I got the idea for this activity from my colleague Pamela, who's been doing this for quite a while. I adapted it slightly into more of a worksheet and selected some particular essays for my students to listen to and take notes.
Pre-listening Discussion Questions
Talk about these questions in a group
- What is the difference between believing something/someone and believing in something/someone?
- What are some things that you believe?
- What are some things that you believe in?
- Why do you believe in them?
Browse the Titles
(Together as a class, look at the website, http://thisibelieve.org. Let’s look at the titles of some of the feature essays. What do you think they’ll talk about?
Listening & Note-taking
Essay #1: In Giving I Connect With Others
http://thisibelieve.org/essay/11/
First Listening
Just listen and then answer the following main idea questions.
1. Summarize her belief in one sentence.
2. Describe her background experience that led her to realize this belief in one sentence.
Second Listening: Take Notes
Write key phrases. Use the Cornell Note-taking method. Focus on these main ideas:
- Her daughter’s life
- Her own life
- Reflections
Reaction
Discuss your personal reaction to the essay. Is your belief similar or different?
Essay #2: A Taste of Success
http://thisibelieve.org/essay/52984/
Vocabulary
Bronx
Harlem
*Places in New York City where a lot of poor people live.
First Listening
Just listen and then answer the following main idea questions.
1. Summarize his belief in one sentence.
2. Describe his background experience that led him to realize this belief in one sentence.
Second Listening: Take Notes
Write key phrases. Use the Cornell Note-taking method. Focus on these main ideas:
- Work at a summer camp
- His own childhood/growing up
- Beliefs
Reaction
Discuss your personal reaction to the essay. Is your belief similar or different?
Essay #3: Unleashing the Power of Creativity and Intelligence
http://thisibelieve.org/essay/5/
First Listening
Just listen and then answer the following main idea questions.
1. Summarize his belief in one sentence.
2. Describe his background experience that led him to realize this belief in one sentence.
Second Listening: Take Notes
Write key phrases. Use the Cornell Note-taking method. Focus on these main ideas:
- Past Experiences
- What computers can do
Reaction
Discuss your personal reaction to the essay. Is your belief similar or different?
Essay #4: Asking the Right Questions
http://thisibelieve.org/essay/42143/
First Listening
Just listen and then answer the following main idea questions.
1. Summarize his belief in one sentence.
2. Describe his background experience that led him to realize this belief in one sentence.
Second Listening: Take Notes
Write key phrases. Use the Cornell Note-taking method. Focus on these main ideas:
- Past experiences
- Work success
- Safety in Chemistry
- Son, John
- Beliefs/Reflections
Reaction
Discuss your personal reaction to the essay. Is your belief similar or different?
Now, have students record their own This I Believe audio essays.
