Legends of Ireland

Objective & Plot Summary

Objective: To introduce students to listening comprehension of a simple story in English, by identifying characters and key elements of a folktale.

Summary: On holiday in Ireland, young Orla discovers the legend of the Blarney Stone before making friends with a seal. When she is trapped by the tide, she is rescued by a mysterious boy who turns out to be the seal himself, a magical "selkie" able to take human form.

Suggested Lesson Flow

1. Before Listening (~5 min): TRIP TO IRELAND

• Anticipation: Show the map of Ireland (page 2) and ask students to find the places. Introduce the keywords with images: castle, sea, seal, stone.

2. During Listening (~15 min): LISTENING TO THE LEGENDS

• Segmented listening in 2 parts:
  • Part 1 (The Stone): Listen to the story of the Blarney Stone. Pause: "What happens if you kiss the stone?".
  • Part 2 (The Seal): Listen to the meeting with the seal and the rescue scene. Pause: "Who saved Orla? A boy or a seal?".

3. After Listening (~10-15 min): SHARING THE ADVENTURE

• Questions and Answers: Ask simple questions to check comprehension: "Where is Orla? What's the name of the selkie? Is Orla happy / scared?".
• Simple Task: Ask students to draw their favourite moment (kissing the stone, playing with the seal, the rescue) and to write one or two words in English to describe it.

Adaptations

• To Simplify: Use flashcards showing the key characters and objects (Orla, Granny, seal, castle). Students raise the right card when they hear the word.
• To Extend: Ask students to imagine what happens next: Orla comes back to Ireland the following year. Does she see Murray again? Ask them to tell the sequel in 2-3 simple sentences.