Basic English II Course

Universidad de la Amazonia
Workshop #1 ABORTION

THEORETICAL FOUNDATIONS
RESEARCH QUESTIONS:
What is the role of in-class debates on controversial issues in undergraduate students critical thinking
skills? And, how do the development and implementation of contextualized workshops based on
controversial issues to hold in class debates contribute to the development of students argumentative
skills?
PEDAGOGICAL INTERVENTION:
The development and implementation of contextualized workshops based on controversial issues to
hold in class debates contribute to the development of students argumentative skills.

PRINCIPLES FOR MATERIAL DEVELOPMENT (MD):

-Help learners develop self-confidence Relaxed and self-confident learners learn faster (Dulay, Burt
and Krashen, 1982).
-Provide opportunities for communicative purposes in L2, fostering language use (Tomlinson, 1988)
-Regard students emotions or affective screen (Tomlinson, 1988)
FRAMEWORK FOR MATERIALS DEVELOPMENT:
-Needs assessment analysis.
-Approach and design.
-General and specific objectives.
-Creating and adapting materials.
(Adapted from Nez, Tellez, Castellanos and Ramos (2009))
THEORY OF LANGUAGE:
Self-expression perspective: It emphasises the role of language as a medium to attain not only the
pragmatic goals achieved in the functional perspective, but also as a means by which individuals build
personal relationships express feelings, desires, preferences, interests, positions and so on. (Tudor,
2001)
THEORY OF LANGUAGE LEARNING:
Experiential learning: Collaborative types of learning (learning activities and task that involve
collaboration among learners). (Tudor, 2001)
The role of affect: The interaction of students with learning activities is shaped by psychological and
experiential factors that generate affective interaction with the learning process. (Tudor, 2001)
METHOD OR APPROACH:
Cooperative learning: It entails academic effort by students working in groups and mutual exploration
for acquiring meaning, stating positions and supporting arguments. (Nez and Tellez (2012))
Developed by Hans Humberto Oviedo Gmez

Basic English II Course

Universidad de la Amazonia

Workshop # 1

ABORTION

Image taken from http://static.guim.co.uk/sys-images/Guardian/Pix/pictures/2012/7/17/1342563640469/Abortion--008.jpg

Developed by Hans Humberto Oviedo Gmez

Basic English II Course

Universidad de la Amazonia

Workshop # 1

ABORTION

GENERAL OBJECTIVE:
To state a position about abortion in different contexts in our society, give
arguments to support ideas and analyze its causes and effects.

SPECIFIC OBJECTIVES:
To explore vocabulary related to abortion.
To organize ideas with the use of a mind map while reading a general
concept about abortion.
To analyze the causes and effects of abortion in relation to real cases.
To state a position (agree or disagree) according to a statement given.
To perform what would happen in any of the scenes given.
To support a position in favor or against abortion by giving arguments
and defending it.
Developed by Hans Humberto Oviedo Gmez

Basic English II Course

What do you know about

Universidad de la Amazonia

abortion?

Learning strategy: Grouping, making

association and using imagery

1. Match the word, with the picture and the definition by using different colors.

a. Pregnancy

An individual who is
deliberately excluded from
a community
Taken from
http://www.clker.com/cliparts/j/X/U/5/k/B/human-fetus-md.png

Premature expulsion of a
human fetus

b. Surgical Instruments

Taken from
http://www.clipartbest.com/cliparts/KTn/aM7/KTnaM7gTq.gif

Tools used in medical

procedures

c. Fetus

Taken from
http://1.bp.blogspot.com/iRnkxv9GcgI/Tfhbp1Eof0I/AAAAAAAAAN0/lLObAv8D2Z8/s1600/tshirt+birth+right.jpg

Development of an
embryo or fetus, in a
woman's uterus.

d. Social rejection

Taken from
http://thumb7.shutterstock.com/display_pic_with_logo/558148/184384871/stockvector-beautiful-asian-pregnant-woman-showing-pregnancy-growing-processtouching-her-belly-184384871.jpg

An unborn, developing
baby. It starts to show
physical features

e. Abortion

Taken from http://childpsychologist.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/SocialExclusion.jpg

Are divided into three

trimesters

f. Pregnancy stages

Taken from
http://www.prolifeproject.org/resources/methods/dilators-for-the-cervix.jpg

Developed by Hans Humberto Oviedo Gmez

Basic English II Course

Universidad de la Amazonia

2. Work in pairs to read the following paragraph. Then, relate the concept of
abortion and your previous knowledge to design a Mind Map. Then, explain
yours to the whole group.
Learning strategy: Semantic mapping,
using key words and organizing

The term abortion refers to any expulsion of a human

fetus, whether naturally spontaneous or artificially
induced. Today, the most common usage of the term
abortion applies to artificially induced abortion which,
sadly, has become the most common form of abortion.
In other words, abortion is primarily the result of a
mother (and father) deciding to terminate a pregnancy
by killing their unborn baby.
Adapted from http://www.teensforlife.com/hot-topics/abortion/

