Linking
Linking paragraphs.
Students are given a text, where they are to insert some linking words, expressions or even sentences to make the text look coherent.
e.g.
Andy was a tiny boy with a strangely hoarse voice, extremely well-read for his age. At the very beginning he became very popular among his class mates owing to his striking ability of telling frightening stories.
His heroes underwent all kind of terrible adventures: they would freeze to death, or starve and, finally, die of hunger; wild beasts would eat them up or tear into pieces; bandits would beat them black and blue and rob them of all their possessions.
The headmaster found out that the children slept with the lights on. He made necessary inquiries and bedside tales were put an end to.
(the passage is taken from Reading and
Talking English by L.S. Golovchinskaya)
Listing
Picture-based listing.
Students look at the picture (e.g. a photographs of a cobra and a leopard) and write down as many words or phrases as they can (e.g. to describe the two animals).
Mind-mapping
Thematic map.
Teacher asks students which words are connected with the word (e.g. SCHOOL) and presents simultaneously the new words.
e
.g.
Predicting
Predicting by pictures.
Students are asked to look at the pictures and say what the listening passage will be about.
e.g.
Expressing predictions in discussion.
Before listening students try to make predictions on the topic.
e.g. How much do you know about heart attacks? Choose the best answer:
Most heart attacks are caused by:
your heart beating too fast.
blood not reaching your heart.
your heart working too hard.
When you have a heart attack, you feel pain:
across your chest and into your arms.
all over the left side of your chest.
just where your heart is. Etc.
After that students listen to the text and check their guesses.
(taken from Listening-1 by J. Doff)
Miming
Imposing a manner.
Variation 1.
Students choose one adverb out of the list of adverbs. Teacher reads out the verbs of action. Students mime them in the manner the adverb prompts.
e.g.
Adverb: passionately
-
Actions:
to blow the nose
to look
to eat
to sneeze
to hug a neighbour
to mend the sock
to read the newspaper
to hammer a nail
Prioritising
Perfect partner.
Teacher explains to students that everybody has a different idea of the ideal boyfriend or girlfriend. Students are to put the following qualities in order of importance.
e.g.
-
A sense of humour
Interests you both share
Good looks
Sexiness
Patience
Popular with your family
Plenty of money
Popular with your other friends
Lets you decide things
After that students are asked to write down "a lonely-heart advertisement" to a local newspaper.