We had an arts and crafts day with the students taking on the vernaculars of different groups in America and creating a poster of vocabulary which has been incorporated into American talk from that group. Here are the directions for the task:
DO YOU SPEAK AMERICAN?
ROLES: RESOURCE PERSON
POSTER MAKER
PRESENTER
Directions:
a. Work in your group to do some research on a vernacular of a particular group of people by clicking on the links below.
b. Create a poster of the words used in the vernacular assigned to you.
c. The words should accompany definitions and be those that have crept into the English language.
d. Print out pictures to add to your poster. Use the markers to make the poster visually appealing.
e. Provide any background of the origin of the words in your group presentation.
1. SPANGLISH: http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=1438900
2. YIDDISH: http://www.dailywritingtips.com/the-yiddish-handbook-40-words-you-should-know/
3. TEXAN: http://donnasue.net/How_to_Talk_Proper_Texan.html
4. BOSTONIAN: http://www.universalhub.com/glossary
http://www.universalhub.com/glossary/a-b
5. CAJUN TALK: http://www.suite101.com/article.cfm/cajun_culture/33756
http://pages.cs.wisc.edu/~jmeaux/cajundict.html
6. AMERICAN INDIAN WORDS: http://www.infoplease.com/spot/aihmwords1.html
7. NEW YORK CITY TALK: http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/47164/new_york_city_vernacular_slang_and.html?cat=9
The posters were all good. After I got the students to stop limiting themselves to how they were to make the poster, they went to town. Here are a few of their products.
Valerie, Brittany, Tim Poster
McKenzee, Jennifer, Kaydee Poster
Ryan, Rikki, and Kelles Poster
Jared, Clay, Rolando Poster
Alex, Kasie, Laura Poster
Tom and Ben Poster
Erika, Nick, and James Poster
As you can see, everyone seemed engaged with this activity and seemed to be having fun. Moreover, in the presentations afterwards, the class learned about other groups. Some didn't know what Creole was or where Cajun came from. Alex gave us a lesson on Bostonian talk, while Jared talked about the origins of Yiddish.
I was pleased with the way the lesson went. Only wish I had time to do the journal free write on hip hop language from the YouTube I found. Check it out.
I thought this assignment was very cool, it was interesting to see how words that we speak everyday are orinally from different parts of the world. I think we should do more projects like this! It promotes creativity and learning at the same time.
ReplyDeleteIt is important to inject creativity into every task that is assigned, don't you think??
ReplyDeleteThis project was awesome, and it was really cool to see just what words we got from where, and what they mean to us, versus what they mean to the areas that they originially came from. Even in our own country their is such a variety of "languages", although it may all be english, they are all different and interesting segments of english, that have no parts to do with each other.
ReplyDeleteIts crazy, and cool to learn all at the same time. Some of the words, I wanted to start using just because they are cooler than ours. Like bubbler, instead of water fountain. :)
I really enjoyed this assignment becasue I got to learn about where some of the words I use come from and what sub-culture they are in. Also while presenting I heard how bad my Boston accent was ! This assignment was very unique and should be used again.
ReplyDeleteI thought this assignment was extremely unique. It was so interesting learning that so many words that I use in my everyday context came from African Americans. I never really thought about how different areas of the United States pronounce English words differently and use different English words but with the same meanings. It makes me wonder how some of these words came about.
ReplyDeleteThis assignment was very crafty and fun! I learned a lot about other cultures and how they have blended in with America. I think assignments like these benefit a student and will be remember by a student more so than other assignments. I say this because student remember things more so when they are different, odd and exciting. This assignment had all three! It was lots of fun.
ReplyDeleteThis is very interesting job to create creative posters
ReplyDelete