.
Yes. Students act and participate in the way they are feeling.
Yes. Because if they have problems in their houses they are going to transmit them in the class disturbing the classmates.
Yes. Because if they have problems, those problems affect student behaviors in the acquisition of knowledge.

*According to the question 11 “Are you conscious of your student’s problems and feelings” the teacher answered…

Most of the time (I think)
Mmm, sometimes
No
Yes

*According to the question 12 “Do you consider that student’s motivation affects the environment in the class?”

Yes. If they are motivated in learning a new language they will participate and be interested in putting attention during class time.
Yes. Because if they really like the language, they are going to learn it, but if they do not show motivation for it, it is most difficult for they to learn it
Yes. Because if they are not motivated they won’t feel attraction to the second language
Yes. Because if they are not motivated, they don’t learn.

Educational innovation

Curriculum developers have created several educational innovations through time in order to increase our understanding about the learning-teaching process and create better learning environments. Many innovations are adopted quickly by teachers; however, a large number of educators are suspicious about assuming new changes in the pedagogical practice. Educational innovation is a process involving many factors to improve our pedagogical practice.

To illustrate, an important factor comprises the participation and engagement of every actor. Both teaching professionals and students have to engage revising new ways and focuses when teaching and learning. Another point to be taken into account is using innovative and different strategies in class. Teachers have to reflect on if the strategies used are showing good learning outcomes, or inclusive think about new methods which allow better learning process and results. Likewise, students’ interest is essential when carrying out an innovative practice. The choice of any strategy depends on the interest it produces on the student. The most student`s interest the most disposition for learning. Finally, when assuming any innovation professors should keep in mind not only outcomes in the classroom but also in the whole school and community.

To conclude, educational innovation implies implementing new approaches in every area in education. Both administrators and educators have to reflect on the needs, weaknesses, strengths or problems prevailing in the classroom and institution in order to respond to the educational reality.

I`m a teacher

Teaching goes beyond providing academic knowledge, teaching is seeing beyond our students to attend their needs and help them to get a better quality of life. Many teachers do not think about the serious and essential role they assume when they make a decision of being teachers. Usually teachers believe their labor is reduced to plan and transmit information, but they omit helping pupils to use that knowledge to improve and grow as integral beings part of a society. For that reason, we as professors have to reflect on our pedagogical practice in order to recognize our strengths and our weaknesses as real trainers of beings who dream with a better future.

A great example of teaching vocation can be learnt from Anne Sullivan, a woman who spite of her hard life condition was aware of doing a great mission from the obstacles she had to confront. Sullivan being just eight years lost her mother because of an illness, after that, her brother was separated from her and she remained caring for her father. Over timer, Sullivan got a sickness that damaged her sight but she attended a blind`s school in which her sight improved and she became an admirable student. Despite the troubles she had faced, she used those difficult experiences to teach blind children and help them to perceive a hopeful world out of darkness, so Sullivan became a great educator.

Really I admire her tenacity and the real sense for teaching. However, in many occasions we don`t realize about the necessities of our students or inclusive many of us are indifferent to their needs and forget that we maybe had to face difficult situations concerning learning, economical resources, health problems or any specific situation that would have been even more tricky if one of our teachers had not seen beyond our faces.

To conclude, we must remember besides being facilitators we can also help our learners to discover that behind the difficulties that they could deal with there are great blessings and opportunities to be better persons. We should keep in mind teaching is finding the way in which pupils can use knowledge to live in a world where everyone is valuable and has opportunities to progress.