This activity was created one night after reading an article about "podcasting" on Wikipedia...("podcasting" is a portmanteau word).

It would be best suited for French students because of the origin of the word "porte-manteau" but it could be adapted to other students

Level: A2 and above

Duration: 1 hour

Objectives: This lesson plan aims to encourage students to express/explain/develop an idea of their own, to encourage comprehension interaction and sustained monologue, to develop creativity in word formation.

Process:

• The students take a look at the definition of the word "portmanteau" on Wikipedia

  - Check the students' understanding of the word by asking them to invent a portmanteau word in English, or in their native language (depending on the students' level).
  

• Your turn: submit your own portmanteau word in the dictionary of visitors (if students still need help ask them to click on the "see portmanteau" button for more examples by visitors )

- Students invent words and define them to the class or ask the class to guess the meaning of their portmanteau words.

- Students could be encouraged to work in pairs / groups. A contest for the best portmanteau word can be easily organised (by category: the most original/creative, the funniest, the most literary, the most colloquial, the most politcally correct, etc.).

My favourite portmanteau word is clure!

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