Hump Day
February 3, 2006
Yesterday was Wednesday, called “Hump Day” by people who work Monday to Friday. It’s the middle of the week. Once we get through Wednesday, or over the hump, it’s almost the weekend. Thus, we feel good on Wednesday.
I think it’s the same with my class. Wednesday was a good day. People were relaxed and outgoing.
The activity was to write an itinerary for a day in Carbondale, assuming you had a friend visiting. You had to plan the day, spending less than $25 per person.
“There’s nothing to do in Carbondale,” someone said, summing up the thoughts of many. But I said they had to use their imaginations. I helped them brainstorm by putting on the board categories of tourist places—restaurants, parks, museums, shopping—and naming some of those places around here. I also gave them the entertainment sections of some newspapers.
The task was accomplished in two small groups, with much talking and laughing. And that’s the whole point, so I was already satisfied with them. Toward the end of the class period, each group presented its plan, and again there was laughter. One group amused us because they kept taking two-hour breaks throughout the day. Maurice went to church on the morning of his tour, with the bonus of a free breakfast afterward. Ahmed’s group went to the Golden Corral for lunch. He commented on how fat the customers there were.
“But you’re going there because you want to eat a lot?”
“Yeah!”
“Be careful!"
Anyway, it was good. Students were using the direction words we’ve been studying in a natural way: go straight, about two blocks, across the street, etc.
I got the idea for that activity from Dave’s ESL Café on Monday evening when I was in despair over my class that day, searching for lively ideas.
I refined it after seeing Rachel Ray’s Forty Dollars a Day show on TV.
Et voila! They got into it.
Was it because it was a good plan, or because it was Hump Day?
Maybe a little of both.
Friday, they’re going to do itineraries of their own cities, for $50. (The price keeps going up!)
It should be good. It’s got everything going for it—TGIF, plus the chance to brag about their cities, plus they know what they’re doing now.
But I don’t take anything for granted. We shall see.
Yesterday was Wednesday, called “Hump Day” by people who work Monday to Friday. It’s the middle of the week. Once we get through Wednesday, or over the hump, it’s almost the weekend. Thus, we feel good on Wednesday.
I think it’s the same with my class. Wednesday was a good day. People were relaxed and outgoing.
The activity was to write an itinerary for a day in Carbondale, assuming you had a friend visiting. You had to plan the day, spending less than $25 per person.
“There’s nothing to do in Carbondale,” someone said, summing up the thoughts of many. But I said they had to use their imaginations. I helped them brainstorm by putting on the board categories of tourist places—restaurants, parks, museums, shopping—and naming some of those places around here. I also gave them the entertainment sections of some newspapers.
The task was accomplished in two small groups, with much talking and laughing. And that’s the whole point, so I was already satisfied with them. Toward the end of the class period, each group presented its plan, and again there was laughter. One group amused us because they kept taking two-hour breaks throughout the day. Maurice went to church on the morning of his tour, with the bonus of a free breakfast afterward. Ahmed’s group went to the Golden Corral for lunch. He commented on how fat the customers there were.
“But you’re going there because you want to eat a lot?”
“Yeah!”
“Be careful!"
Anyway, it was good. Students were using the direction words we’ve been studying in a natural way: go straight, about two blocks, across the street, etc.
I got the idea for that activity from Dave’s ESL Café on Monday evening when I was in despair over my class that day, searching for lively ideas.
I refined it after seeing Rachel Ray’s Forty Dollars a Day show on TV.
Et voila! They got into it.
Was it because it was a good plan, or because it was Hump Day?
Maybe a little of both.
Friday, they’re going to do itineraries of their own cities, for $50. (The price keeps going up!)
It should be good. It’s got everything going for it—TGIF, plus the chance to brag about their cities, plus they know what they’re doing now.
But I don’t take anything for granted. We shall see.
posted by Lynne Davis at 12:44 PM
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