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An 'Ask the experts' task-based lesson





Image: wikipedia.org

Here is an example of a lesson from frenchteacher.net, following the 'Ask the experts' format, based on an activity called 'Ask and move' which Paul Nation has written about. The level here is CEFR A2, so about right for a good Y10-11 class in England. It has a cultural knowledge component, being about the rising star of French Formula 1, Charles Leclerc.

Find out about F1 driver Charles Leclerc

Time: 30 minutes.

Preparation: print off the 4 short paragraphs on Formula 1 driver Charles Leclerc (below). You can adapt this for any topic. Together these four paragraphs form a general description of Charles Leclerc. Secondly, write and print off the 12 questions about the topic.

Task:

1.    Explain the activity in L1. Four volunteers are ‘experts’ on Charles Leclerc. Each expert has one of the four paragraphs you printed off. The remainder of the class works in pairs, with each pair having a set of questions. One partner is a scribe, the other a seeker of information from the experts. The seekers have to obtain answers to their questions from the five experts, then report back to their scribe who notes them down. They will need to ask for some correct spellings.

2.    Monitor as students move around seeking answers to their questions and reporting back to their scribes. Often the experts will not be able to answer all the questions. It will be a busy and noisy classroom!

3.    The pairs discuss the written notes and prepare to feed back. The five experts can join in with various pairs to help.

4.    Students write up a description of Charles Leclerc using their notes to help. Recall that the experts each only have one part of the information needed. 

Notes

You can vary the number of experts or do the task without scribes, but in the latter case your experts may be overrun with questioners if the class is big!

Ensure pupils don’t cheat by just looking at the texts and copying answers. Experts must never show paragraphs.


1.  Il est né le 16 octobre 1997 à Monte Carlo, Monaco où il y a chaque année un grand prix Formule 1. En 2019 il pilote une Ferrari. Il a fait son début pour l’équipe Sauber en 2018. Il a signé un contrat avec Ferrari en 2019. Il a commencé sa carrière par faire du karting en 2005.Il a gagné beaucoup de trophées entre 2005 et 2013 quand il a fini sa carrière de karting. Il a commencé à piloter des voitures de Formule 3 en 2015.

 

2.   Leclerc a un frère aîné qui s’appelle Lorenzo et un frère cadet, Arthur. Son père Hervé était aussi pilote de course automobile. Il était pilote de Formule 3. Il est mort en 2017. En 2019 il sort avec sa copine Giada Gianni qui est italienne. Il l’a rencontrée en 2015. Il parle français, anglais et italien. Sa famille n’était pas riche. En 2011 il a dû cesser de faire du karting parce que son père n’avait pas assez d’argent.

 

3.   Quand il a grandi à Monaco, son premier souvenir est quand il jouait avec des petites voitures et regardait les voitures de course dans la rue. Il a rêvé de conduire une Ferrari un jour, comme un de ses héros, Michael Schumacher. Il a gagné le championnat de GP3 en 2016. Il s’entraîne physiquement et mentalement, pour rester calme avant et pendant les courses.

 

4.   Il était passionné par le sport automobile depuis l'âge de 4 ans, depuis que son père l'a emmené à Brignoles, une piste de karting dans le sud de la France. Il a adoré ça tout de suite. Ses idoles dans le sport sont Ayrton Senna (ex champion de Formule 1) et Jules Bianchi.(ex pilote de Formule 1). Leclerc est un personnage travailleur et modeste. En 2019 il est jeune et commence sa carrière de Formule 1, mais il a un co-équipier Sébastien Vettel qui a beaucoup d’expérience.

 

The questions

1.  Quel âge a Charles Leclerc ?

2.  Où est-ce qu’il est né ? (born where ?)

3. Quel est son premier souvenir ? (first memory ?)

4.  En quelle année est-ce qu’il a commencé à faire du karting ?

5.  Qui sont ses héros ?

6.  Quel rôle a joué son père dans sa carrière ? (father’s role in his career?) 

7.  Quel entraînement fait-il ? (what training ?)

8.  Quels trophées est-ce qu’il a gagnés par exemple ? (trophies won ?)

9. Qu’est-ce qu’il a fait en 2015 ?

10. A-t-il des frères ou des sœurs ? 

11.  Il est marié ou célibataire ? (married or single ?)

12. Comment est sa personnalité ? (personality ?)


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