CRISTINA DE VEGA

 This activity is comparing American reality shows which based their principles on health or “so-called health”.

BRAINSTORM

Spend some time with students presenting their ideas about reality shows they have or have not seen. In addition, I want to know their opinion about them. Also, it is good for them to come up with types of reality shows according to their previous knowledge.

BIG GROUP TASK

As a teacher, I will explain the history of the reality shows from the first MTV shows to all the ones we can see on TV right now like Survivor, Big Brother and all the ones about home renovations.

SMALL GROUP DISCUSSION

In their mixed- ability groups students will have to answer these questions by giving reasons not a simple answer:

“Do you think health is important? (why?)”; “how do you take care of health?”; “would you go to a reality show to do it?” “do you think food helps health?” “how much money can you spend on food?”

BIG GROUP

Watch the videos of “Biggest Loser” and “Extreme Couponing”

SMALL GROUP WORK

In their groups, students will fill in a table with different items for each video. They will have to fill in information about what they have seen on the videos (number of people, what they eat, what they do, who they talk to etc.). And most importantly, their opinion about it. We can distribute tasks among students if needed depending on their abilities.

BIG GROUP DEBATE

The class will be divided in two according to their opinions about these shows. We will have a debate about health, taking care of ourselves and the advantages and disadvantages of going to show to do that.

There will be another debate about the couponing and the addiction that that can create and if they see any benefits about it.

FINAL TASK

In the same groups, students will draw the final conclusions about these reality shows, also they will fill in a rubric in which they will reflect what they have learnt about and how to apply to their own lives.

This task is beneficial not only to learn about health and food; to learn English but also understand American culture and see it with their own eyes due to all the cultural references from them using pounds to having to add taxes to what they pay and them not being included.