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FIRST DAYS OF SCHOOL
GETTING TO KNOW YOU activities
I LIKE SPAGHETTI
SPEAKING ACTIVITY
PAIR WORK
BEGINNER
When two languages come into contact — through trade, travel, culture, or social exchange — they often “borrow” words from each other. These borrowed words are called loanwords.
Think of expressions like joie de vivre (French) or fahrvergnügen (German). They are not originally English, yet English speakers use them to express ideas in a unique way.
English has adopted countless loanwords from other languages (piano, café, karaoke, spaghetti), and at the same time, many English words are now part of other languages (computer, weekend, football).
Making students aware of loanwords is not only fun, but also shows them how languages and cultures are constantly influencing each other.
👉🏻 This ties perfectly into I Like Spaghetti: a quick icebreaker that gets students talking, comparing, and laughing while they discover how languages borrow words from one another.
It works perfectly at the beginning of the school year or anytime you want to boost speaking confidence. The activity is easy to set up, requires no materials, and helps students notice connections between Italian and English.
LESSON PLAN
procedure:
The activity (30min)
Step 1 – Individual Brainstorm (5 minutes):
ask students to list in their notebooks Italian words that are commonly used in English (e.g., spaghetti, pizza, gelato).Step 2 – Pair Work (5-7 minutes):
In pairs, students compare their lists and then add English words that are widely used in Italian (e.g., basketball, computer, sandwich).Step 3 – Class Feedback (10 minutes):
Bring the class together and collect words on the board. Organise them into two columns:
Italian words used in English (🇮🇹 Italian → English);
English words used in Italian (🇬🇧 English → Italian). Check spelling and practise pronunciation together.
Step 4 – Group Challenge (5–7 minutes):
Turn it into a game: divide the class into teams and see which team can recall the most words within a time limit. The winning team gets a small reward, or just a big round of applause 😁.Step 5 – Reflection & Extension (5 minutes):
Wrap up with a short discussion: ‘Why do languages borrow words?’. Encourage students to think about cultural exchange, globalisation, or the lack of an existing word.
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