By Les Huysmans

I often get asked for examples of what my classroom activities look like, so here is one we did in a teenage ESL classroom several years ago. Students were tasked with a creative and hands-on project that involved brainstorming ideas and deciding on a topic. They did so and decided on creating a TV commercial. The students, all between the ages of 13 and 17, went for a commercial for soap, and the project took them through a series of learning experiences that helped them build their language skills, as well as 21st century skills.

The brainstorming session was a great opportunity for everyone to practice their English skills as they worked together to come up with ideas. They discussed different aspects of soap-making, from choosing the ingredients to the actual process of making the soap. This allowed them to practice their listening and speaking skills, as well as their ability to work in a group.

After the brainstorming session, I would normally divide the students into smaller groups to work on different parts of the project, but as this already was a small group, they all did all the tasks, one after another. First they chose the ingredients, after the necessary research and comparing different options, practicing their reading and writing skills. Next they created a step-by-step guide on how to make the soap, which allowed them to practice their writing and organizational skills.

The real-life benefits of this project were numerous. Not only did the students practice their English skills, but they also gained experience in problem-solving, teamwork, and project management. They had to work together to come up with ideas and create a final product, which helped them develop their collaboration skills. They also had to research and organize information, which helped them build their research and critical thinking skills.

Finally, the students put their skills to the test as they created the actual video clip. This was a great opportunity for them to practice their creative skills, as they had to think of a concept, create a script, and then bring it to life on camera. They also had to work together to film the video, and even had some fun with the bloopers, which showed them the importance of perseverance and not being afraid to make mistakes.

In conclusion, this project was a fun and engaging way for the students to practice their English skills while also building their 21st century skills. It gave them a real-life experience of working on a project from start to finish, and allowed them to develop their problem-solving, teamwork, project management, research, critical thinking, collaboration, and creative skills. With academic coaching, the students were able to benefit even more from this experience, by improving their language skills, receiving personalized feedback, and learning in a supportive and encouraging environment.

This is the final product:

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