Transcript Post-it notes - Rachel Hawkes

Activity: Post It Notes (Good for improving memory, preteaching vocabulary before listening & reading, vocab
building)
Preparation and Instructions:
1.
Look through the reading or listening comprehension for vocabulary that
students might ‘block’ and therefore make them disengage from the text.
2.
Teach each word (in the TL if possible) and write it up on the board. Do not
write the English meaning.
3.
At the end, allow the students to copy down the words and ask them to write
the English meaning too. They may not ask you what a word means. If they
have forgotten they should ask a friend.
4.
Ask them to shut their books and give them a Post It note.
5.
Tell them when the music starts they should write as many of the words from
the list as they can remember (without looking).
6.
After about 30 secs stop the music and ask them to swap with their partner
and try to add to their list (ie the words their partner couldn’t remember)
7.
Collect all the words back on the board from volunteers and check the
meaning. Get them to stick the Post It note under their chair etc
8.
Repeat 5-6 and then get them to compare their lists.
Variations & Possibilities
1.
Words beginning with a certain letter
2.
Instead of pre-teaching for a comprehension task you could ask them to
brainstorm all the pets they know, the school subjects etc.
3.
You could allow them time with a dictionary to find words and then feedback
to the class. Then use the Post It notes to help the class memorise and learn
the new vocabalary.
4.
They can swap Post It notes and write the meaning instead of adding to the
list.
Consider
1.
Have a responsible person in charge of the Post-It notes as they can be used
inappropriately and found on someone’s back with an inappropriate
comment!