Getting used to the knock knock jokes already? Time for day three! 🙂 The hero of today’s joke is a cow... well… not quite, have a look 🙂
The joke here is based on something in pronunciation called elision. If two identical sounds are next to each other (the same sound finishes the word and begins the next one ), in most cases one of the sounds will be omitted.
Don’t tell anyone! -> „don tell”
Big game -> „bi game”
In this case we have beeF and Fair. So if we omit one of the sounds and read it a bit differently, what comes out?
„Be fair!”
Which actually means that if beef fair was a real sentence or phrase, without the context it would be impossible to predict whether someone was talking about beef or actually being fair 🙂 Don’t you just love English?
Missed the other two knock knock jokes of the day?
Random name picker (if we wich to use technology), or post-it notes (for traditionalists)
Flshcards – my set was phrasal verbs
This is what I mean by flashcard: an double-sided index card – one in one language (PL in this case) and the other in the target language – with a sample example (<- this is key!)
one Dye (dice?)
Coins / tokens – the number depends on the players
I played with one student, but this game will work with small groups as well (3-4 people)
Procedure:
Choose the number of flashcards you wish to use in the class, In my case I opted for some more complicated phrasals e.g. look forward to, get into, take up, call back etc.
Form a circle (see pic above), each square consists of two cards.
Time for a little bit of brainstorming: let’s decide on some topics of conversations – I write each one in the Random Name Picker or on a different post-it note. In this particular lesson our topic were: travelling, future plans, meetings, small talk in the kitchen, complaining, the Royal Wedding, communication, family. Remember if you have no access to technology, just go for post-it notes – it will work as well!!!
The students roll the dice. They Start from wherever they want (there is no beginning square). They land on a square and pick up a random flashcard from the set of two. Now the other student rolls the dice and picks up another card.
The teacher spins the wheel (random name picker) or each group picks a post-it note with a topic on them.
All students in a group look at their flashcard. If they do not understand the context and / or some words it’s very easy for them to check – just look at the other side of the card to read the explanation and sample sentence in their native language. The goal of the round is to hold a conversation (based on the topic on the post-it or Random Name Picker and casually include the sample sentence from the flashcard into the talk.
Example: Student A: get into – I got into an argument with my mother,
Student B: call back – I need to call Bob back!
Topic: meetings
A: Hello Daria! How was your weekend?!
B: It was great thanks, though I spent all Sunday preparing for this meeting. Are you ready with all the reports?
A: I really struggled to compile all the data. To be honest my situation at home is a bit fragile…
B: Oh! what’s wrong?
A: I got into an argument with my mother… It was so intense I couldn’t finish one of the columns in excel!
B: Oh dear! Well, let’s talk to Bob, you know Bob, right?
A: uhm… not really…
B: Bob – my manager’s manager. He’ll know how to help you! Which reminds me! I need to call Bob back!!! He actually rang me this morning… Ok I gotta run, please start the meeting without me!
7. After the conversation is finished, the students need to guess which sentences in their opinion were the „target” ones.
8. After a flashcard is used, it disappears from the „board”. If both flashcards disappear from one square, the board simply becomes smaller. Repeat points 3-7.
9. The aim of the exercise is to practice the lexis on the flashcards. The goal of the game is play until all squares are gone ( = all flashcards are used). If you play, like me, with an individual student, it will be a long game. If there are 3-4 students in one group, it’ll be much more dynamic annd the board will desappear faster.
You can use a variety of different flashcards, even simple pictures! As long as the students use the lexis in context, there is learning taking place.
Did you like this idea? Do you enjoy travelling? I organize Teacher trainings in various cities around Poland 🙂 Check where I will be next HERE!
My first training session „How to Tame phrasal verbs” came to exist in 2015.
Two years passed and out of a 90-minute session we now have four hours!
Your students hate phrasals (There are so many of them?! Why so many meanings? How to study this?, teachers also seem to dislike them (too many of them to teach, why confuse my students?)
