Most Internet users have probably used some kind of avatar at some point. To tell you the truth, I've never been fond of 'flashy' avatars. My avatars have always consisted of either my own picture, in more 'professional' contexts, or some gaming-related image, as I really like gaming. Sometimes, I would pick a character from I movie I liked.
Anyway, I tried out some avatar creation websites just for fun, and these were my results:
These avatars were created using the official Monsters University site and the official South Park site. Cool, right?
Using these websites with our students could be an interesting way of introducing vocabulary related to the body, and also to clothes and accessories. It would certainly be a more innovative and memorable way of working with these vocabulary areas, since students will probably remember their own creations and the vocabulary associated with them very well.
Update:
Here are some ideas for activities involving avatars.
- Introduce yourself. Students write a brief description of themselves in digital format, which may or may not include a physical description. They could add an avatar next to it. This activity could be used with students of any level, but it would probably be ideal for beginners.
- Guessing game. Students create their own avatars and then exchange them with their classmates; each student should get one. Nobody should know who the avatars belong to. The idea is to guess who the avatar portrays by speculating, using modals (that is why this should be used from intermediate level onwards) and they will also need to know some vocabulary related to the body and clothes.
- Create an avatar based on a given description. I've thought two versions of this activity. The teacher could provide a written description of a person and students should create an avatar based on it. However, the students themselves could write the descriptions and exchange them with their classmates after getting feedback from the teacher; they would then create an avatar based on the description they got.
I hope you find these ideas useful!
Hi there!,
ReplyDeleteI love the layout and the design of the blog!,
Regarding the post itself, I agree with you that an activity using avatars would be memorable for the students. What is more, I think that these kind of activities could be done with young students, since the avatar making process is not do complicated.
I've already taught the topic to my students, but I may be using an activity with avatars as revision for the end of year exam... I'll let you know how it goes,
Take care,
Thanks for your comment! I have updated the post with some specific examples of activities. Perhaps they could be of use to you.
DeleteYes, do let me know!
See you
Hi Sofi!
ReplyDeleteI found your guessing game very interesting, I would make students move around the class and you can even make them share with the group how they found out, for example: Because I know this classmate loves South Park, or because the avatar is brunette as my classmate.
And the one based on the description is very interesting as well, I thought of it the other way around!
See you in class!
You are right; the third activity I mentioned could be done the other way around!
DeleteThanks for commenting.
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Hi Sofia!
ReplyDeleteThe guessing game and the avatar creation based on a giving description sound very appealing! I think this is a great idea to work with descriptions!
See you!
Thanks! I'm glad you liked them.
DeleteSee you
Hi Sofia, I found all the activities you suggested are appealing and creative and especially appropriate to work with younger learners or beginners.
ReplyDeleteThanks!
DeleteSee you!
Hi Sofia! I found the guessing game very interesting.
ReplyDeleteI really like your avatars, especially the one you've created with the official Monsters University site.
See you!
Wow! I love your avatars because I also like Monsters Inc. and Monsters University! And the activities you proposed are really interesting!
ReplyDelete