Meaning of First Names - Teacher's Guide

Introduction

The lesson deals with the meaning of first names in different languages, cultures and countries. The lesson offers alternative activities for two of its stages (stages "c" and "d"), thus catering to different learning styles.

Level

The lesson is suitable for intermediate EFL students.

Description:

In this lesson, students can learn about the meaning of their own first names, submit their first names to a Names Database, view other names in other languages having the same meaning as their own names, and then write an explanation of their findings through an online form.

Outcome

1. A multi-cultural, multi-lingual first names database will evolve from this lesson.
2. Participants will write full sentences about the meanings of their first names, publish them on the web and read other participants' sentences.
3. Students will participate in a closing discussion about the meanings of first names and the results of the voting.

Objectives

1. to motivate students to engage in simple research, writing, reading and comparing through involvement in something that interests them personally
2. to create a multi-cultural and global collaborative environment for EFL students and to stimulate awareness of cultural and language differences and similarities
3. to provide an opportunity for authentic language use
4. to allow students to experience online interactivity by means of submitting forms and sending email messages

Curriculum Benchmarks

Students
1. give and receive information in writing (Social Interaction)
2. extract relevant information for a specific purpose from different sources (Access to Information)
3. react to the content of something read, seen or heard (Presentation)
4. compare different cultural practices, behaviors and traditions with their own(Appreciation)

Detailed Description

1. Students find out information about the meaning of their own first name using links to relevant sites.
2. Participants submit their own first names to a Names Database (including minimal information such as meaning of name, language, interesting information about their name, country)
   Teachers should encourage their students to fill in all the fields on the form.
3. Students can do either or both of these activities:
   • access the first names database and find information about other students' first names. Or,
   • students can view the GuestMap and submit their names and name details graphically on a world map
4. Students can do either or both of these activities:
   • fill in a form explaining what they have found out about their names in relation to the other names on the database. These are the questions they answer in full sentences:
     1. How many people besides you have the same name as you?
     2. What countries do they come from?
     3. What other names have the same meaning as yours?
     4. How does the meaning of your name suit your character?
     5. What did you learn about your name from this lesson?
     6. What else would you like to learn about your name?
     7. What city/country do you come from?
     Or,
   • take part in a vote about First Names. Students can cast their votes by answering four questions about their first names and meanings of their first names.
5. Students read what other students have written and then discuss their findings with the rest of the class. The participants' contributions will comprise a multi-cultural, multi-lingual database of first names and meanings. Their answers to the above questions will be read by other students and discussed in class in a closing lesson.

Assessment

The students assess themselves using checklists and rubrics for each activity.

Participation

Access the project site and follow the instructions. Join the teachers' email list for teacher collaboration or Email Ora. Include in the email
1. Your name
2. Your personal E-mail address
3. Your school and school location
4. A list of the first names of your class.
5. The E-mail address your class will use to send and receive messages
6. Grade Level(s) involved

Project Work

This online lesson can be the beginning of a larger scale class project connected to the meaning of first names. Here are some ideas:
• Common first names in a certain culture/country
• "The first name behind the song" - First names in lyrics and their stories
• Genealogy
• How people name their pets
• etc.

Comments

In order to ensure child-safety in this online lesson, students submit their first names only and no contact information. However, it would be nice for students having the same first names or the same name meanings as other students to be able to correspond with each other as penpals. For this purpose, teachers using the database with their students should send a list of their students containing first names only and country and a contact address to orabaum@hotmail.com or to www.topica.com/lists/firstnames so as to promote collaboration.

Teacher Evaluation

Back to Meaning of First Names Project

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© Ora Baumgarten 2003