A lesson that rocked

[Lotus Eater]

I have just come back from two of the best lessons I have delivered (OK - one lesson delivered twice!).

It was with my 2nd year Oral English students. I divided them into groups of 6 and played the old "Fight for your life" game. You know the one where you are in a bunker (this time the Martians had attacked Earth, and although defeated had poisoned the water, air and earth for a specific length of time) The bunker has everything needed - except enough water for the remaining month they need to live there. These are the last 6 people on earth. Only 5 people can survive - which one should be sacrificied for the others. The people I chose to start the new world included -:

Male 19 yo English major university student (yep - them!)
pregnant woman - 24
Nurse - female - 40
Doctor- male - 54
Construction worker/labourer male - 25
Farmer - male or female - 65.

One class had a couple of grouops of 7 so I added a scientist - 48, gender and field unspecified.

Each student had to chose a role, develop reasons for existence and then develop reasons that EACH of the others should be killed off. Then with arguments in hadn they had to 'fight for their lives'.

It was fabulous!! The entire class - quiet ones, everyone ended up shouting (Chinese university students shouting in class???- unheard of!) and really getting stuck into it - in ENGLISH!!!!!!!

After they voted I had each group then give their reasons for why they ended up making that decision.

After this I put them into the occupation groups and each group then had to develop more arguments about staying alive - their value. They then had to tell the class these reasons and I listed them on the board. After class finished I followed them oustide - they were still arguing in ENGLISH all of the way downstairs.

I loved it. The energy in class was great - they didn't even stop of their normal 10 minute break. The Chinese English teacher that sits in on my class (he has a spare and is bored) was entranced! "You are really great" he kept saying - "my classes don't talk like this".

What will I do next week now?

[Newbs]

Well done Lotus. It rocks when it rocks. Have a pijiu tonight and put it on my tab.

[Decurso]

I've always wanted to try that game...glad to hear it was such a success.An interesting variation would be to make the doctor younger and gay...that would REALLY get them going!!!

[Jollyjunklass]

Thanks Lotus,

You gave me a nice break from planning a lesson this week

[Ruth]

Yeah, I'm stealing going to use it, too. My high school seniors should be able to handle it. Thanks for sharing.

[con's fly is open]

The essential difference between the writing and teaching professions: stealing is the hallmark of quality. I've never used this one before- I'll pull it out the first chance I get..

[moderntime]

This sounds fantastic, I've never heard of this either but it sounds like a great way to rev the students up and get them to do that oddest of things--supporting their arguments. I have first year English uni students, so I'll probably wait until the next semester to give this one a go.

[Crippler]

Used that and other similar in therapy groups and staff training to increase communication, insight and role playing abilitiy.. Good stuff!

[Lotus Eater]

crippler said:

Used that and other similar in therapy groups and staff training to increase communication, insight and role playing abilitiy.. Good stuff!

Me too - there I used it as a values based discussion. Always interesting. But this time it was just for getting them definding something - themselves/roles - and arguing in a non-threatening atmosphere.

[Mr Nobody]

I will try it on my english majors later. I have heard of this and once participated in it, but thought it was pretty dumb when I was involved in it. Mostly because I guess the others had no idea, and I was a science fiction fan - already thought through the idea, came to conclusions, these idiots had nothing to add, sort of superior attitude.

My answer - find out who knew how to make a still and get busy trying to save everyone. You can live on low water supplies for one month, if you know how.

Besides, this is too small a population for humanity to continue (gene pool too small unless they are very heterogeneous genetically, so race etc becomes a factor, but even then too small probably), so that is no longer a consideration. Therefore, personal survival is the key. So, male uni guy goes, unless he is me, in which case I kill someone I don't like, and that ends the problem.

[Dr. Gonzo]

There are variations on this lesson as far as participants/location go. I first used it in around '78 with native speakers, but in China I rolled it out once more. Its a values clarification exercise and, apart from confirming your students' prejiduces, gives you a rare opportunity to get them to disagree AND to verbalise their rationale.
Good fun.