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Teacher: Catherine Eslinger
Proficiency Level of Learners: Intermediate
Age of Learners: High School Age and Above

Objectives:

• Students will be able to describe unfamiliar objects and situations without knowing exact vocabulary.  Instead, they will use their existing vocabulary and circumlocution techniques.
• Students will practice circumlocution by avoiding words they already know, then move on to use it to describe things for which they do not know the words.

Materials:

• Pictures of people showing various personal characteristics (recent vocabulary)
• Audio recording of the song "The Marvelous Toy"
• Handouts of lyrics to chorus and part of one verse
• "Password" cards
• Uncommon household items, such as a vareniye (small Russian pie) maker, pasta drainer, oil filter wrench

Warm-up/Review:

Introduction:

Presentation:

1. Play "The Marvelous Toy," directing students' attention to the chorus, pointing out that the song describes the toy without ever giving it a name.

   Contingency Plan: If I cannot get the audio equipment to work, I will sing the chorus only of the song for the students.

2. Ask students what phrases were used to introduce circumlocution.  Then ask them if they can think of other phrases that they might use to describe objects or situations for which they did not have a name.  Model the use of each of these phrases.

Practice:

1. Model the use of these phrases in context using a variation on the game "I Spy."  Choose an object in the classroom and tell the students you will describe it until they correctly guess what it is.  Make use of several of the phrases mentioned by they students in the presentation section of the lesson.  When they have guessed correctly, ask two other students to choose an object and describe it to the class.
2. Pass out a total of six Password cards with three words on each to each pair. Each student should have three cards, and his or her partner should not be able to see the words on each one. Model the game procedure to the whole class by showing them an extra card and using circumlocution techniques to express the idea to them.  Have each student try communicate his or her list of words to a partner by circumlocution.  The partner will guess what the word is based on clues and description.  When one student gets through all the words on his or her first card, the next student tries the same techniques.  Students alternate cards until they have gone through all six between them or until time for the activity runs out.

Evaluation:

Application:

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Return to Ling. 577 Syllabus