Potential Prereading Activities

Option 3: Preview the article

Possible questions to ask the learner:

• Why do you think this article is called "The Fine Art of Canadian Conversation"?
  Potential follow-up questions include:
  • What is art?
  • What is fine art?
  • Why could Canadian conversation be considered "fine art?"
• Take a look at the first sentence with your learner. ("When Malcolm Oliver moved his family to Canada from Bombay last fall, he knew landing work would be tough.")
  Potential question(s) to ask:
  
  • What do you think this article will be about?
    Other optional probing questions (should predicting be difficult): Who is Malcolm Oliver? Why would getting a job be difficult for him? Do you know anyone who is in a similar situation? Why is getting a job difficult for him or her?
• Take a look at the second sentence with your learner. ("But he didn't count on finding a culturally diverse workplace full of other newcomers also struggling to adjust to new jobs and lives.")
  Potential question(s) to ask:
  
  • How does this second sentence change what you think the article will be about?
    Other optional probing questions (should predicting be difficult): What was Malcolm Oliver surprised to find?
    

Addition to option 3:

Have your learner write prereading questions based on the preview.

Possible learner responses:

• Why is it difficult for Malcolm Oliver to find a job?
• Why are newcomers struggling to adjust to new jobs?
• How are newcomers struggling with new lives?