Activity 37- In One Word

                                              picture credits: astronlogia.com

Here is an idea for a simple idea that can be used as a speaking or writing activity. Moreover, it`s a great opportunity to break the ice and promote some interaction in class.

Level: intermediate or upper 

Skills: speaking or writing

Materials needed: none

Instructions:

Ask students to think of a word that  best represents their last weekend. Have students write the word on their notebook or just say it out loud. Students sit in groups or pair up with a classmate and explain why they picked that word.

Variations: 

a)Students can think of words that best represent their : day, last vacation,mother,personality, work, country,etc.

b)Instead of sitting in groups to talk about their words, students can write a short paragraph.

Source: Vinicius Lemos

Activity 36- Real Life Questions

                                            picture credits: high-output.com

 Here is a good idea to use with adult learners as an ice-breaker in the beginning of the class. 

Tip: Students can answer the questions orally or in paper. Questions can be displayed on the board. 

Level: Intermediate-Advanced

Skills: Speaking

Material needed: To guide the students, a piece of paper with the questions below 

Instructions: 

1. Name three things that can be attractive.
2. What is something your boss can take pride in or be proud of?
3. What did you hear in the few weeks that was surprising or that you were surprised about?
4. Describe a situation during which you felt confident about it.
5.  Why is it believed that “the wicked stepmother is always ugly”?
6.  Name three desirable characteristics.
Source: Vânia Rodrigues

Activity 35- Draw the Sentence

                                          picture credits: markandrews.edublogs.org

 

Practice the Present Continuous with a fun and engaging game! Teen students will definitely have a blast!

Grammar point: Present Continuous

Level: Basic

Skill: speaking

Material needed: slips with sentences

Instructions:

Divide class into 2 teams and explain that they have to pick a slip and draw the sentence written in it. 

Reinforce the idea that all sentences are in the Present Continuous and that the possibilities are "He is _____ing/She is _____ing/They are _____ing"

Reming the student who is going to draw on the board of the basic rules: no miming, no speaking, no writing words!

Each team has one minute to shout the correct sentence (and remind them that to get the point they have to shout the sentence as it is written in the slip!).

Suggestions of sentences to be used:

 They are speaking Chinese

He is cooking chicken pizza

She is kissing a frog

They are dancing hip hop

He is going home

She is writing an email

They are playing handball

He is riding a pony

She is washing an elephant

They are drinking lemon juice

He is doing the homework

She is singing opera

They are cleaning the swimming pool

The more complex and odd the sentences are, the more fun the students will have!

Source: Vinicius Lemos, inspired by Paul Seligson and his book English File

Activity 34- What Do I Know About My Group?

                                              picture credits: wealthworld.blog.com

Here is a nice idea to build up rapport in class by discussing what they know and remember about their classmates.

Level: any

Skills: writing, speaking and listening

Material needed: slips of paper

Instructions:

Before class write the name of each student on a slip of paper. In class, give each student a slip and make sure the student doesn`t get the slip with his/her own name. Explain to the students that they are going to have 5 minutes to write down up to 5 things they remember about that person. Collect the slips, read them aloud and ask students to guess who that student is. As a follow up, you can ask students to sit in pairs or in groups and talk a bit more about the information in their slips.

Source: adapted from eslsite.com