{"id":2184,"date":"2017-11-15T00:01:05","date_gmt":"2017-11-15T00:01:05","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/fulbridge.org\/w\/?p=2184"},"modified":"2017-10-26T11:39:50","modified_gmt":"2017-10-26T11:39:50","slug":"lesson-resource-of-the-month-pen-pals","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/fulbridge.org\/w\/lesson-resource-of-the-month-pen-pals\/","title":{"rendered":"Lesson Resource of the Month: Pen Pals"},"content":{"rendered":"

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Pen Pals <\/em>by multiple contributors<\/p>\n

Did you ever have a pen pal when you were younger? The decades-old practice of sending letters back and forth with a friend whom you may never have met in real life has faded out as we have moved deeper into the Age of the Internet, but many educators still try to incorporate pen pal programs into their classes in order to help students develop writing skills and learn about life in a different part of the world.<\/p>\n

As Fulbright ETAs, it\u2019s part of our job to act as cultural ambassadors and facilitate cross-cultural exchange. Pen pal programs are an appealing, effective way to work towards carrying out this goal, but setting up such a program can be a daunting task. Finding another class with which to work, editing student work, planning out a system for sending letters\u2014there are a lot of variables to consider. Fortunately, we at Fulbridge are here to help.<\/p>\n

If you\u2019re looking for a classroom with which to do a pen pal exchange, check out our map<\/u> providing details on ETAs in placements across the globe. Click on a pin to learn a little bit about an ETA, as well as find out if they are interested in doing a pen pal exchange or may be a good candidate for doing one with your classroom. (If you haven\u2019t already added your own pin to the map, please do so!) If you can\u2019t find a good fit on Fulbridge, consider searching on these websites as well:<\/p>\n

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  1. The Teacher\u2019s Corner<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    This website also features a map where you can find teachers interested in doing pen pal exchanges for their classes, or where you can advertise your own classes for an exchange.<\/em><\/p>\n

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    1. Pen Pal Schools<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

      Register to set your students up for a virtual exchange of ideas with students from across the world.<\/em><\/p>\n

      Even once you have found a classroom with which to do an exchange, though, you may still face a series of logistical challenges, as well as uncertainty as to how to effectively teach ESL lessons as part of your pen pal program. Past ETAs from various placements have gone through such difficulties, and below we have included descriptions of various programs they had enacted.<\/p>\n

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      1. General ideas from various Malaysia ETAs<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

        You can find general reflections on pen pal programs from 2011 \u2013 2012 Malaysia ETAs here<\/u><\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n

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        1. Pen Pal Postcard Project by Robert Haley (Taiwan ETA)<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

          You can find a presentation file explaining Robert\u2019s pen pal program here<\/u><\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n

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          1. Make a Postcard by Hillary Veitch (South Korea ETA)<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

            You can find Hillary\u2019s presentation on designing and writing a postcard here<\/u><\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n

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            1. Elementary Letter-Writing Lesson by Meghan Manning (South Korea ETA)<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

              You can find Meghan\u2019s lesson plan for a letter-writing activity with her gifted elementary school students here<\/u><\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n

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              1. Personal Letters Lesson contributed by an Indonesia ETA<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

                You can find materials for a lesson designed to teach secondary students how to write personal letters below:<\/em><\/p>\n