TeachingEnglish
      English lesson on Wood?!

      Hi,

      I've been asked to prepare some english lessons on wood. I don't know where to start. It's more joinery type stuff I'm looking for. I'm appreciate and direction, thank you.

       

      Daryl


      Heath's picture
      Heath
      Submitted on 19 February, 2009 - 09:21

      Do a quick search on the net under "joinery", "wood joinery" or "joinery blog" and pretty much any web-page you open up will have useful information, pictures, and texts that you can use (making sure you stick to copyright laws, etc, of course). 

      For example, you could turn each of these into lessons:

      An artice at About.com explaining what "Mitered Butt Joints" are:
      http://woodworking.about.com/od/joinery/p/MiteredButt.htm

      • Lead In. 
        Talk about 'joints' taking a student-teach-the-teacher approach (ie. they teach you about their profession), by getting the Ss to tell you what joints are, why they're important, what different kinds there are.
      • Pre-reading Task
        Board "mitered butt joint" then elicit and board how it is different from other joints and what the advantages or disadvantages are.
      • Initial Reading Task
        Read quickly and see which of the points mentioned on the board are also mentioned in the text.
      • Deeper Reading Tasks
        A variety of T/F or multiple-choice Qs about the text.
      • Language Follow Up Tasks
        Some matching activities using lexis from the text (eg. match the words to the pics; match the nouns to the collocating verbs; here's the definition, find the word in the text; etc)
      • Discussion
        Get Ss comment on the article - do they agree with it; is any of it new to them; have they ever read/written articles like that in their own language, etc.
      • Writing
        Ss write a letter to the author of the article to either say thanks for the great article or to debate some points they disagree with.

      An blog article in which someone reviews a new tool set.
      http://blog.makezine.com/archive/2007/07/kreg_pocket_hole_joinery.html?CMP=OTC-0D6B48984890

      • Similar steps to above - just design questions for a lead in; pre-teach some vocab; design some reading tasks; some language follow up tasks; and some speaking & writing based on the text.
      • Lead In could be: use the picture - Ss discuss from the picture whether they could use the tool kit; does it look like it's good quality; what tools doesn't it have that they'd need, etc.
      • Quick reading task:  Did the writer buy the kit?  Does the review say the kit is good or bad? 
      • Follow up tasks:  write a review for or talk about a tool-kit that you've used.

      A bunch of pictures of tools with their names on a joinery sales website.
      http://www.vespertools.com.au/

      • Print out the pictures and create mini-flash cards with the name of each tool on one side and the picture on the other.
      • Print them out as dominoes, with a different picture and tool on each domino, and Ss play a domino game by laying down the picture halves next to the word halves that match.
      • Print out the pictures on one set of cards and the names on another set of cards and use them for memory games, 'go fish', or 'first to give the teacher the correct picture card wins' races.
      • Do self-study matching tasks.
      • Play taboo - one S describes the tool in the picture he/she has and what the tool is used for, other Ss try to guess the tool.
      • etc.
      Various news blog articles about a new 'green' building (third article looks useful).
      http://www.nwjoinery.com/blog/
      • As above - develop lead in, reading tasks, speaking tasks based around information and words in the texts.

      Dovetail challenge - a difficult joinery task, who can complete it?
      https://www.vespertools.com.au/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id...

      • As above... but with a twist - do the Ss think their woodwork skills are good enough to complete the challenge?  They could even do it as a project, bringing in their work at various stages and describing what they've done and how much left they have to do. 

      Book review - reviewing a book on Japanese joinery.
      http://www.amazon.com/Art-Japanese-Joinery-Kiyosi-Seike/dp/0834815168

      • As above. 

       

      Use a wide variety:  news articles; tool reviews; advice & book reviews; personal blogs by joiners about their daily life; product descriptions; woodwork project challenges; information & DIY style articles; sometimes focus on tools, techniques, finished products, the professionals, etc.

      Prepare engaging lead ins and a variety of speaking and writing tasks.

      Involve the Ss own background knowledge.

      And you should have a great experience!

       

      NikPeachey's picture
      NikPeachey
      Submitted on 20 February, 2009 - 10:15
      Hi Daryl   There is a great series of videos on the MonkeySee.com website that show how to make a closet. Plenty of vocabulary there, good listening practice and you can help your students name all the tools.   Have a look: http://www.monkeysee.com/play/2436-build-a-closet 

      Best

      Nik Peachey | Learning Technology Consultant, Writer, Trainer
      Teacher Development: http://nikpeachey.blogspot.com/
      News and Tips: http://quickshout.blogspot.com/
      Student Activities: http://daily-english-activities.blogspot.com/

      Mr.Just's picture
      Mr.Just
      Submitted on 3 March, 2009 - 01:45

      I am just getting into Joinery and I was looking for programs that offer Joinery and I found some of the links on the following link to be quite usefull. http://www.teachwoodworking.com

      I hope this helps.

      Just