Output Activities for World Language Class

Output Activities Classroom Examples

Presentational Speaking

Presentational Speaking

Presentational Writing

Presentational Writing

Intermediate MidIntermediate High

Novice HighIntermediate Low

Intermediate Mid Intermediate High

Novice HighIntermediate Low

Study Abroad Essay

Animated Video

Mini-Research StudyBusiness/Product Pitch

Texting DialoguesClass Mascot Pitch For Sale

Interactive Fiction

Presentational Speaking

Novice High - Intermediate Low

Animated Video

Students create an animated video with pictures, words, and background music. The theme of the video is "Top 5 tips for..." which lends itself to list-like production, appropriate for novice-level learners.

Presentational Writing

Novice High - Intermediate Low

Texting Dialogues

Students will write a text-message conversation between two celebrities or characters. Most conversations consist of straightforward exchanges of information in the form of phrases and sentence fragments which can be extended to more complete sentences for the higher proficiency levels.

Presentational Writing

Novice High - Intermediate Low

Class Mascot Pitch

Each student nominates a class mascot to represent their class. It can be a real animal or a fantasy animal. A teacher-provided model not only helps learners understand the task at hand, but also provides words and expressions which students can use in their own pitches.

Presentational Writing

Novice High - Intermediate Low

For Sale

In this example, students write a description of an item for sale (clothes, collectibles, furniture, etc.). The teacher provides models for students to understand expectations, and to activate some of the linguistic knowledge needed to complete the task. This works best in an online discussion forum where students can read what others have posted and respond.

Presentational Speaking

Intermediate Mid - Intermediate High

Mini-Research Study

Students collect data through a survey and summarize results orally. This assignment can be tailored to any topic and adapted to the students' circumstances/opportunities. Unlike projects in which learners summarize others' findings, this task gives learners ownership over the information they are presenting..

Presentational Speaking

Intermediate Mid - Intermediate High

Business or Product Pitch

Students collect data through a survey and summarize results orally. This assignment can be tailored to any topic and adapted to the students' circumstances/opportunities. Unlike projects in which learners summarize others' findings, this task gives learners ownership over the information they are presenting..

Presentational Writing

Intermediate Mid - Intermediate High

Study Abroad Essay

A process approach to writing a personal essay, this activity guides learners as they craft, revise and polish essays about a chosen study abroad program, their ability to adjust to the challenges of living in another country, and how a particular study-abroad experience aligns with their professional and academic goals.

Presentational Writing

Intermediate Mid - Intermediate High

Interactive Fiction

This activity combines interactive fiction with fan fiction. Students will be extending a story (from a movie or reading) they have previously explored in class by creating a "choose your own adventure" version of it, where readers decide the fate of characters through a series of choices. This can be adapted to audiobook (with one storyline).

ACTFL Proficiency Descriptors: Presentational Language Use

Low-Mid-High

Low-Mid-High

Low-Mid-High

Advanced

Intermediate

Novice

Communicates information and expresses self with detail and organization on familiar and some new concrete topics using paragraphs.

Communicates information and expresses own thoughts about familiar topics using sentences and series of sentences.

Communicates information on very familiar topics using a variety of words, phrases and sentences that have been practiced and memorized.

ACTFL Performance Descriptors