Before we get started:

The idea of using these types of pages came to me after having used the book “Asking Questions” by A.B.Kench for many years. I do not know WHY I never thought of devising similar exercises based on our cue cards- but better late than never (they are due to go OUT of the bagrut in a couple of years). I had the idea of devising such pages a week and a day ago. Immediately, I put up a sample of this idea, and a call for help on ETNI, and received many responses. Those who thought it was wonderful; others who disagreed with the idea pedagogically, and others who took the samples into their classrooms, and saw them in action.

And then there were those who offered to help!

We are ALL busy. We are ALL underpaid and overworked. However these teachers offered to donate their time to contributing to this endeavor. Some of them aren’t even high school teachers!!! (Talk about altruism!!!) They sent me their files within days of my announcement. They did them with excitement, creativity and humor, and most of all: good will. I would like to thank all of those teachers who participated in this - what I believe to be the first ever virtual nation-wide English teacher collaboration on something.

I have adapted some of the files that were sent to me: some for purposes of uniformity; others, in an attempt at political correctness. Bronia sent the files in the form of a performance task, with a separate edition for the New and Old Curriculum – I am attaching that at the end. There are lovely rubrics that people may wish to adapt to other cards, as well.

Anyone downloading these pages are, of course, free to adapt them for gender, to suit their culture: whatever. Use your good sense and imaginations. Your learners will appreciate it!

To Bronia, Betsy, Avlynne, Debi, Rebecca, Ora, Michele, and Ruthy:

THANK YOU from me, and from English teachers all over Israel!!! I hope many teachers and learners benefit from this endeavor!!! Please send (positive ) feedback to the ETNI list.

See you all at KayeCollege: December 1st!

Very sincerely,

Adele

Arriving at the airport: Cue Card #1

Yosef has arrived at the airport in London. This is his first trip there. He does not want to take a taxi because it will be too expensive. He has to get to his aunt’s house in Ilford. He wants to go to the information booth to ask what his different options are.

  1. Ask how to get to the information booth. ______?
  2. Ask what your different options are for getting into the city.

______?

  1. Ask how often the busses leave.

______?

  1. Ask how long the bus ride to the city is.

______?

  1. Ask how much the bus fare will cost.

______?

  1. Ask how many busses you will need to get to your aunt’s house.

______?

  1. Ask how to get to the bus stop.

______?

  1. Ask how you would get to your aunt’s house by train.

______?

  1. Ask the information workers if s/he thinks it will be quicker by train or buy bus.

______?

  1. Ask which way would be cheaper.

______?

Yosef: ______?

Information Attendant: Yes, I can give you all the information you need for how to get to London.

Yosef: ______?

Information Attendant: Well, you have two very good options which are cheaper than taxies: the underground or busses.

Yosef: ______?

I. A.: I think your best choice really is the underground.

Yosef: ______?

I. A.: Maybe if you tell me where your aunt lives, I can tell you how to get all the way to her house.

Yosef: ______?

I. A.: Certainly I know how to get to Ilford!

Yosef: ______?

I. A.: Actually, I believe that the underground will get you there quickest.

Yosef: ______?

I. A.: It will cost you 3 pounds to get there by underground.

Yosef: ______?

I. A.: You will be at your aunt’s house in less than 2 hours.

Yosef: ______?

I. A.: Oh, yes- it is very safe to travel on the underground, even at night.

Yosef: ______?

I. A.: The last train leaves at 23:00- so you had better stop asking all these questions and hurry to catch that train!

Useful vocabulary to remember:

Interview famous personality: Cue Card #2

You are a reporter for a magazine and are going to interview a famous personality. Decide who the person is, and interview him or her. Remember, you need to get interesting information for your article!

1. Ask her if she can tell you when she started her career.

______?

2. Ask her whether her family influenced her in the choice of career. ______?

3.Ask her if there was anything in her childhood which made her want to do what she is doing today.

______?

4. Ask her who has influenced her most in her work.

______?

5. Ask her whether her career interferes with her personal life.

______?

6.Ask her if she has ever thought of doing something else.

