More lesson suggestions

foleadu
 June 22, 2008, 06:21 AM posted in General Discussion

I had some ideas for some new lessons.  I don't think there are any lessons out there on these topics, but let me know if I'm wrong:

 - going to an amusement park or Disney World

- animal rights / zoos

- talking about rain, floods, and the rainy season (inspired by the daily downpours here in Suzhou)

- charity organizations and donating

- handicapped people and how they are treated in China

- pre-marital sex / views on sex / abortion (of course inspired by recent Dear Amber)

- Beijing opera or other traditional music forms

- I liked the Advanced lesson on autism.  How about other mental illnesses, like Alzheimer's or general problems with aging?  Or, how old people are treated in China?

Whew, maybe too many ideas!  Thanks for continuing to come up with so many interesting topics; don't know how you do it

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bubobubo
 June 22, 2008, 06:11 PM

I have no intention to hijack your post, so I hope it's ok to post some additional ideas here that have probably already been mentioned or even covered.

- engineering/science (you did a brilliant job introducing business vocab, i think more material on IT and engineering and the sciences in general would be appreciated)

- television (exploration of some popular series/channels etc.)

- internships

- gender roles

- blood donation

- European Championship (Football)

- literature

- getting out of (tourist) scams

- university entrance exam

- "why do you learn chinese?"

- introduction of grammatical terms (even if your teaching model doesn't emphasize this aspect, we should still be familiar with the appropriate expressions so we'll understand our Chinese tutors)

- writing correction ("Oh dear! Your handwriting sucks!" - "But I practise every day!" - "Well, then you must work harder, write every character dozens of times. Look, your stroke order is completely wrong. For example, the horizontal one must precede the vertical." "What about box-shaped characters?" "Complete the inside of it first, then seal it." "I see." "Furthermore, you have to place the central stroke first, then add the sides." "And those little dots in some characters?" ...)

- farming

- Chinese history (the Sun Yat-Sen lesson was great)

- partying ("Look, that girl is standing all alone on the campus."..."Could you introduce me to some nice folks?" "Sure. Do you want to come with us? There's a little get-together near the river." "Are you gonna go to a karaoke bar afterwards?" "Of course." "Right, I'm coming. Thanks for helping me expand my circle of acquaintances. Darn, I forgot: I have to back in the dorm by 11.")

- some more jokes/childrens' stories/poems

- a tiny amount of politics (favorably, obviously)

- explaining one's lifestyle

- crime/police/accident