Prezi Presentation

I believe the dream of any World Language teacher is to take students to a country where the language is spoken.  There they can hear it being used, see it in print, feel what it is like to interact with it.  That ability to connect with not only the language, but the culture from which it comes is crucial to motivating students to mastering a second language.  As Gardner states, “…education must be lifelong.” (p. 9)  Learning another language as well as learning about other cultures, peoples, traditions, and ways of life are tangible resources that anyone may have to call upon in the future.  As the world becomes smaller and we become more connected through technology, the Web, and social media it is crucial that we understand the ways others view life.  “When no group can remain isolated from the rest of the world, respect for those of a different background and appearance becomes vital, even essential, rather than simply a polite option” (Gardner, 11).  But the blatant reality is that it is not possible to take all of my students somewhere.  I must bring those cultures and the language to them.

This was my first attempt at using Prezi.  Wow!  After much experimentation, it all clicked and I realized what an amazing presentation tool this was.  For this assignment, I created a Prezi on bullfighting.  In the past I would print out a short packet with a written description of a bullfight that we would read aloud as a class and then post a few pictures on a power point.  Students sat and listened while I simply regurgitated the information.  There was no interaction. With Prezi and the ability to embed video, sound, text, and images I was able to create a step by step interactive presentation that enables the viewer to feel as if he is sitting right there watching the fight in Spain.   In discussing the disciplined mind, Gardner suggests “Any lesson is more likely to be understood if it has been approached through diverse entry points” (p. 33).  Prezi enables me to present the content through a variety of inputs.  Bullfighting is not a particularly pleasant topic to study, but hopefully through this presentation my students will develop a deeper understanding of the culture behind it and a respect for the tradition; not necessarily the act.  I will use this project as a cultural catalyst because I agree with Gardner that students should enjoy and become passionate about the process of learning about the world (2006).

I see Prezi as a wonderful tool for students to present their synthesized understanding of a particular topic.  Gardner’s components of an effective synthesis form the perfect outline for students to follow:  state your goal, start by connecting it to something familiar, select your approach to share the information, confirm through feedback that your goal was met (pgs. 51-52).  I am now eager to return to the classroom next year to share this with my students. 

 

Resources:

Gardner, H. (2006). Five minds for the future. Boston, MA: Harvard University Press.

Here is the link to my Prezi Presentation.


Bullfighting