It is no secret that I love using this show in class!
We have learned so much about Mexican culture with this show. One of the episodes is dedicated to the legends of El Coco, La Llorona, and Chupacabra – all of which we have studied in class. So we had SO MUCH to talk about and to refresh our memories!
How I Use a Series in Class
First of all, always preview whatever you are showing. What is appropriate for some, just may not work for you. Read about how I learned this the hard way here.
Nailed It! Mexico is easily comprehensible to my level 3’s and 4’s so I show 1/3 to 1/2 of an episode each time we watch (about once a week) Movie Talk style. If you haven’t done a movie talk, you basically pause every so often and make it comprehensible. We talk about the show, and don’t necessarily follow the dialogue. You can read more about Movie Talk here.
This show would be easily adaptable for lower levels, as well. The beauty of Movie Talk is that you pick the target structures and guide the discussion.
When we Movie Talk, I have two levels of questions: 1) Whole-class response, and 2) Questions students ask/respond to each other. I have found that a healthy dose of the second category has really helped class discussion in other areas. I write the questions on the board, model how it should be asked, and then practice once with the class. I also model and practice how to respond. For example, for the question, “If you were able to participate, would you?” I start with asking the question. Then I have students read the question from the board. THEN they turn to a neighbor and ask it. Before I set them loose, we also practice the response, “Yes, if I were able to participate, I would because…” or “No, if I were able to participate, I would not because…”
What We Discuss
- Introduce the subjunctive
- Food and kitchen vocabulary
- Culture
- Comparisons
- Future
- Conditional
- Form/Defend opinions
- Who is your favorite contestant and why?
- Describe this person/cake/cookie
- Practice circumlocution
How Will I Use Nailed It! Mexico in the Future?
Yet again, we are at the end of the year I have no idea why I can’t fit in 4 more units! Next year, I plan to introduce Nailed It! Mexico in my level 3 classes in the spring, right after Spring Break and March Music Madness. I will build in enough time to make it a weekly lesson that culminates in our own Nailed It! competition. Perhaps we will create something related to Billy la Bufanda of Sr. Wooly fame!
