Here’s a good level 1 script that can be embellished for upper levels. It’s from Anne Matava:
needs
store/saleslady/man
doesn’t understand
Sebastian is on vacation in China. He needs a razor. He goes to a cheese store. (He doesn’t know that it’s a cheese store; he doesn’t understand Chinese.) He says to the saleslady, “I need a razor!” The saleslady doesn’t understand French (or whatever language you are teaching.) She gives him some Camembert. Sebastian says, “But I don’t need Camembert ! I need a razor!” The saleslady doesn’t understand. Sebastian leaves the cheese store.
He goes to a shoe store. He doesn’t know that it’s a shoe store; he doesn’t understand Chinese. He says to the salesman, “I need a razor!” The salesman doesn’t understand French. He gives Sebastian a pair of purple stiletto heels. Sebastian says, “But I don’t need shoes! I need a razor!” He leaves the shoe store.
Location #3 is up to you and your students.
Note: Have your boy stand in front of the store trying to read the sign during the part where you say, “He doesn’t know that it’s a cheese store because he doesn’t understand Chinese.” It is of course hokey, because after all your boy could look around and see the cheese. But if nothing else, by now our students will have learned suspension of disbelief.
The Problem with CI
Jeffrey Sachs was asked what the difference between people in Norway and in the U.S. was. He responded that people in Norway are happy and
