This is the time of the year which would be most appropriate for a number of self-esteem and peer-esteem activities, as your learners have got to know each other quite well and should feel comfortable with each other, especially if they are to discuss some personal traits, strengths, talents, etc.

The following activity, "In Your Hands", is very successful and motivating. We have borrowed the title from Jane Revell and Susan Morgan's beautiful book, In Your Hands: NLP in ELT, Saffire Press, 1997. 

MATERIALS NEEDED: A4 white paper,  scissors, a roll of paper tape. Optional: crayons, A4 colored construction paper or fishing line. 

INSTRUCTIONS:

1.      Give each one of your learners a piece of white A4

         paper.

2.      Tell them they will work in pairs and ask each pair to

         decide who is going to be "A" and who will be "B".

3.      First, ask all "As" to place their left hand flat on the A4

         paper and to trace it. (Demonstrate with your own hand

         so your learners will know exactly what they need to do.)

4.      Then, ask "Bs" to use their right hand and do the same

         as in No. 3. 

5.      Now, ask all learners to close their eyes and to think of

         their  personal strengths, talents and positive

         characteristics.

6.      Tell them to write one of the above on each one of their

         five fingers. They could use crayons here, if they wish.

7.      Ask learners to exchange their  "hands" with their

         partners.

8.      First, tell them to talk about what they have written and

         to explain, if it is necessary.  Then, each partner  writes a

         wish or a brief positive note on the palm of his/her

         partner's traced hand.

9.      Ask learners to report back by discussing some of the

         strengths, talents and positive characteristics of their

         partners.

10.    Then, ask them to use the scissors and cut around their

         traced hand and then,  to join the hands they have traced

         and to see what they have created. 

11.    There are two options:

         a. You may tell learners to use paper tape and stick the

             joined hands (which look like doves), on colored

             construction paper and then display them on the

             classroom walls.   OR

         b. You can give them fishing line, which they will stick

             onto the index of each hand and then, allowing for

             different lengths for each pair, hang them like a kind

             of mobile from the classroom ceiling.

LANGUAGE POINT:

To begin with,  his activity helps each individual learner to think of himself/herself positively and to become aware of his/her strengths and talents, but, at the same time, of the strengths and talents of his/her peers. It also emphasizes the differences among people and how welcome these differences are and how tolerant and understanding we should all be. But also, once we know we all have strengths and talents, we do not need to be antagonistic with our friends and fellow learners. Most important, however, it develops self-respect and peer-respect.  And, as all in our classes can see, these qualities are "In Our Hands".

AGE & LEVEL:  14+ , B1+

N.B.: Younger learners could follow the same procedure, but a.       either write things they like about themselves, OR

b.      describe themselves, using positive words.

Either option would be an introduction to self-esteem and peer-esteeem.