Back in the Dragon’s Den · Tue Jan 9, 21:39 by Eleri Straker
Today I returned to the Dragon’s Den. Last year, with my previous year 11 group I tried out a speaking and listening exercise based on the TV programme ‘Dragon’s Den’. As mentioned before (‘In the Dragon’s Den’) it worked like a dream, so I decided I’d have another go with this year’s lot. I have to admit that I wasn’t too optimistic, as this year’s group is very different from their earlier counterparts.
About a month ago, I explained to the class what was expected of them (that they think about something imaginary that they could claim to have invented so they could make a presentation about it to selected ‘dragons’). Needless to say, the majority hadn’t given it a second thought. So when I started the lesson today, my hopes weren’t particularly high.
The first speaker wasn’t a disaster. He’d clearly thought about it, and although not particularly well thought out, I was pleasantly surprised. I’d carefully chosen the first team of Dragons, ensuring that at least one of them was articulate and kind. I’d done this to ensure that there would be one person who would hold the team together and be generous enough to encourage the ‘presenter’ to speak, thus ensuring that a possibly reticent speaker would get some reasonable marks as they responded to his questioning.
However, although the first speaker was quite good, the second was spectacular.
The boy who spoke next is a boy soldier. Although still only about sixteen he stands tall (hands behind his back, military fashion) and speaks with authority. He’s an astonishingly charismatic speaker and when he gets to his feet, people (including me) listen.
His choice of invention was a new type of waterproof sock! His ideas were imaginative and his delivery assured and hysterically funny. I haven’t laughed so much in class for ages. His presentation fulfilled all the criteria for the top of the highest grade – and he hasn’t had his turn to acquire marks as a Dragon yet!
When the lesson ended, I had a huge grin on my face, as I hadn’t enjoyed a lesson so much with this class since Princess returned. It gave me hope. Hope for those in my class who want to get good grades and in particular for my boy soldier. He’ll make a wonderful adult.
