Tapping into youth culture can motivate disaffected key stage 4 language learners, and so can using ICT. I have found using current media trends particularly successful. The first is using the popular TV show What Not to Wear. Students are given an imaginary budget of E5000 to go online at Spanish clothes shops to “make over” a friend. They note down the clothes and in the next lesson they justify their choices.
They can also record an imaginary programme in Spanish. This can then be shown and peer assessed by the rest of the class. The format can be adapted to other shows such as Changing Rooms.
Ian Kendrick Modern foreign languages teacher, the Crossley Heath School, Calderdale
