AGE: 14-18 years, High school (In China, class of 45 students)

LEVEL: Intermediate-Advanced

TIME: 20 minutes

LANGUAGE FOCUS: colloquial vocabulary expansion, listening comprehension, word

connotation

SKILLS: Listening, speaking, writing

MATERIALS: a computer with internet capabilities, projector to show a clip, copies of the
attached worksheet for every student, a timer

OVERVIEW SNAPSHOT: students will understand word connotation and what this means for
communicative intent

STUDENTS WILL: be able to understand the importance of word connotation in their writing,
as well as communicative intent with body language and speech in person

PROCEDURE (20 minutes):

•   Students will see the following video and teacher will address any comprehension
questions students will have (5 minutes):
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LcM4zWiikKQ

•   Students will then fill out part one of the worksheet (5 minutes)

•   Students and teacher will then get back together and, as a class, talk about some of the
student’s answers. Teacher will then introduce the importance of non-verbal behaviors in
some communication. Teacher will also introduce ideas on writing, which does not have
non-verbal behaviors, and the importance of effective word use to convey meaning. (5
minutes)

•   Students will then fill part two of the worksheet attached, creating sentences using at least
3 words from each category (5 minutes)

•   Teacher will review the responses with the class by completing the connotation activity
on the board with the help of students (5 minutes)
 Writing a Letter for Chandler
PART ONE
Listening and Viewing Comprehension

1.   When Monica says, “well clearly, we were wrong!” after Joey became upset in being told
he is ‘low on words’, why does the audience think she’s using sarcasm? (Hint: Consider
if the audience interprets her body language)

2.   What did Joey do wrong in writing his letter? In other words, why are Chandler and
Monica unhappy about Chandler’s letter? Will the hiring committee for Chandler and
Monica understand Joey’s recommendation?

Opinion Questions

3.   What features do you think are important in a letter of recommendation? Why? Why
would using too many synonyms be detrimental to Joey’s writer’s voice?

4.   For communication in general, do you think body movement, or body language, is

important for effective expression? Is this different in person than through writing? Why?

5.   If you could give Joey advice about writing Chandler and Monica’s recommendation
letter, what advice would you give him?
PART TWO: WORD CONNOTATIONS
Directions: Circle the words in the following box that are positive, box the words that are neutral
and then put a star beside the ones that are negative!

nosy questioning interested

employ exploit use

thrifty saving stingy

steadfast stubborn tenacious

sated filled crammed

confident courageous conceited

unique different peculiar

picky selective meticulous

decrepit old vintage

happy elated manic

Now, use at least 3 words from each category to write a sentence:

1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

6.

7.

8.

9.
Answer key to part two:

Positive Connotation Neutral Connotation Negative Connotation

interested questioning nosy

employ use exploit

thrifty saving stingy

steadfast tenacious stubborn

sated filled crammed

courageous confident conceited

unique different peculiar

meticulous selective picky

vintage old decrepit

elated happy manic

Chart retrieved from: https://examples.yourdictionary.com/examples-­‐of-­‐connotative-­‐

words.html