At our voluntary English class we’re always trying to think of new ways to encourage our students to chat! The numbers in the group vary from week to week because many of the people who come have families or work commitments which mean they are sometimes not available. So sometimes we have as many as fifteen or sixteen, sometimes we have as few as five or six! We usually follow a pattern, although we are always ready to e flexible!
usually we start with a quiz about connected objects:
Let there be light!
A variety of connected items are put out, one mark for naming it, two marks for a correct spelling, and an extra mark for an imaginative suggestion as to what it might be! We then have a short grammar section, yesterday I was doing adverbs such as really, truly, honestly, and we had little dialogues which we practised with much drama and laughter. Then we have a topic, yesterday it was Bonfire Night, and after coffee (and sushi yesterday) we get into groups to work on different areas of language, from advance readers to more basic conversation. The idea is to talk, talk, talk! The reading passages are selected to provoke discussion as well as improving other language skills.
Yesterday we had such a small group that we did speed chatting… based on speed dating but chat, chat, chat! We lined up two rows of chairs facing each other and students and teachers sat opposite; I called out a topic and let them chat until the conversation seemed to be flagging then I shouted out for the students to move along, and I called out a different topic! A great success and great fun!
What is Judith talking about, the topic was family!
Lena telling Rose all about Chinese cooking!
And now Alex is telling Lena all about his holiday!
Lois Elsden 