What it’s all about

Travel is a great topic for language lessons, especially if you make it feel as real as possible for pupils, writes Catherine Paver.

Pupils could research a place online that they really want to visit, but they must read about it on websites in the target language.

Using Google in a foreign language encourages pupils to learn independently. They could then write an email asking to book flights and a room, and make a list of things to take and inoculations required.

Once on foreign soil, what are the language situations they are most likely to meet? Practise booking rooms, asking directions and finding out about train and bus timetables.

Make a list of potential disasters, big and small, down one side of a page. On the other side, list the things they would need to be able to say to get out of these tight spots.

Monty Python’s “Dirty Fork” sketch is hilarious for teaching the vocabulary of eating out abroad. Show the class a version with foreign-language subtitles. Get pupils to write down as much of the new language as they can. Show it twice, perhaps. Give expressions and vocabulary they will find most useful, then divide them into groups for the role play.

They could create their own “Dirty Fork” sketch in the language or make up their own scenarios. They could write menus for props. The sketches will be so funny that they won’t have time to be afraid of speaking in a foreign language.

What else?

TES has a great choice of MFL resources on travel. bit.lymflTravel

Pupils can practise speaking about holidays with chatterbox81‘s prompt cards. bit.lyHolidayPrompts.