Giving thanks is a globally recognized act that connects humanity, and while different cultures have unique ways of expressing gratitude, the benefits for students and teachers are well-proven. Here are some ideas for engaging activities designed to help language learners appreciate the diverse ways gratitude is expressed, while encouraging personal reflection and meaningful connections both in and beyond the classroom.
- Gratitude Map
Print out a world map to hang on the wall in the classroom and allow students to choose a country to research by placing a pin with their name on it. Students should focus their investigations on how the people of their chosen country express gratitude and if there are any celebrations or festivals dedicated to giving thanks, such as the Erntedankfest in Germany. Students can present the information they learn in various ways, such as a poster, multimedia presentation, or a video.
- Thank You Notes
Sending a thank you card is a common tradition not only in the United States, but also in many Asian countries and in Europe. As a class, discuss if sending thank you notes is a customary tradition for students’ families and other ways we might offer gratitude. Then, have students brainstorm ideas about who they would want to give a thank you card to and why. After discussing, provide students with vocabulary and phrases of gratitude used in the target language. How are these expressions similar to and different from the terms used in English? Finally, provide materials for making thank you notes and help students deliver them if possible.
- Feast of Thanks
Offering thanks at mealtime is a custom that spans cultures and religions. People across the globe recognize that food nourishes the body and that sharing a meal with others strengthens bonds. As a class, have students research the customs surrounding meals and giving thanks in the target culture. Students can then bring in a snack or typical dish to share with each other and practice the traditions of gratitude they learned about.
- Gratitude Journal
Finally, keeping a gratitude journal in the target language is a perfect way to build vocabulary, improve fluency, and practice writing in a low-pressure situation. Journaling can also be done as a class for a collaborative project. Create a bulletin board dedicated to gratitude by providing sticky notes and markers so that students can write one thing they are thankful for in the target language.
By Kelli Drummer-Avendano
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