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E-mail correspondence project.
Boyar (Jerusalem, Israel) – Phillips Academy (Andover, USA)
Word Format
Teachers: Jack Pillemer (English) jackpil@013.net Peter L Drench (History & Social Science) pdrench@andover.edu
Dear Students,
You will be participating in an email project which is aimed to serve many different functions. Hopefully, at the end of it you will feel that it has been productive for you.
You will be writing a minimum of 6 letters (more if you wish) with your Israeli (Boyar School - Jerusalem)/ American (Phillips Academy - Andover) email partner over a period of approximately 2 months starting in the last week of September 2008.
Try to write at least one a week.
Each letter you write to your e-mail partner should relate to the issues and questions listed below, anything you feel like discussing and, of course, anything that was mentioned in the previous letters.
Some tips to make this project work smoothly and to make it particularly beneficial.
- Make sure you write/answer your e-mail at least once a week.
- If you are not getting a response, inform your teacher.
- Express your real thoughts and feelings and do not be judgmental.
- Ask questions. Lots! Be curious. Try to learn and understand.
- Write as accurately as you can. Don't allow yourself to fall into chat/email-type style. It is especially important for Israeli students to write and to read well-written English.
Enjoy!
Letter 1 – a little about me
Name? Age? Family? Interests? School? Hobbies? Pets? Sports? Social life? Dreams? Ambitions? Talents? Weaknesses? Favorite foods? Summer activities?
What makes you feel good? What gets on your nerves? What is going on in my country these days and how do you feel about it?
Send a photo of yourself.
Letter 1 Word format
Letter 2 – where I live now
What can you see from your window? (Now or from your home if you are not at home). Be specific.
What are the sights/sounds/smells etc. that you experience when you walk around your/neighborhood/town/city? What kinds of people live there? Who do you mix with? who don't you mix with? Why? What is "your home town" famous for? Is your neighborhood/town/city generally considered safe? Explain
Would you like to live there when you leave school? Why / why not?
- Respond to anything you wish in your partner's previous letter
Send some photos of your your/neighborhood/town/city
etter 2 Word format
Letter 3 – Military service
Who goes/ doesn't go to the army in your country? Do you have to serve? For how long?
Do you know (of) anyone presently in the army? Where are they serving? Why are they there? What are your thoughts about doing army service? Do you intend to serve in the army? Why/ Why not?
When do you feel proud to be an Israeli/American? When do you feel uncomfortable or embarrassed to be an Israeli/American?
What is the most recent piece of news in which your army was involved/mentioned?
Letter 4 – Others around us
Thinking about your class in school, how alike or different are the people from each other?
Religion? / Race? / Country of origin of parents/grandparents? /Culture? Language?/
What do think are the main conflicts and tensions in your country?
Who is in conflict with whom and why?
What do you imagine are the main conflicts and tensions in your partner's country?
Who is in conflict with whom and why?
Letter 5 – into the future
What are your plans for the next few years?
What do you think you are going to achieve in these years? What might help you achieve this? What might prevent you from achieving this?
Where would you like to travel outside your country? Why?
Where do you imagine yourself living? Would you consider living permanently outside Israel/ The USA? What lifestyle is important to you?
Letter 6 – Reflection
Look back over all the letters you have written.
Tell your email partner what was interesting or surprising in what he/she wrote.
Tell your email partner in what ways the two of you are similar? In what ways different?
What questions remain that you would like to find out about?
Do you think you gained from this e-mail contact? If so, what?
Is the contact likely to continue?
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