Известно, что изучение иностранного языка наиболее успешно там, где учащиеся вовлекаются в творческий процесс, и иностранный язык становится не только целью, но и средством обучения. Успешное взаимодействие учителя с учениками и учащихся между собой на втором языке не только развивает речевые умения и навыки, но и служит основой повышенной самооценки подростков как носителей языка, помогает им безбоязненно делиться информацией и своими мыслями.
В этой статье хотелось бы остановиться на использовании рассказов, рисунков, драмы, создании образов в преподавании иностранного языка. Эта методика была заимствована из опыта профессора Делавэрского университета (США) Нэнси Кинг.
Откровенно говоря, не верилось, что данная методика будет успешной в наших условиях, когда ученики имеют ограниченный опыт в использовании драмы, спонтанных монологов и диалогов на иностранном языке. А пренебрежительное отношение большинства наших старшеклассников к изобразительной деятельности тоже хорошо известно. Но все мои страхи улетучились с первого урока - ребята быстро приспособились к новой учебной ситуации. Необычность заданий, направленных на развитие творческого воображения, очень эмоциональный рассказ, а также тот факт, что ученики не получали отметок, способствовали успеху деятельности обучаемых.
Урок занимает два академических часа.
Сначала дети читают или слушают рассказ. Сюжет и презентация его учителем должны быть как можно более эмоциональным. После этого учащиеся рисуют (5-7 мин.) самый важный, с их очки зрения, момент в рассказе (the telling moment) и объясняют его 2-3 предложениями. Для учителя очень важно выслушать каждого ученика, подчеркнуть достоинства каждого момента, выбор цвета, расположение рисунка, высказанных идей.
Рисунок здесь служит не целью, а средством передачи глубины понимания проблем в рассказе.
Затем ученики получают различные задания: от имени героев, которые есть или могли бы быть в рассказе, составить диалог /передать события, чувства; сочинить рассказ о прежней жизни героя; обсудить идеи рассказа; нарисовать образ слова и объяснить его.
В конце урока ученики анализируют, что им дал урок, чему они научились, что было трудно или легко, как данный урок повлиял на их личность. Учитель тоже участвует в анализе, говорит о своих ощущениях. Подростки обычно отмечают личностный характер заданий, неформальную душевную атмосферу урока, которая сближает не только учащихся между собой, но и учителя с ними.
В качестве иллюстрации предлагаю план урока.
Урок в 10-м классе по рассказу О.Генри "Последний лист"
Задачи урока:
- практиковать учащихся в аудировании и монологической речи;
- обсудить проблему значения искусства в жизни человека;
- способствовать социальной адаптации подростков к жизненным проблемам.
Ход урока
1. Учитель: I'm glad to se you. Today we are going to speak about art.
Do you like art?
What kind of art do you prefer?
Today we'll speak about painting.
First listen to a story and try to understand it.
Look at the new words on the blackboard:
- brick - кирпичный
- gloomy - мрачный
- an ivy-vine - плющ
- a failure - неудачник
- a masterpiece - шедевр
- a ladder - переносная лестница
Sue, Johnsy, Behrman
2. Listen to the story "The Last Leaf" by O'Henry.
(на фоне музыки П. Чайковского "Времена года", "Ноябрь")
3. Paint the telling moment of the story and explain it in 2- 3 sentences.
(Each student shows his\her picture and explains why he\she thinks this moment is important in the story)
Е. g. You can see the ivy leaf which saved Johnsy's life. It is small but it is so strong. It's raining, the weather is crying.
4. What do you think is the main idea of the story? (You must never lose hope)
5. What is the aim of art? (to serve people, to make people better, to see the beauty of life, etc.)
What is a masterpiece? Can this little leaf be called a masterpiece? Why? (It is a real masterpiece because thanks to this picture the girl understood that you must never lose hope)
6. Make groups of 2 or 3.Tell us this story as if you were:
- Johnsy
- Sue
- Old Behrman
- The doctor
- The last leaf
Answer the questions of other characters. You may use the text now.
7. What word is very often used in this story? (hope)
8. Read the poem on the blackboard:
"Hope" is the thing with feathers
That perches in the soul
And sings the tune without words
And never sleeps at all.
Emily Dickinson
Can you agree with the ideas of the poem?
9. Paint the images of the words "hopeful" and "hopeless"
10. Comment on your pictures.
E.g. As for me "hopeful" is connected with the sun in the sky and green grass. "Hopeless" is always black spots falling down.
11. Summing up the results of the lesson:
What has impressed you today?
Have you learnt anything new?
What will you think of tonight before falling asleep?
The Last Leaf
Sue and Johnsy were poor artists who lived in New York. They painted pictures which they hoped to sell. Their studio was on the third floor of an old brick house.
They became friends in May and decided to live together. But soon November came with its winds and rains. Yellow, red and brown dry leaves were dancing in the air falling from gloomy trees onto the wet ground. Nature was dying.
In November Johnsy fell ill. She lay in bed near the window and looked at the brick wall of the next house.
One morning the doctor asked Sue to come out into the corridor. "Your friend is very ill. She has only one chance to live, and this chance is to want to live," he said. "Your little lady has decided that she won't get well. I promise to do all I can, but you must help me. Let her think not of her illness, but of something else."
After the doctor had gone, Sue went to Johnsy's room. The sick girl lay with her face towards the window. Sue thought that she was sleeping. But she heard Johnsy counting.
"Twelve", she said, and a little later "eleven", and then "ten", and "nine". Sue looked out of the window. What was there to count? An old ivy-vine grew on the brick wall. There were a few leaves on it.
"Six", said Johnsy. "They are falling faster now. There are only five left."
"Five what, dear?" asked Sue.
"Leaves on the ivy-vine. When the last one falls, I must go too."
"It's nonsense", said Sue, "Doctor told me that you had good chances for getting well. Take some soup, please!"
"No, I don't want any soup. There are only four now. I want to see the last one fall before it gets dark. Then I'll go too."
"Johnsy, dear," said Sue, "Will you promise me to keep your eyes shut and not look out of the window? Try to sleep. I must go to Behrman now."
Old Behrman was a painter who lived on the ground floor of the same house. He was over sixty. Behrman was a failure in art, but he still hoped to paint a masterpiece.
Sue found Behrman in his little room. She told him about Johnsy's illness. "She thinks that she will die when the last leaf falls from the ivy-vine."
When Johnsy opened her eyes the next morning, she saw one yellow- and- green ivy leaf. It was the last one on the vine.
"I thought it would fall during the night. I heard the wind. It will fall today, and I shall die at the same time."
The evening came, but the leaf was still there. At night the north wind began to blow again, the rain beat against the window.
In the morning the girl looked out of the window. The ivy leaf was still on the vine.
Johnsy lay for a long time looking at it. And then she called Sue and said, "I've been a bad girl.
This little leaf showed me that we must always hope for the best. You may bring me some soup now, and some milk."
An hour later she said, "Sue, some day I hope to paint a very beautiful picture."
The doctor came in the afternoon. In the corridor he said to Sue, "She is much better now, she's getting well. Now I must see old Behrman. He's seriously ill. There is no hope for him."
In the afternoon Sue came to the bed where Johnsy lay, "I have something to tell you, dear", she said. "Mr. Behrman is in the hospital. He was found helpless in his room. His clothes were wet, and he was very cold. They also found a lamp and a ladder in his room, some brushes and some green and yellow paint. Now look out of the window, at the last leaf on the wall. Do you know why it never moved when the wind blew? Ah, dear, it's Behrman's masterpiece - he painted it there that night when the last leaf fell."