______?

7. Ask her what she is currently working on.

______?

8.Ask her what her favorite film or song is.

______?

9.Ask her what the secret of her success is.

______?

10. Ask her if she thinks celebrities should donate (give money) to charity.

______?

11. Ask her about her plans for the future .

______?

12. Ask her what message she would like to send to the younger generation. ______?

13. Ask her how she would like to be remembered.

______?

Interviewer: ______?
Famous celebrity: It was so long ago, I can't even remember. I think the first time I got up on stage was in the kindergarten.

Interviewer: ______?
Famous celebrity: My family was very … especially my mother -she always pushed me on my road to success .

Interviewer: ______?
Famous celebrity: As I have already said, I first appeared in the local theatre. They needed a girl for the role of Little Red Riding Hood , so I went to auditions and they gave me the role.

Interviewer: ______?
Famous celebrity: Oh, yes - I've met many famous actors and actresses.

Interviewer: ______?
Famous celebrity: I think so. In order to succeed you have to work very hard. You don’t have much time to spend with your family. I'm trying to balance hard work and my family life.

Interviewer: ______?
Famous celebrity: Never-ever in my life. I'm happy with what I've been doing in my life.

Interviewer: ______?
Famous celebrity: It's a surprise for my fans, so I prefer not to talk about that.

Interviewer: ______?
Famous celebrity: I love reading – but I have no one favorite book.

Interviewer: ______?
Famous celebrity: You need some talent, you have to like what you're doing and you have to work hard in order to succeed.

Interviewer: ______?
Famous celebrity: I would like to work hard and to enjoy life.

Useful vocabulary to remember:

A DesertIsland: Cue Card #3

Sally Long was sailing her boat on her own, when she got caught in a storm. Sally managed to reach a deserted island. She was there for a year. She had to learn how to survive on her own. She learned to hunt for food and find berries to eat from the plants that she found growing on the island. She was finally rescued by a plane that flew over and saw her signals for help. She is now being interviewed for a magazine.

  1. Ask if she was frightened.

______?

  1. Ask if she thought she would ever be rescued.

______?

  1. Ask what kinds of foods she was able to eat.

______?

  1. Ask what she did when it rained.

______?

  1. Ask how she protected herself from the cold and heat.

______?

  1. Ask if she was ever ill, and how she managed without medicine.

______?

  1. Ask if she ever felt that she was in danger.

______?

  1. Ask if she thought she would ever be rescued.

______?

  1. Ask what it was that she missed the most while she was stranded.

______?

  1. Ask what the first thing she did when she got home was.

______?

Interviewer: ______?

Sally: I am fine now, thank you.

Interviewer: ______?

Sally: I have been home for 3 days already.

Interviewer: ______?

Sally: I’m not sure… but the ship began to take on a lot of water, and then it just sank!

Interviewer: ______?

Sally: Yes, I am a pretty strong swimmer.

Interviewer: ______?

Sally: I think the most frightening part was when I realized that no one knew where I was.

Interviewer: ______?

Sally: I ate fruit that I found, and hunted small animals.

Interviewer: ______?

Sally: Yes, I did get sick once, and that was scary, as well!

Interviewer: ______?

Sally: I slept in a hut I built out of bamboo, on a bed of leaves.

Interviewer: ______?

Sally: I heard the sound of an airplane flying overhead, and quickly lit a fire.

Interviewer: ______?

Sally: No, it wasn’t the first time a plane had flown over, but it WAS the first time I managed to light the fire in time for it to see me and rescue me.

Interviewer: ______?

Sally: The very first thing I did was turn on my TV set and watch my favorite program.

Useful vocabulary to remember:

Happy Birthday! Cue Card #4

Miriam Jordan is about to celebrate her 100th birthday. She has had a colorful and interesting life. She has lived all over the world and has held a variety of jobs. She has four children, as well as numerous grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Miriam is remarkably healthy and keeps herself quite busy. You have the honor of conducting an exclusive interview with Miriam for the local newspaper.

Ask Miriam how it feels to have reached such a milestone.

