Ideas+for+Motivational+Activities+in+the+Foreign+Language+Classroom

This space will provide ideas for classroom activities that could motivate students. Please feel free to add any of your own ideas or experiences to this page! user:kendal53
 * __Ideas for Motivational Activities in the Foreign Language Classroom__**

1. Have students research a country that speaks the target language and plan a trip there. They could look on the internet to find information about hotels, transportation, tourist attractions, etc. They could then plan a pretend trip there and incorporate everything they would want to do if they actually had the opportunity to visit. Or, have students be travel agents and create a travel brochure for this particular location. This type of activity could get students excited about travel and perhaps inspire them to someday actually go to a target language speaking country! user:kendal53

2. Find email Pen Pals with target language students. Students may be excited to actually communicate with a native speaker and find out about the lives of students their own age in other parts of the world. user:kendal53

3. Invite native speakers to come in and talk to the class. Students may be excited when they realize that they actually can communicate with native speakers! user:kendal53

4. Use music in the classroom! Teach grammar, culture or vocabular through popular and culturally authentic songs, learn culturally authentic dances, etc. From my experience, this is a great way to get students pumped up and actually using the target language! user:kendal53

5. Get to know your students and their interests, and create lessons and activities based on their interests. We are all more motivated to do something if we find it interesting and applicable to our lives. user:kendal53

6. Participate in World Language Day at MSU. user:kendal53

7. Journaling- Giving students opportunities to be creative and express their ideas without the pressure of grading for grammatical correctness. user:kendal53