In this activity, students listen to messages left on an answering machine in the target language and take notes. This activity is created for listening comprehension but extensions are included to make this a speaking assignment, also. This activity can be utlized at many different proficiency levels and for any spoken language. Included are ‘message’ templates for English, German and Spanish.

In this activity, students are asked to make a decision or take an opinion on a given topic then defend that choice to a like-minded partner. Ultimately, each student writes their two top reasons for making that decision or taking that opinion. A group spokesperson then orally summarizes the written reasons to the rest of the class. This activity is applicable for any written world language course. Included are suggestions for adapting and extending this performance task.

In this activity, teachers can learn how to set up inside and outside circles to serve as icebreakers, warm-ups or reviews of specific vocabulary or grammatical structures. This activity should be for short periods of time to get students to interact in the target language. The language structures can vary as can the cultural topic. The modalities include speaking and listening. This activity is applicable for any world language course. Included are suggestions for adapting and extending this performance task.

In this activity, students select and describe an item from another culture that has impacted the culture in the US. The student’s two minute oral presentation describing the item is followed by questions and answers between students and presenter. Cultural values are discussed. Included is a rubric for evaluating the oral presentation as well as extensions for other proficiency levels. This performance task could be used in any modern language course.

This activity focuses on the ability to invite, accept invitations, refuse invitations, politeness, persuasion and birthday celebrations. During the three stages, there is small group rehearsal and planning session, a role-played performance in front of the class, and whole class debriefing. The modalities include speaking and listening. This activity is applicable for any world language course. Included are suggestions for adapting and extending this performance task. Rubrics for scoring are provided as are additional role plays.

In this activity, students will write descriptions of guests who will be attending a wedding. The teacher hands out the descriptions to each student who asks and answers questions to find the mystery guest. Once each person has found their mystery guest, they must present them to the class explaining their likes, dislikes, residence, work, age, family, etc. The modalities include interpersonal communication as well as written and spoken presentational communication. This activity is applicable for any written world language course. Included are suggestions for adapting and extending this performance task as well as character descriptions for French, German and Spanish.