Lesson theme: Heian Japan and Haiku (40 minutes)

Student demographic: Small group of male and female 10th and 12th grade EFL learners in
Plovdiv, Bulgaria, 17-19 year olds, mixed proficiency levels from upper-intermediate to advanced
Objectives:
Language - Focus on using English creatively; incorporating English vocabulary into creative
writing; reviewing syllables
Culture - Expose students to a new kind of poetry and cultural traditions they may not have
studied before
Materials: Heian Japan PowerPoint, computer and projector, markers and colored pencils,
trading questions
Warm-up (5 mins): Trading Questions

Each student receives a piece of paper with a question about Japan written on it (questions
should be designed to gauge students knowledge of the topic and help them prepare for a
lesson in English). Example questions include What is one fact you know about Japan?
and Where is Japan located?
Teacher demonstrates how to play the game with a volunteer if students do not already
know how to play the game
Students and teacher go around the class with their questions and ask their peers the
questions, after they have a short conversation about the questions, they will trade
questions and find a new partner

Introduce new information (10 mins): Heian Japan Lecture

Teacher presents new information about Heian Japan including information on the cultural
traditions of the time
Teacher explains how important poetry writing was during this time and how it is still
viewed as an important part of Japanese history and contemporary writing
Teacher introduces haiku by providing examples and asking students to look for patterns in
the haiku provided (focusing on syllable count, form, themes)

Guided Practice (5 mins): Class Haiku

With the understanding of haiku and the teachers guidance, the class creates a haiku and
checks for relevant themes and syllable accuracy

Activity 1 (18 mins): Student Production

Teacher provides students with coloring utensils and white paper

Students produce their own haiku and illustrate them
Students share their haiku with a partner, then with the class

Wrap-up (2 mins): Teacher verbally administers a short, informal assessment to ascertain what
students have learned, what they enjoyed, didnt enjoy, and what they might like to see in a
future lesson about poetry from another culture