This activity expands students' vocabulary by adding nationality adjectives and making a comparison between nations and nationalities. At this point, it would also be a good idea to introduce a map and/or write the names of various nations and nationalities on the board.
Teacher: Where are you from? I am from the USA. Are you American? Yes, I am American. (Model the difference between nation and nationality by accenting the nationality in both the question and response. This use of accenting differing words with your intonation helps students learn the differnce between nation and nationality. It might also help to point to the board when asking this question.)
Teacher: Where is Paolo from? He is from Italy. Is he American? No, he isn't American. He is Italian. (Go through the various nationalities in the classroom. This is also an opportunity to repeat the negative forms of 'to be' for 'he' and 'she'. You may also want to go through the list of nations and nationalities having students repeat after you to focus on pronunciation for a moment.)
Teacher: Paolo, where is Olaf from?
Student(s): Olaf is from Poland.
Teacher: Is Olaf Polish?
Student(s): Yes, he is Polish.
Teacher: Olaf, ask Susan.
Student(s): Is Paolo from Italy?
Student(s): Yes, he is from Italy?
Student(s): Is he Italian?
Student(s): Yes, he is Italian.
Continue this exercise around the class.
Introduce and review the negatives.
Teacher: Paolo, where is Olaf from?
Student(s): Olaf is from Poland.
Teacher: Is Olaf American?
Student(s): No, he isn't American. He is Polish.
Teacher: Olaf, ask Susan.
Student(s): Is Paolo from Italy?
Student(s): Yes, he is from Italy?
Student(s): Is he Polish?
Student(s): No, he isn't Polish. He is Italian.
Part II: Expanding to a mini-conversation.
Teacher: Susan, hi, how are you?
Student(s): Hi, I'm fine.
Teacher: Where are you from?
Student(s): I'm from Russia.
Teacher: Are you American?
Student(s): No, I'm not American. I'm Russian.
Teacher: What are you?
Student(s): I'm a nurse.
Teacher: What's this?
Student(s): That's a book.
Teacher: Goodbye.
Student(s): Goodbye.
Continue this exercise with each student around the class.
Back to the Absolute Beginner 20 Point Program
