What’s on? – Talking about TV

Age Group         11 years +

Level                   Easy

Duration              1 month

ICT tools             TwinSpace, Forum

Pedagogical Objectives           

In this short activity, pupils are learning to critically evaluate the supply and content of different TV channels. This aids their development from passive consumers to critical learners/observers and encourages the development of foreign language communication skills: talking about TV and daily habits. It can also help their mathematic skills by making tables and calculating percentages.

Process

Pupils list different programmes in different categories: news and current affairs, documentaries, nature programmes, sports, home and cooking, music, films, cartoons, etc. As a variation, pupils can also categorise different programmes according to their country of origin and write down the original names of the programmes.

The pupils list the length of each programme. For example, how many hours of sports are shown weekly or how many hours of American programmes are shown per day, etc. The pupils aged over 14 can make tables and count percentages for different programme types. The results of the pupils’ investigations are published in the TwinSpace.

Pupils compare the results of different countries and make observations. Pupils write their comments and conclusions in a forum in TwinSpace.

Pupils discuss their own TV watching habits in the forum: when do they watch TV, how many hours a day, what are their favourite programmes, who are their favourite TV celebrities/actors, do they watch TV alone or with friends/family, do they discuss the programmes with their friends/family, etc.

Web Editor: Tiina Sarisalmi Published: 10.11.2008 Last changed: 10.11.2010