Help me!! teaching relative pronoun `which`

[howru]

I am teaching relative pronoun( particular "which") to my junior high students. Let me know how to make them practice and have conversation using "which".It would be 40 mins class.

[riverkid]

Originally Posted by howru

I am teaching relative pronoun( particular "which") to my junior high students. Let me know how to make them practice and have conversation using "which".It would be 40 mins class.

Have you taught them to use the relative pronoun,'that', Howru?

[howru]

not yet. I have taught them `who` last week. "that" will be for my next class.But before that I need to teach them "which". The target sentence will be something like " this is the book which was given by my father" or " It is the picture which hangs in the library"

[riverkid]

Originally Posted by howru

not yet. I have taught them `who` last week. "that" will be for my next class.But before that I need to teach them "which". The target sentence will be something like " this is the book which was given by my father" or " It is the picture which hangs in the library"

I taught in Japan's jhs's for many years, Howru and I'm disappointed to see that they haven't changed it yet.

I think, no, actually, I know that teaching 'which' first leaves with the wrong impression about how these relative pronouns work. The examples that were found in the textbooks were terribly unnatural. In comparison to 'that' 'which' is used much less often.

The best way to practice these is with real life examples.

This pen/pencil/ruler/etc that/which I'm holding is mine/Kaoru's/ Taro's/Megumi's/etc.

This {___} that/which I dropped/picked up is {color}.

The card that/which I chose is the ace of diamonds.

The card that/which she/he/you picked is the {__} of {___}.

In all of these, because the situation is one of more casual speech, 'that' sounds more natural.

But if you've gotta teach by Mombusho's book then you've gotta teach by Mombusho's book. Why don't they get some people in Mombusho who know what they're doing?

[howru]

Thanks for your help , riverkid. I know they havent changed and they will not in the near future.

I will try to teach them using `which` in real life.
`which` is used more in writing than in speech. I will try to explain the students these aspects and help them in practicing.

Thanks again