______?

Ask Miriam if she had ever thought she would reach 100 years of age.

______?

Ask her about the most fascinating place she has ever visited.

______?

Ask her about the most interesting job she has ever held.

______?

Ask her about a memorable or meaningful gift she received.

______?

Ask her for some tips about staying healthy.

______?

Ask her what she does on a typical day.

______?

Ask her what she does to have fun.

______?

Ask her what period of her life she would go back to if she could.

______?

Ask her if she would be willing to share a valuable lesson that she has learned along the way.

______?

Ask her what advice she would give to anyone who wants to learn from her experience.

______?

Interviewer: ______?

Miriam: It feels much better than you might imagine.

Interviewer: ______?

Miriam: I'm going to have a party with family and close friends.

Interviewer: ______?

Miriam: My health is excellent. In fact, the doctors say I'm as healthy as a horse!

Interviewer: ______?

Miriam: I guess the "secret" to good health is 'everything in moderation', and good genes don't hurt either.

Interviewer: ______?

Miriam: Well, I guess it does. Let's see – my father was 85 when he passed away, and my mother lived to the ripe old age of 97. I also have three healthy siblings, all in their 90's.

Interviewer: ______?

Miriam: I suppose if I could, I would go back to my college days, just for fun. Those were wonderful times; though I have always felt that the best time is the present.

Interviewer: ______?

Miriam: Yes, I do still feel that way. I'm a lucky woman.

Interviewer: ______?

Miriam: Oh yes, I have met many famous people throughout the years. For example, I once had dinner with Golda Meir. Oh, and when I was a reporter in the States, I interviewed John F. Kennedy.

Interviewer: ______?

Miriam: No, actually, it wasn't. My most rewarding and fulfilling job was being an English teacher.

Interviewer: ______?

Miriam: Yes, I'm still in touch with a number of them. My former pupils have been wonderful to me throughout the years.

Interviewer: ______?

Miriam: I'm not sure that I would do anything differently. I have always tried to turn my mistakes into valuable lessons.

Useful vocabulary to remember:

Travel Agent: Cue Card #5

Jasmin is at a travel agent’s in New York. She wants to take a holiday in Israel. She needs to find out about prices, dates, and touring possibilities.

  1. Ask if it is dangerous to travel in Israel.

______?

  1. Ask how much a round trip ticket to Israel costs.

______?

  1. Ask if there is a difference in price between summer rates and winter rates.

______?

  1. Ask how long people usually need to tour the country.

______?

  1. Ask which places the agent would recommend visiting.

______?

  1. Ask if there are any places the agent would recommend you do not travel to.

______?

  1. Ask what the hotels are like.

______?

  1. Ask you can pay for things in Israel by credit card.

______?

  1. Ask what the exchange rate for the dollar is in Israel now.

______?

  1. Ask if people in Israel speak English.

______?

  1. Ask if the agent herself has eve been in Israel.

______?

W:\סדנה לאנגלית\Cue Cards\Trip to Israel 5.doc
Jasmin:______?

Travel Agent: Of course I can help you plan your trip to Israel.

Jasmin:______?

Travel Agent: I suggest you go in the spring or the fall- that is when the weather is best.

Jasmin:______?

Travel Agent: Usually two or three weeks are enough to see the main attractions.

Jasmin:______?

Travel Agent: The plane fare depends on when you go.

Jasmin:______?

Travel Agent: Fares are cheapest after the holidays.

Jasmin:______?

Travel Agent: There are many good hotels in Tel Aviv.

Jasmin:______?

Travel Agent: I suggest you start in the main cities in the center, and then you could spend a few days in Eilat.

Jasmin:______?

Travel Agent: There are many beautiful thinks to see in the north, as well.

Jasmin:______?

Travel Agent: NO- I have never had a client return unhappy.

Jasmin:______?

Travel Agent: Well - I have been working here since last Thursday.

Jasmin: ______?

