About the Soap Operas
Overview |
Jason's World and Judy's World have been created in order to allow students to discuss controversial and contemporary topics such as relationship problems, unplanned pregnancies, domestic violence, drinking and driving, homosexuality, abortion, etc. Topics such as these can be too personal and difficult to approach, but by relegating them to the third person in the characters of the people who appear in the soap opera, students can discuss them openly and without fear. By bringing these topics out into the open, the ensuing discussion might give students who are experiencing these kinds of difficulties, or who have friends who are, the language and the resources to deal with their problems. While a student may not want to reveal that she has accidentally gotten pregnant, by discussing the character in the soap opera, the student can learn about counselling services on campus, or may benefit from the knowledge that others have been through the same situation and that there is support available during the difficult times in life. Alternatively, students can discuss some of the warning signs of a drinking problem, as shown by the character Paul in Judy's World, and this could potentially help them recognize that behaviour in someone they know and show them what steps to take to guide that person to the proper counselling services.
Each soap opera episode in Jason's World and in Judy's World begins with a pre-listening discussion question designed to prepare the students for some of the issues, vocabulary, and ideas they will encounter in the episode. Each episode includes vocabulary development exercises, discussion questions, comprehension questions, and more !
Listening Comprehension |
After students listen to an episode, Listening Comprehension worksheets test their comprehension of the key issues and events in the soap operas. The worksheet for each episode includes a number of questions that require a sentence answer. These questions ask for answers that convey either factual information or personal opinion. In addition, there may be true/false, multiple choice, sentence completion, gap-fill, or information ordering questions.
Vocabulary Development |
The soap operas feature common idiomatic expressions and slang presented in realistic conversational settings. Students are guided through a series of exercises designed to review and reinforce the vocabulary in various ways. Students will see the vocabulary in different contexts, relate the vocabulary to their own lives, use the vocabulary in short discussions, and match the vocabulary to simple definitions.
Vocabulary activities included in the soap opera materials consist of the following:
* Opportunities for peer instruction |
* Exercises in deducing meaning from context |
* Gap-fill sentences using the word in context for review purposes |
* Listening exercises using the words in context |
* Pronunciation practice of the vocabulary |
* Crossword puzzles with gap-fill sentences in context as clues |
* Vocabulary discussion topics |
* 'Find someone who...' exercises to review the target vocabulary |
* A parts of speech table to look at various derivations for the target vocab |
* A vocabulary trivia game |
* A glossary with simple definitions & sample sentences |
* A final vocabulary test |
Speaking Activities |
Each episode includes pre-listening discussion questions, and the episodes themselves provoke discussion on a variety of topics. Discussion questions are provided, as are prediction questions regarding upcoming events in the story. In addition, vocabulary is developed and reviewed through a number of exercises which include using the vocabulary in speaking activities.
Additional Materials |
When students have completed all the episodes and their accompanying exercises, there are additional lessons and activities they can do. These a vocabulary review trivia game, a soap opera trivia game, and more.
There are also suggestions for additional role plays and lessons. These activities can be done following the relevant soap opera episode or after all the lessons have been completed. As with the previous exercises and activities, teachers may choose to use all the materials or pick and choose different exercises according to time and student interest.
Issues Raised |
Issues raised by the content of Jason’s World & Judy's World include the following:
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Online Materials |
Jason's World & Judy's World now includes additional ONLINE content free of charge !
Featuring
* More listening practice ! |
* More vocabulary review ! |
* 'Missing' episodes ! |
* Introduction of new vocabulary ! |
* New vocabulary practice ! |
* Comprehension questions for the 'missing' episodes |
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* Review of the new vocabulary ! |
* ALL AVAILABLE ONLINE FOR IMMEDIATE FEEDBACK ! |
About the Author |
Gerry Luton has been teaching ESL for over twenty years, and has taught both in Canada and in Japan. Gerry is also the co-author of Gerry's Vocabulary Teacher, a software program created as a teacher's tool to quickly and easily review vocabulary in context.
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More about Jason's World & Judy's World |
Hear an excerpt from Jason's World (coming soon) |
| Hear an excerpt from Judy's World (coming soon) |
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CONTACT CPR4ESL |
