I really do not like to "prepare" students for a final exam.  We do not review.  I do, however, take a few minutes each day towards the end of the marking period to allow students the opportunity to experience being in "test" mode so that we can talk about what I expect and how they can showcase their best.

This week we have been "practicing" for the speaking portion of the test.    For my freshmen (Spanish 1, second year of study), the students each pick a picture from 10 or so available on a table.  They get 2-3 minutes to look at the picture and think about what they would like to say.   The student then brings me the picture and begins a conversation.   

The student talks to me (tells me a story) about the picture.    I tell them to pretend that it is a snapshot from a photo album or a still shot from a movie and their job is to tell me about the "big picture" surrounding this one moment.  After they have said about 10 things, I then begin to interact, asking questions about the story AND asking questions about the student in relation to the story.  (for example:  "So the character wants a dog...what kind of pet do you have?"

I need about 5-7 minutes per student and the hardest thing, many times, is to get the kids to stop so that someone else can have their turn.   They are evaluated on :

Comprehensibility (can I understand the language?)
Appropriateness (does it make sense?)
Fluidity (ability to speak without painful pauses or breaks)
Complexity (ability to add details/connect ideas)
Structure (does the student use 1st or 2nd year structures?)
Vocabulary (is there a variety of vocabulary?)

So.....how did we practice?

I pulled twenty pictures from the following websites:

http://dragonwritingprompts.blogsome.com/category/writing-prompts/picture-prompts/

http://everyphototellsastory.blogspot.com/

and put them into a Smart Board document.

As we looked at the picture....we created a story.

It actually can be that simple.

If you want a more complex plan, then ask students to brainstorm the following for pictures:
Move up the ladder of specifity!!

Possible settings (car, street, city, state, country, near_____________, during______________)
Possible characters (in the picture and out of the picture but in the story)
Possible problems  (_____________because, ______________because, ________________because!)

Ask the following questions:
What do the characters think?
What do the characters feel?
What do the characters say?
What do the characters do?

and of course,

Why?

Encourage the adding of details by asking:

What kind/type?
How many?
How often?
At what time?
For how long?
With/for whom?
With/for what?
(to/from) Where?
When?
How?
What for?

Invite students to email you pictures that you can use in class.  G-rated of course!  :o)

with love,
Laurie