Abortion

Taken from http://img4 wikia nocookie net/

Developed by Hans Humberto Oviedo Gmez

cb20100727200244/kajal/images/5/53/Blank mind map jpg

Basic English II Course

Universidad de la Amazonia

3. Read this abortion case. Then, analyze the questions according to the reading,
answer them through brainstorming and share your opinions with the whole
group.
Learning strategy: Using key words,
organizing and brainstorming ideas

My name is Julie Jackson. I got

pregnant when I was 14 years old, I
was afraid because my parents were
too old fashioned and I decided to say
nothing to them (I knew their position).
At the beginning I thought about the
time in which I was going to tell the
Image taken from http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2012/05/26
/article-2150203-0806CFF6000005DC-274_468x309.jpg
truth because it was going to be
evident. But I didnt, some of my friends recommended me to practice an
abortion to avoid responsibilities and think about a better future with no
social rejection and no accusations.
First, I refused because, to some extent, I was conceiving the idea of being
mother. Finally I decided to do it, I had an abortion through an illegal
medical procedure in my first pregnancy stage. It was hard to me but I did
it. Nowadays I am 21 and I think about my possible future if I would decide
to have my baby.
By Hans Oviedo Gmez

c.

Try to think about the

reasons
why
Julia
Jackson decided to abort.

b.

a.

What would it happen if

Julia Jackson did not
practice that abortion
procedure?
______________________

Which would be the

consequences that girl
had after that abortion
practice?
______________________

______________________

______________________

______________________

______________________

______________________

______________________

______________________

______________________

______________________

______________________

______________________

______________________

______________________

d.

Now, work in pairs. Think about other real abortion cases you know, share those experiences you maybe
know with your pair, then, with the class.

Developed by Hans Humberto Oviedo Gmez

Basic English II Course

Universidad de la Amazonia

4. Now, work in groups of 3. Select one of the statements below, share ideas with
your group, state if you agree or disagree and support your position. Then,
share yours with all the group.
Learning strategy: Reasoning,
analyzing and stating a position

Agree? or Disagree?

Taken from http://teressamorris.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/agree-to-disagree.jpg

Abortion should be legalized in all contexts

Practicing abortion is common in our society
Abortion is an option to avoid responsibilities
This practice is risky for both mental and physical health
Religion should analyze its position in relation to abortion
I totally agree with
I completely disagree with
I couldnt agree more with the statement
Developed by Hans Humberto Oviedo Gmez

Basic English II Course

Universidad de la Amazonia

5. Continue working in the same groups. Choose one of these scenes, analyze it
and be ready to perform it in 3 minutes. Use your creativity!
Learning strategy: Practicing
naturalistically, using mime or gestures

a. Parents allowing and supporting her daughter for

practicing an abortion

b. A teenager
couple notice
that the girl is
pregnant, they
are studying at
the university

c. Boyfriend and girlfriend deciding

to practice abortion through an
illegal medical procedure

d. Government
does not allow
an abortion
practice to a 14
years old girl
who was raped

e. A prostitute gets pregnant after having sexual

intercourses with several men

What is to

perform?

Are those forms in which artists

use their body, voice or objects to
deliver artistic expressions or
acting.
Adapted from http://www.thefreedictionary.com/perform

Images taken from http://www.hhe.bwdsb.on.ca/All_Newsletters/I036470F2.3/Performing%20Arts.gif

Developed by Hans Humberto Oviedo Gmez

Basic English II Course

Universidad de la Amazonia

6. Select a ping pong from a paper bag. The ones with the orange ball are against
abortion and those with the blue one are in favor. Organize your arguments and
be prepare to state your position.
Learning strategy: Analyzing contrastively,
reasoning and supporting a position

Points Against

Points In favor

-Abortion is a form of murder.

-Civilized societies do not allow to take the life of
another human being without punishment.
-Adoption is a good alternative to abortion.
-It can result in medical complications later in
life.
-In rape and incest cases, proper medical care
can make that a woman will not get pregnant.
-Abortion should not be used as another form of
contraception.
-Abortion shouldn't be a form of birth control.
-It's morally wrong to use taxes to fund abortion.
-Women with no life experience cannot
understand what they are doing.
-It causes psychological pain and stress.

-Most of abortions take place in the first

trimester. It is not risky.
-The concept of personhood is different from the
concept of human life.
-Adoption is not an alternative to abortion, it
remains the woman's choice.
-Abortion is a safe medical procedure. Medical
abortions have less than 0.5% risk.
-Psychological problems because of rape or
incest.
-Pregnancy can occur even with responsible
contraceptive use.
-The ability of a woman to have control of her
body is critical to civil rights.
-Taxes are used to allow poor women to access
the same medical services as rich women.
-Teenagers who become mothers have less
prospects for the future.

Adapted from http://womensissues.about.com/od/reproductiverights/a/AbortionArgumen.htm

Debate session

Modes of argumentation: (Nez & Tellez, 2012)

-Referring to an authority in the topic.
-Providing facts or statistical information.
-Identifying cause and effect relationships.
-Providing true examples.
-Making analogies
Image taken from http://idahodems.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/debate.jpg

Developed by Hans Humberto Oviedo Gmez