Going around Lisbon

A Travel Guide

A WebQuest for  EFL Students

by Cristina Costa

 

 

                           

 

Introduction Task Resources Process Evaluation Conclusion

 

Credits & References

 

Teacher's Page

 

 

 

 

 

Introduction

Who has never thought about travelling to a foreign country and getting to know a different culture, being in touch with another reality, experiencing new habits and customs? Isn’t that everyone’s dream? Travelling can be a quite remarkable event, which can provide one with a better understanding of other people and their traditions. To have a better insight of what it is like to be a citizen of the countries one visits, there is nothing like trying to live like one. It is like the saying “when in Rome do as the Romans do!”

 

 

 

 

Task

A Canadian family is thinking about settling in Portugal. They are coming to Lisbon for a two-week period to get to know the city. It is their first time in the country and they don’t have the slightest clue about how everything is around here. The only thing they know is that they want to make their very first trip to Portugal an unforgettable experience and make a decision about their moving to Portugal.  You task is to provide them with an insight of the city and of what it has to offer. You will create a travel guide for that same purpose, focusing on some of the aspects you find more relevant for touristic purposes. Also make sure to provide tips and  advice about the city of Lisbon and Portuguese traditions.

The family has emailed us a message introducing themselves and asking for our help. You might want to have a look at it to decide on your tasks.

 

 

 

 

Process

 

 

 

Step 1

Form groups of 3-4 students and decide your roles according to the email. Each group will be assigned one role. One group will be the history experts, another one the art experts, another one the meteorologist/tour experts and the other the food experts.

 

As a group go through the resource links provided above and brainstorm about some ideas you might get about your role in the task and discuss them with the rest of the group. Each group must come up with 4 items related with its topic (one item per week)

 

 

 

 

Step 2

As a group gather the information and transform what you got on your weekly item into a webpage. (week1-4)

 

 

 

 

Step 3

The group members work collaboratively on some typical Portuguese words and expressions concerning their topic. Then they will translate them and finally record them in an audio format (MP3), so as to create a small Podtionary.

 

 

 

 

Step 4

Each group will collect images about their topic and write a small sentence or two to go with it. A photostory will then be the ultimate result of this mini-task.

 

 

 

 

Step 5

All the compiled information will be used and formatted to create a Wiki. The link of the wiki will then be sent to the family within an email written by the members of the groups. 

 

 

 

Resources

 

Historic aspects

http://www.strawberryworld-lisbon.com/lisbon/index.html

http://www.cm-lisboa.pt/

http://lisboa.kpnqwest.pt/p/cidade/cidade.html

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lisbon

 

Arts aspects

·         Museums

http://www.strawberryworld-lisbon.com/lisboa/places/museums.html

http://www.lapapalace.com/web/olis/olis_c5c_museums.jsp

http://lisboa.kpnqwest.pt/i/cidade/museus.html

http://www.portugalvirtual.pt/0/8361dat1.html

http://www.10best.com/Lisbon/Sights_&_Activities/Museums/

·         Music

http://www.insideworldmusic.com/cs/portugal.htm

http://cotonete.clix.pt/destaques/musica_portuguesa/index.asp

http://www.instituto-camoes.pt/noticias/noticia164.htm 

 

Weather/city tour

·         City Tours

http://www.sunnytours-pt.com/

http://www.cellartours.com/portugal/wine-tours/lisbon-tasting.html

http://www.askmelisboa.com/broad/tabelas/tab_lxcard_uk.htm

http://www.realadventures.com/listings/1024832.htm

http://www.travellady.com/Issues/Issue67/67Y-lisbon.htm

http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Portugal/Lisbon/blog-14951.html

 

·         Weather Forecast

http://www.wunderground.com/global/stations/08536.html

http://weather.cnn.com/weather/forecast.jsp?locCode=LPPT

 

Gastromony / restaurants

 ·         Recipes

http://www.portugalvirtual.pt/80drinkeat/

http://www.cellartours.com/portugal/portuguese-gastronomy.html

http://www.portugal.gastronomias.com/

·         Restaurants

http://lisboa.kpnqwest.pt/p/lisboa.html

http://www.gastronomias.com/restaurantes/lisboa-vale.htm

 

 

 

 

Evaluation

Your grade will based on the following criteria:

 

 

Grading Criteria

 

 Beginning

1 point

 

Developing

2 points

 

Accomplished 3 points

 

Exemplary

4 points

Step 2

 

Gather information about the topic and write small texts about it

Basic description of the item assigned. No additional, personalized information about the topic.

Lack of creativity.

Enough description about the topic to provide a general insight about it. Poor additional, personalized information about the topic.

Shows low standards of  creativity.

Good description about the topic, providing a good insight about it. Some additional, personalized information about the topic.

Shows good standards of

creativity

 

 Detailed description about the topic, providing a good insight about it. Examples, tips and personalized information are also provided.

Shows high standards of creativity

Step 3

 

Think about words, expressions used in Põrtuguese and transform them into a Podtionary 

Unsuitable  Choice of vocabulary according to the topic.

Lack of originality.

 

Basic vocabulary  choice according to the topic.

Shows low standards of  originality.

 

 

Good word choice and suitable range of vocabulary.

Shows good standards of

originality

 

Great  variety of word choice and suitable range of vocabulary.

Usage of certain interesting  traditional expressions and sayings.

Shows high standards  of originality

Step 4

 

Create a photostory about the topic assigned

Basic choice of images reated to the topic.

Sentences add no or little meaning to the images.

Photostory lacks rythm and creativity

Good choice of images

Sentences add meaning to the images.

Photostory shows low standards of creativity.

Great choice of images.

Sentences add significant meaning to the images.

Photostory shows good standards of creativity.

Great choice of images.

Sentences add significant menaning to the images.

Photostory is applealing and shows high standards of  creativity

Step 5

Compile all the worked information into a wiki.

The students didn't aplly themselves to perform the tasks.

The tasks resulted in a basic wiki page, with poor information.

It didn't provide a good insight of the city

The students apllied themselves to perform the tasks only to a certain extent.

The tasks resulted in a nice wiki page.

It provided a resonable insight of the city.

The students apllied themselves enthusiatically to perform the tasks.

The tasks resulted in an appealing wiki, with a fairly good insight about the city

The students apllied themselves enthusiatically to perform the tasks.

The tasks resulted in a very appealing wiki, with a lot of useful information and a good insight about the city

 

 

 

 

 

Conclusion

Congratulations! You have done a wonderful job by helping that family getting to know the capital of your country. I hope you have also learned something new from it. Travelling to a foreign country can be a great adventure. It can become even more exciting if you get to know more about the way of life of its people, their habits or their traditions.

How important is it to have some previous knowledge about places you have never been before and intend to visit or move into? Will that have some impact on the people while there? Will they grow more sensitive and understanding of another culture?

 

 

 

 

 

Credits & References

 

Many, many thanks to Paula Emmert for guiding me the way.

 

Special thanks to Ramona Dietrich for backing me up once again and proof-reading the tasks.

 

Thanks Dr. Bernie Dodge ( WebQuest page ). It is a great source of information and inspiration. 

 

Images and graphics Microsoft Office - Clip Art and Media

 

Content Copyright © 2006 Cristina Costa  All Rights Reserved