Pre-requisite(s): This activity targets those TCNs that have knowledge of the alphabet of the language of the host country as well as of basic vocabulary.
Estimated Duration: 3 hours (2 hours: first meeting, 1 hour: second meeting).
Related to:
Step: 2
Dimension: Cognitive
Qualitative Indicator: National language
Type of activity: Group or individual
Considering that the TCN(s) is/are already familiar with how the national language sounds and is/are able to recognize some words through listening, the mentor introduces him/her/them to basic words or phrases through the matching of letters, syllables, or words and pictures or definitions, written on the two sides of flashcards (in the form of language puzzle-solving).
On the one side of each card, there is a part of a picture suitably matching with another card, containing the other part of the same picture. On the other side of the card, there are letters or syllables. When the TCN(s) manage(s) to match the right cards, the picture is completed and the hidden word, described by the picture, is revealed. Based on the previous knowledge of the TCN(s), the mentor can make this activity more difficult through the matching of more than two cards, based on longer or more “difficult” words. Also, if the TCN(s) has/have good knowledge of A1 level of the language of the host country, on the one side of the cards there can be the definition of the word to be constructed instead of a picture and/or on the other side of the card, simple phrases instead of words. At the end of the activity, the TCN(s) has/have to list the identified words/phrases by writing them down on a flipchart paper.
- Flashcards with pictures or definitions on the one side and letters, syllables, or words on the other side (depending on the planned level of difficulty of the activity).
- A table for the matching process.
- Flipchart paper(s).
- Marker(s).
- Action plan(s).
Implementation Steps
The mentor puts the cards on a table, out of order and some of them upside down. He/She gives to the TCN(s) instructions and some time to do the matching. In case of a group of TCNs, the mentor can divide them into groups of equal number before the matching process.
Upon completion of the matching, the mentor gives to the TCN(s) a flipchart paper and invites him/her/them to write down the words and/or phrases identified through the matching process in the form of a list. Next to each word/phrase, the TCN(s) has/have to note their translation/meaning in their own language.
The words listed by the TCN(s) have to be read one by one. Where the TCN(s) find it difficult to pronounce a word/phrase, the mentor invites him/her/they to repeat it.
This activity is used to teach the language of the host country to the TCN(s) on a basic level. Once this is achieved, the mentor provides the TCN(s) with different options that will help him/her/them to learn the language.
During this meeting, the mentor invites the TCN(s) to recall words and/or phrases that he/she/they learnt through the activity, without looking at the flipchart paper that he/she/they had prepared or other notes.
After that, the mentor signs the action plan(s) of the TCN(s) as completed.