Teaching with Rhymes – A Class Song

The activity is to create a simple rhyme and sing it. It practices sounds, tones, tone changes and adjective as predicate. It requires use of all language skills, and can be used as a class activity, homework assignment, or even assessment. Student may create their own versions in writing and speaking.

Preparation for the activity:

1)      Know pinyin.

2)      Know positive and negative patterns of description.

3)      Know tone changes.

Procedure:

Step 1: Create a class song.

      As the class progresses, a rhyme comes into being sentence by sentence:

      傅老师不饿。

      傅老师不渴。

      傅老师很忙。

      傅老师很好。

Step 2: Rehearse

1)      The whole class says or sings it aloud ( with attitude!)

2)      Small groups repeat until memorized.

           Step 3: Write from memory

                 1)A volunteer goes to the board to write it down.

                 2)Others write it out in pinyin, too.

           Step 4: Peer editing

                 Check each other’s work in pairs.

           Step 5: Create another verse

                 Go home and write another verse using other subjects and adjectives.

       Follow-up:

           Come back with a new verse memorized and perform it.

       Analysis of the activity:

1)      It makes learning easier but fruitful, boosting the confidence of learners.

2)      It helps to expand simple words into sentences using both positive and negative patterns.

3)      It employs tone changes and fluency of speech.