El Chavo

 Fun listening activity

 Easy substitute plan
 Short description of the show and
characters
 Worksheet for students to fill out
 Teacher Information
El Chavo del Ocho, often shortened to El Chavo, is a Mexican television sitcom created by Roberto Gómez Bolaños. El
Chavo became a television series in 1973 and aired until 1992, becoming one of the most popular television programs in
the world.

The show follows the life and tribulations of Chavo who is the main character, a poor orphan child that lives in a barrel in
the courtyard of a Mexican housing complex, called la vecindad. He is accompanied by a cast of neighbors, children, and
other characters.

In each episode Chavo tries to do the right thing but somehow it doesn’t work out. He spends the episode trying to fix
the mistakes he makes and it always turns into a crazy adventure.

Don Ramon
Here are some tidbits on the characters:
Doña Florinda Cloti
Don Ramon Jaimito
Sr. Barriga is the owner of the apartment
complex.

Noño is the son of Sr. Barriga and is very spoiled!

Godi and Popis are children who like to play in

the court yard and live in the complex.

Doña Flori (Florinda) lives in the complex and is a

single mother and also in love with the
professor!

Quico is the son of Doña Flori and he is a

“mamas” boy.

Don Ramon also lives in the complex and is Quico

Chavo Godi
always very grumpy!! Noño
Popis
Sr. Barriga
Cloti is a grumpy older lady and doesn’t like the
children playing in the courtyard.
Remember that you are in the beginning
Jaimito is the mailman and very clueless to what stages of learning a language. Use this
is going on around him. time to practice your listening skills. You
are not expected to know every word
El Chavo: is an orphan boy who lives in a barrel
they are saying! You are to try your very
in the courtyard of the complex.
best!
Name: Class period: Date:

Episode title:

What is the main theme of this episode? How do you know? (evidence)

What is the problem/conflict?

Who is involved in the problem/conflict?

How does it get resolved?

Can you identify with any of these characters?



Name: Class period: Date:

Episode title:

What is the main theme of this episode? How do you know? (evidence)

What is the problem/conflict?

Who is involved in the problem/conflict?

How does it get resolved?

Can you identify with any of these characters?

Nombre: Clase: Fecha:

Título del episodio:

¿Cuál es la tema central del episodio? ¿Cómo sabe? (evidencia)

¿Cuál es el problema/conflicto?

¿Quién está involucrado en el problema/conflicto?

¿Cómo se resuelve?

¿Puedes identificar con uno de los personajes?



Nombre: Clase: Fecha:

Título del episodio:

¿Cuál es la tema central del episodio? ¿Cómo sabe? (evidencia)

¿Cuál es el problema/conflicto?

¿Quién está involucrado en el problema/conflicto?

¿Cómo se resuelve?

¿Puedes identificar con uno de los personajes?

Teacher information:

When I was growing up I watched El Chavo del Ocho (orginal series) and enjoyed it very much! Years later
when I started teaching sixth grade I needed a fun listening activity that they could relate with and keep their
attention! I discovered that now El Chavo del Ocho came in a cartoon version! Wow! I was excited! I first
played one of the episodes from youtube to see if my students would respond to it. They loved it! I started
ordering the series on DVD through amazon and one lead to another and before long I had most of the series!

My students wanted to watch them all the time but I limited to one/two episodes after a unit test. I picked
episodes that related to the unit (food, sports, friendships) that we just tested over. I also used it for extra
filler time when I had a substitute and needed something for 20 minutes.

What works best for students is to explain the show and the characters even before starting the first episode
that way they have some background information and it makes it easier for them. The first few times, they are
a little frustrated because they are talking fast but I remind them to relax, keep their ears open, look at the
clues in the video and the goal is to get the “jist” of the story – not to understand EVERY word. As the year
goes on, they will understand more and more! Before long they are watching it at home on one of the Spanish
stations.

I’ve also use these videos with intermediate level classes but the tasks I give them are more detailed. Here are
some of the ways I have used episodes:

 Pick a character and describe him/her using the verb ser and adjectives (physical descriptions and
personality)
 Select two characters and describe what they are wearing (include colors, sizes and other details)
 Write a summary of the episode for TV Guide including the plot, conflict and resolution.
 Create a dating profile for one of the characters in the show and include their likes and dislikes, what
they are looking for in a person and a short biography.

My upper level students who have watched El Chavo throughout the years still want to do activities with El
Chavo. Sometimes the task I will give them has to do with a senerio with El Chavo. For example:

 Using a cardboard box design El Chavo’s dream home and write a paragraph describing it using future
tense.
 Describe the relationship between two characters in the show.
 El Chavo trivia questions – for conversation practice.
 Write your own epsidose of El Chavo. (Include plot, dilemma and solution)

I hope all this information is helpful for you and your students. I would love to hear about any other ideas you
may have about using El Chavo cartoon videos in the classroom to reinforce listening.
 Thank you for purchasing this product. I also have beginning Spanish games, posters,
worksheets and more on my site. New products are posted often so keep checking back! All my
products have been used in my classroom and approved by my students!

These products can be used in the classroom. Individual teachers have permission to make
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El Chavo images from the following websites:

http://www.taringa.net/posts/noticias/16196514/Venden-el-barril-del-chavo-del-ocho.html

http://www.top10de.com/los-10-mejores-personajes-del-chavo-del-ocho/

http://imagenpng.com/el-chavo-del-ocho-animado-png/