План урока английского языка "How To Overcome Test Anxiety", 11 класс, УМК Биболетова

LESSON PLAN

TOPIC: Preparing for Exams: How to Overcome Test Anxiety

GRADE: 11

COURSE BOOK: Enjoy English by Merem Biboletova, Elena Babushis and Nadezhda Snezhko

PROCEDURE

I.                    Introduction. The objectives of the lesson.

II.                 Warm up. Speaking. How do you feel before exams? (WB – ex. 1, p. 32)
Ss make some sentences describing their feelings before exams. They use the words given in the Workbook (excited, frightened, terrified, depressed, thrilled, puzzled, worried, anxious, nervous, uneasy, tense, indifferent, calm).
Vocabulary extension: Heebie-jeebies, I have butterflies in my stomach, to have ants in ones’s pants, nausea, I’m going to vomit=to puke, dizziness.

III.              Vocabulary work. To activate the known vocabulary and to expand the vocabulary connected with exams. (WB – ex. 3, p. 33). Ss put the given words and phrases into three columns.

Types of exams	Students’ exam-related actions	Exam-related people or things
test	sit an exam	exam questions
computer-based exam	take an exam	exam board
internet-based exam	pass an exam	exam results
pen and paper exam	fail an exam	exam papers
quiz	study for an exam	exam supervisor
oral exam	read for an exam
written exam	cram for an exam
finals
entrance exam

IV.              Writing. Short discussion. (WB – ex. 2, p. 32) – 5-6 min for writing + 1-2 min for reading out. Ss write a short paragraph describing their pre-exam feelings. They have the beginning: Most people worry about their exam results and it makes them feel nervous and even depressed before any test. As for me, ….
After having written their ideas, 2-3 Ss read out their passage.
Ask the rest of the Ss whether they agree/disagree with their classmates, feel the same or different.

V.                Reading. Quiz “What type of student are you?”
Ss do the quiz (SB – ex. 75, p. 66) to find out what kind of student they are – a relaxed student, a tense and fearful student or a perfectionist.

VI.              Discussion. Do you agree with the results of the quiz?

VII.           Reading. (SB – ex. 76, p. 67-68) Ss read recommendations for different types of students and pick out the most useful advice.

VIII.        Listening and Watching the Video. Listening for the main idea.
What experiment was held with the students of world journalism department?

IX.              Listening. Taking notes. Psychologist’s advice on how to overcome test anxiety (cross-curricular links with biology and physiology). The objective of the video is to show Ss how our bodies react in the situation of exams and stress from the point of view of physiology. Ss watch and take notes (What advice would you like to follow? What kind of information was the most exciting and new for you?)

X.                 Short discussion. Do you know any other ways of relaxing before and during exams?

XI.             Summary of the lesson. Speaking.

XII.           Home Assignment. Ss are to 1) compare written and oral exams and to complete the passage given in their Workbooks (WB – ex. 7, p. 34); 2) read and take notes (handouts – Tips for educing Test Anxiety)

TIPS FOR REDUCING TEST ANXIETY

By Wayne Hurr, Ph.D.
College Psychologist

            Most students who take a test experience some anxiety. But for some students, the feeling is so intense that it affects their performance. Anxiety can cause difficulty in concentration and prevent us from recalling material that we have learned. A student who is experiencing test anxiety may do poorly on an exam even if he or she knows the material better than a classmate who is able to control anxiety. However, there are things that each of us can do to prevent and counteract test anxiety:

1.      Get a good night's rest before the exam. Don't try to stay up all night by taking caffeine or drugs. You are likely to feel tired, irritable, and distracted by the time of the exam. 

2.      Eat moderate breakfast or lunch but avoid drinks with caffeine.

3.      Steer clear of fellow students who get tense. Panic is contagious.

4.      Get to the exam room a few minutes early so you will have a chance to familiarize yourself with the surroundings.

5.      Budget your time. Estimate how much time you have to answer each question. If some questions are worth more points than others, plan to spend more time answering them. 

6.      Answer the easiest questions first. Mark difficult items and return to them after. Don't dwell on any particular question. You may come up with the answer as you work on a different question. 

7.      Make a brief outline. On essay questions, instead of plunging right in, take a few minutes to organize your thoughts, make a brief outline and then start off with a summary sentence.

8.      Don't create disastrous scenarios for yourself or put your whole future on the line with a single test. It is unlikely that one test will "make or break" your chances for a happy or successful future. Learn to imagine yourself remaining calm and in control. Use your imagination in a positive way and cast yourself in the role of a winner, not a loser.

9.      Learn to recognize the underlying causes of your anxiety. Think about why you become anxious. Recognize that some thoughts are negative and self-defeating. For each emotional, frightening thought, come up with a rational counter-thought.

10.  Practice relaxation techniques.  If your mind is blocked by tension during an exam, close you eyes, take a long, deep breath, and then let it out slowly. Concentrate on your breathing and actually feel or hear yourself breathe. Don't allow yourself to worry about the time, test, or tension. 

            Repeat this twice, then return to the test.

            Some students may find muscle tension-relaxation exercises helpful. If before or during a test you start to panic, stretch as hard as you can, tensing the muscles in your arms and legs, then suddenly relax all of them. This will help relieve tension. If you have more time, tighten and then relax the different muscle groups and then relax those muscles for 10-20 seconds. Follow the same procedure for muscles in your shoulders, neck, chest, abdomen, legs, feet, etc. Remember to breathe deeply and slowly. Relaxation techniques are most effective when they are used on a regular daily basis as a preventative measure. It is therefore recommended that students use them before exams. 

http://www.studygs.net/tstprp8.htm

http://www3.georgetown.edu/student-affairs/caps/pages/reducingtestanxiety.html

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/education-19895531