Worldchat Tips

This section offers tips and tricks to help you get setup and use the pedagogical platform effectively.

Video

• Do not use other applications at the same time as being on Worldchat

• Worldchat.live works best on Google Chrome (https://www.google.com/intl/en_ca/chrome/)

Finding a teacher partner

• Try to have groups that are at a similar level
• Communicate using the message option to find out common interests and pedagogical philosophy
• Have a video meeting through the Worldchat video platform to touch base
• Be very clear and specific on the pedagogical objectives of your collaboration, including rules and guidelines that are important to you

Device

• Whenever possible, use Worldchat on a computer

Pedagogy

Before matching students

• Introduce the culture and country you are matched with
• Have a few groups of students do research on their own and present their findings to the class
• Explain Worldchat and make the zero tolerance policy very clear (including the possibility that a user be reported)

Matching students

• Match students manually, based on their skills and personality traits (e.g. a more talkative student with one who tends to keep to themselves)
• If you prefer, there is also an option for the system to randomly match students

Before students' first video meeting

• Ask them to communicate with their partner via the messaging option on the platform at least once. This will establish contact and help more anxious students gain confidence.

After students' weekly meetings

• Have students summarize what they have learned during their weekly conversation (either in a written or verbal form)

• Ask them to highlight X new words and expressions they have learned during their weekly meetings

• Have students watch the video recording of their conversation and write up key elements they did well and wish to improve (pronounciation, flow, word choice, and so on)

Weekly conversation topics ideas

· Narration of past actions and events

· Geographical features and animal species

· Tell and write a story

· Discussing facts about water

· Environmental problems and projects

· Healthy eating habits

· Expressing an opinion

· And so forth...

Week 1 Self-introduction

1. What is your name? 
   

2. Where is your hometown? 
   

3. Do you have any siblings? 
   

4. Do you have any pets? 
   

5. What are your hobbies? 
   

6. Find five things you have in common.

7. What do you want to do after you finish school? 
   

8. How has covid-19 changed your lifestyle? 
   

9. Free talk
   

Week 2 Landscapes

1. How many seasons are there where you live? 
   

2. What is the average temperature per season? 
   

3. What can we see in your hometown ? (rivers, mountains, ocean, fields, etc.) 
   

4. What kind of farm animals are there where you live? 
   

5. What kind of wild animals are there where you live? 
   

6. What kind of fish are there where you live? 
   

7. What are some famous places to see? (historic monuments, etc.) 
   

8. What is your favorite place and why? 
   

9. What is your hometown famous for?

10. Free talk.
    

Week 3 Education

1. How many levels of education are there in your school system? (from kindergarten to university) 
   

2. Do you have to greet your teacher? 
   

3. What happens if you don’t follow the rules? 
   

4. What subjects do you study in school? (mandatory and optional) 
   

5. Do you know about homeschooling and unschooling? What do you think about it? 
   

6. On average, how many students are there per class? 
   

7. What subjects do you like in school? 
   

8. What extracurricular activities do you often have in your school?

9. Free talk.
   

Week 4 Food

1. What kind of food do you like? 
   

2. What are some typical food and dishes in your country? 
   

3. How many meals per day do you eat? Do you always eat with your family? 
   

4. What do you like to eat for breakfast? 
   

5. Do you eat sweets or dessert? 
   

6. Are there any vegetarians or vegans in your family or social circle? 
   

7. Can you cook well? Do you have a specialty? 
   

8. Do you often eat out or eat at home? Do you like eating out? Why?

9. Free talk.
   

Week 5 Festivals and holidays

1. How many provinces are there in your country? 
   

2. Are the holidays and festivals the same everywhere? (federal, provincial, municipal) 
   

3. Do you like festivals? What kind of festivals do you enjoy (music, cultural, etc.), and what do you like about them? 
   

4. What are some popular festivals where you live? What happens during those festivals? 
   

5. What are some holidays where you live? 
   

6. How long does your summer vacation last? 
   

7. Do you have a school vacation in the winter? How long does it last? 
   

8. What do you like to do during your vacation days and the holidays? 
   

9. Free talk.
   

Week 6 Environment

1. How is the environment in your neighborhood? 
   

2. What are some of the most serious environmental problems in your country? 
   

3. What will happen if we keep polluting the environment? 
   

4. What is your opinion about climate change? 
   

5. What are the causes of the environmental pollution?  
   

6. What are some things that your community is doing to help the environment?  
   

7. What can you do to make this world a better place? 
   

8. Have you ever taken part in protecting the environment? If yes, tell me about it?

9. Free talk