Jigsaw reading. Children from different countries communicate in different ways to better understand one another.
Read Learning to learn note No. 5.
www.bbc.co.uk/worldclass • schoolsonline.britishcouncil.org
1) In home groups. Read one of the texts (A, В or C) and answer the questions.
A Lizzie from Great Britain goes to a school which is twinned with another school in West Africa.
a) What does Lizzie write about her pen friend In another country?
My school is twinned1 with an international school in West Africa. We are swapping work projects with African children. We want to learn the things that African children learn and what life in Africa is like. I have got a great pen friend at this school. Her name is Shannen. We communicate2 by e-mail. I’ve learnt a lot of interesting things from Shannen: about the festivals her family celebrates, about their traditions and everyday life. Her language, religion3 and lifestyle4 are absolutely different but we understand each other very well. It is really important to have a friend in another country. It helps to learn more about other cultures and traditions.
b) Get ready to talk about Lizzie and her pen friend to your expert group mates. What is it like to have a pen friend in another country?
Lizzie goes to school which …
They …
They … because …
Lizzie has learnt …
Lizzie has got …
She thinks it’s important … because …
c) In the text, find and write out three reasons why it is important to have pen friends in other countries.
В Here is Harriet’s report about the children who Harriet goes to an international school with.
a) Does Harriet like going to an international school? Why?
There are 30 children in our class and 10 of them are from different countries. It’s really interesting to have so many people from all around the world in one school. Everyone has different religions, lifestyles, families and stories to tell. Wo are all different but we all get on well. We communicate every day and I nave learnt a lot about their religions. I nave also learnt about their cultures from festivals and performances which are organised at our school. I advise an international school to everyone. They make you understand how big the world is and how many people live on the planet we call home. They help you to understand that we are all different and at the same time we are much alike.
b) Get ready to talk about international schools to your expert group mates. What is It like to go to an international school?
Harriet goes to …
There are … and …
Everyone has …
They …
Harriet has learnt …
International schools …
c) In the text, And and write out three reasons why it is Important to go to an international school.
C Here is the story of Carrie Ann who with other young people from different countries took part in a cross-cultural1 project.
a) What was the cross-cultural project like?
I’ve taken part in a cross-cultural project. I spent a week in the Lake District.* I was happy to communicate with 24 young people from different countries. There was a great choice of activities which we could take part in — from rock climbing to jumping in an ice-cold lake at seven in the morning!
This project helped us to know each other better and understand more about each others’ religions and lifestyles. By sharing different experiences we have learnt a lot about each other’s cultures. I think it is better than reading a book in a classroom.
We have swapped e-mail addresses and telephone numbers. I believe that we have not only learnt a lot of different things but we have made great friends.
b) Get ready to talk to your expert group mates about Carrie Ann’s cross-cultural experience. What did she get out from the experiences?
Carrie Ann has taken part in …
This project helped …
There were …
Carrie Ann and her new friends …
She was happy to …
They have not only … but …
c) In the text, find and write out three reasons why it is important to take part in cross-cultural projects.
2) In expert groups.
Compare your answers for tasks a), b) and c). Come to an agreement about these points.
Get ready to retell in detail the story you’ve read.
List the reasons why it is important to communicate with people from different countries.
3) In home groups.
Retell the stories you have prepared for your team mates.
List the reasons why it Is Important to make friends with people from different countries.
While listening to your classmates check if they gave the following reasons:
— to learn more about other countries and other people;
— to learn how to get on with people of different cultures;
— to understand that people from other cultures are different but much alike;
— to better understand different cultures, religions and lifestyles;
— to understand that the planet is our home and that we must get on with one another.