Lesson Plan: "Imagine Finding Me" - Chino Otsuka

Chino Otsuka

Chino Otsuka - Imagine Finding Me 

Lesson Plan: Imagine Finding Me, Chino Otsuka

Level: B1+

   Language aim: Physical descriptions/clothes, comparative structures, ‘Used to’.

1. Ask students if they have a photo album where they keep family photos or photos of themselves when they were young. “When was the last time you looked at them?”
2. Tell the students that they’re going to look at some photos by a woman called Chino Otsuka who has had quite a lot of success with her work.
3. Show the first photo (if a student recognises them, ask him/her to not tell the information): Ask the following questions.
1. Where do you think this is? (There is English and Spanish text in the window, so be open to answers) When was this photo taken and how do you know? (From now to the last 40 years based on clothes, architecture…)
2. What is the relationship between the two people and why do you think so? ( Mother –daughter, aunt – niece, Big sister, Cousins, etc.)
3.  How old are they? (elicit, “about…”, “in her mid/early/late….”)
4. Go to the next photo. Ask:
1. Where and when was this photo taken? (Japan, based on the characters, though be open to the correct pronunciation of “China”). “When” can also elicit time of year (going on holiday or a day trip)
2. Are these the same people as in the previous photograph?
3. Who do you think took the picture?
5. Next photo:
1. How do you think these people are feeling? Why? (Physical distance between them could imply annoyance, irritation, etc.)
2.  What could have happened before the moment the photo was taken? (elicit may/might/could + have + participle)
6. Next photo:
1. Where was this photo taken (Europe, Asia…)?
2.  What are they doing? (elicit “having a break/snack”, “sightseeing”)
3. Do you think these are the same people? How old do they look? (It should be obvious that either the younger girl has grown or that it might be a different girl)
7. Ask the students why they think these photographs have been so successful. Is there anything special about them? The composition, the content…etc.? Then tell them that the photographer photoshopped/superimposed recent images of herself as an adult onto old images of herself as a child.
8. Go to the next slide and elicit comparisons:
1. How has she changed physically?
2. What do you think she used to like doing as a child? Does she feel the same as an adult?
9. Discussion Questions on next slide:

·      •Why do you think the photographer made these photos? What is she trying to say?

·      •Think about photos or videos you have of yourself as a child. Tell your partner about the photos (where, when, what was happening, etc.) What do you remember from those moments? Can you remember things that you used to like doing that you don’t anymore?

·      •If your childhood self traveled in time to the present day and found you, what do you think he/she would say or ask you? What would you say to him/her?

·      •Do you have any memories that you would have liked to have captured in a photograph or video? Why?

·      •Do you think that people will continue to print and make photo albums in the future? Or, will we keep our images in digital formats , e.g. on facebook, instagram, our computers?

·      •Media, images, and even books are now disappearing in physical format and moving to digital spaces. Talk about the advantages and disadvantages of printed material versus digital files. 

10. Optional follow-up: students bring childhood photos to class the next day and share with the class. They can describe the photo, what they used to be like, what they would do, what was difficult to get used to when they grew up, etc.

Chino Otuska

Chino Otsuka

Chino Otsuka