Context

English is a language of global relevance, used as the main means of communication in various everyday situations, whether in personal or professional life. Mastering this language can open numerous doors, from new job opportunities to the possibility of studying at international universities. Furthermore, it makes communication with people from different parts of the world easier, contributing to the formation of a global citizen.

One of the fundamental skills in learning English is oral proficiency. Whether in a formal situation, such as a public presentation, or informal, like a conversation among friends, being able to express oneself clearly and coherently is an essential skill. Constant practice is one of the most effective methods to improve this skill, developing from pronunciation to fluency.

Introduction

In this didactic project, students will have the opportunity to deepen their oral proficiency in English through the development of a series of group activities. These activities encompass the simulation of real situations, debates on current topics, and presentations on different themes. In this way, students will be able to practice both oral interpretation and production, as well as develop teamwork, time management, and critical thinking skills.

We will not only seek the correct grammatical application, but also the ability to express ideas coherently and effectively, as well as to understand and respond appropriately to what others have said. Furthermore, this project also aims to develop the ability to conduct research in English, as the preparation of activities will require searching for and understanding materials in this language.

Practical Activity: UN Simulation - Debates on Global Topics in English

Project Objective

The main objective of this project is to enhance students' oral communication skills in English through the simulation of debates at the United Nations (UN). This will provide students with practice in the English language in a scenario of decision-making and negotiation, involving research, teamwork, critical thinking, argumentation, and presentation skills.

Detailed Project Description

This project will be carried out in three stages.

Stage 1: Each team will be assigned a country and a global topic by the teacher. The topics can range from development issues, human rights, climate change, global security, among others.

Stage 2: Each team will conduct in-depth research on their topic and how this issue affects their country. They should seek to understand the political, economic, and social positions of the country on the topic and how the country has addressed the issue in the past. In addition to the resources indicated by the teacher (BBC Learning English, TED Talks, Cambridge English, British Council), they are free to use reliable sources of information to deepen their knowledge.

Stage 3: The teams will participate in a simulation of a UN meeting where they will discuss their topic, representing the viewpoints of their assigned countries. They will need to negotiate, argue, ask questions, and respond to questions from other groups in English.

Necessary Materials

1. Internet access for research.
2. Computer or laptop for preparing notes and presentations.
3. Materials for conducting presentations (depending on the format chosen by the team).

Detailed Step-by-Step for Activity Execution

1. The teacher assigns each team a country and debate topic.

2. Teams begin researching their country and topic, preparing a summary of the current situation and the country's historical positions on the issue.

3. Teams must prepare a 10 to 15-minute speech in English, presenting the country's position on the issue. The speech should be clear, coherent, and persuasive.

4. After all presentations, each team will have the opportunity to ask questions and respond to questions from other groups.

5. Teams should then prepare a project report, which includes: introduction, development, conclusions, and bibliography used.

Project Deliverables

At the end of the project, students must deliver:

1. Oral Presentation: Teams must present, in English, the country's position on the selected issue. This presentation must be recorded and sent to the teacher.

2. Written Document: A report documenting the entire project process. The structure of the report should be as follows:

• Introduction: An introduction to the country and the selected topic, including the relevance of the topic in the global context and the reason why it was chosen for the project.

• Development: A detailed discussion of the research process and preparation of the presentation. This should include the theory behind the central themes of the project, the methodology used in research and preparation of the presentation, and the results obtained.

• Conclusion: The lessons learned during the project, conclusions on the topic, and how the team dealt with the task of representing their country.

• Bibliography: All sources of information used in the project, including books, web pages, videos, etc.