Useful vocabulary:

Parent Asking about a School: Cue Card #6

Mr. Cohen wants to find out about a school where he might send his child to. His daughter, Lee, is going into first grade. She is a very intelligent , creative child, and the Cohens are looking for an open environment that will encourage both her artistic and her academic skills. Mr. Cohen goes to the principal, Ms. Abdul, to find out more about the school.

1. Ask Ms. Goldsmith how many children attend the school.
______?
2. Ask her what school hours are.
______?
3. Ask her what academic subjects are taught.
______?
4. Ask her how the school develops different artistic talents.
______?
5. Ask if there is a music program in the school.
______?
6. Ask how many of the children who graduate their school are accepted to the better high schools in the country.
______?
7. Ask if you can observe on e of the classes.
______?
8. Ask if all of the teachers in the school are accredited teachers.
______?
9. Ask the principal if the children enjoy coming to her school.
______?
10. Ask if there is a medical staff who work in the school, in case of emergencies.
______?

Mr. Cohen: ______?
Ms. Abdul: Certainly, I would be happy to answer some questions about our school.

Mr. Cohen: ______?
Ms. Abdul: First of all, it is one of the few schools in the country where Jewish and Arab children learn together.

Mr. Cohen: ______?
Ms. Abdul: Yes – we feel that when they play together, it teaches them that all children are the same- there is no prejudice here.

Mr. Cohen: ______?
Ms. Abdul: Most of the children have no trouble getting used to it. They are only in the first grade- they aren’t used to anything else!

Mr. Cohen: ______?
Ms. Abdul: The teachers are from different walks of life: we have Jewish, Christian and Moslem teachers.

Mr. Cohen: ______?
Ms. Abdul: The studies are predominantly in Hebrew, but there are also intensive Arabic language studies for the Jewish children.

Mr. Cohen: ______?
Ms. Abdul: They learn about different religions in their religious studies classes.

Mr. Cohen: ______?
Ms. Abdul: The food we serve is vegetarian- that way, there is no question of dietary problems for Moslem OR Jewish children.

Mr. Cohen: ______?
Ms. Abdul: We celebrate all of the holidays. The children teach each other about their different customs.

Mr. Cohen: ______?
Ms. Abdul: there have been some difficulties, but we have a very well trained staff who know how to handle such problems.

Mr. Cohen: ______?
Ms. Abdul: Yes, we do believe that schools like ours encourage peace in our region.

Useful vocabulary to remember:

Spending a Summer on a Kibbutz : Cue Card #7

Jack Johnson is a student at the Technicon in London. He has a long vacation from May to September and wants to travel during that time. Because he has very little money, he thinks it would be a good idea to work on a kibbutz. He is interested in the conditions on a kibbutz and a little worried about the security situation in Israel. He meets Yoni who is also studying in London, at a party. Yoni grew up on a kibbutz so Jack thinks it is a great opportunity to ask him about life as it is lived on a kibbutz.

1. Ask where there are kibbutzim in Israel.

______?

2. Ask what sort of work the volunteers do on a kibbutz.

______?

3. Ask where the volunteers live.

______?

4. Ask if the volunteers earn any money.

______?

5. Ask about the different kinds of entertainment on the kibbutz.

______?

6. Ask how people travel around in Israel.

______?

7. Ask if the volunteers cook their own meals.

______?

8. Ask how many people there are on Yoni's kibbutz.

______?

9. Ask if the people are friendly.

______?

10. Ask if Yoni had any influence he could use.

______?

Jack: ______?

Yoni: Yes, I grew up on a kibbutz but I live here now.

Jack: ______?

Yoni: I am studying at the university.

Jack: ______?

Yoni: Well, the towns could be dangerous but you should be quite safe on the kibbutz.

Jack: ______?

Yoni: The kibbutz I grew up on is far down in the south of Israel but there are many others all over Israel.

Jack: ______?

Yoni: Usually a volunteer is "adopted" by a family on the kibbutz and they do have contact with quite a few of the people living on the kibbutz.

Jack: ______?

Yoni: The food is different from what you eat here but in my opinion far tastier! We eat a lot more salads and dairy products.

Jack: ______?

Yoni: You will probably be working physically every day. You will get fit..