I like challenges, always have, that’s why I decided to do research, test and play with this difficult area of English. The effect of all this two-year challenge is this training I am now presenting to you: HUNT THEM DOWN – how to tame vocabulary!
What are we going to do?
First off, I’ll show you step by step how to change a boring course book lesson into a challenging and engaging set of classes with a lot of speaking practice and games that will prove that lexis can be tamed 🙂
You’ll see how to use board games effectively with groups of adults
I’ll teach you how to look at a classical game of BINGO in a completely new and innovative way that is student-centered and requires students to think
You’ll learn my ways of language activation and / or remembering lexis. You will star as the student and test the games 🙂
You will see how using a simple PowerPoint or Word you and your students can create visual materials and mind maps
You’ll see how you can use conventional flashcards in an unconventional and creative way
You’ll be inspired by famous American hosts
and you’ll motivate your students to do homework!
Each attendee will get a healthy dosage of theory and practice .
Please prepare yourself for a day of testing, discussions and brainstorming. 🙂
All with a nice group of teachers and coffee / tea / sweets 🙂
Who is it for?
English teachers who specialize in teaching adults (or late teens)
Teachers looking for ideas on how to teach phrasal verbs
Teachers looking for new ideas on how to teach various lexical items
Teachers looking for ways of making flashcards interesting
Teachers looking to limit the number of copies they make in class
Teachers looking for ways of maximizing student input during the classes
What will you get?
A four-hour training both theoretical and practical
My signature ways of teaching and revising phrasal verbs , idioms and other lexis
Ideas that will help you teach /revise material without making pointless copies
Ideas that will help you maximize the students’ potential and minimize your prep time.
A chance to meet other teachers and network
A name certificate
Coffee / tea / sweets
Discount vouchers for various publishing houses and a chance to win some prizes!
Schedule
(might change slightly depending on the attendee’s expectations)
Part one approx. 10:00-11:30
Student Projects – how to change a boring lesson in a stimulating challenge?
BREAK 11:30-11:45
Part two approx 11:45 -12:30
How to effectively use game shows and other board games to teach vocabulary
Break 12:30-12:40
Do you often lack grammar materials to use in the classroom or you don’t have enough time to look for new ones?
Are you looking for ready-made board games / games / materials that you can simply take to the classroom and use?
Do you teach adults / teens?
If your answer is YES then this training is for you!
What are we going to do?
First off, I’ll show you how you can have a grammar-packed lesson based on speaking with very few handouts.You’ll also see how ones game can be used in a variety of ways with very different levels and various students. Sometimes even to teach a different language!
You’ll leave the training with a head bursting with ideas and pockets full of materials!
For one, I import IMAGINARIUM CARDS(the Russian equivalent of Dixit – a much more mature and thought-provoking collection of beautiful cards). These cards are not available in Poland you can only get them at my workshop 🙂 They are brilliant for teaching adults, provoking discussions, boosting creativity. As they have more details than traditional Dixit cards (and they are created for adults) you can use them in multiple ways. What’s also worth mentioning is the fact that they are created by 12 different artists. This means each card is a little bit different, there are multiple themes and topics. Some are dark, funny, slightly sexist, a lot are fairy-talish, many post-apocaliptic etc. Have a look:
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Each attendee receives one set of 98 cards.
If you fall in love with them like I did you will want all sets (there are five!)
During the training I will show you how you can use these cards to play various grammar games with various levels and different types of students (adults or teens)
If time allows, we will also „play with” REGIPIO puzzles, think how to use post-it notes, story cubes and more!
Oh! I almost forgot 🙂 Each attendee also gets a 40-page booklet with my ready-made grammar games that can be played with various levels. All based on speaking, most in color. During the training I explain how to use each game, how to adapt it to different levels and we also test the more difficult ones. New takes on Battleships, tic tac toe (noughts and crossses) and other board games!
This training +70 games / idea / techniques that you can simply take away and use in your classroom!
You will also get discount codes for various publishing houses and could win a prize 🙂
Schedule:
Session 1:Going over the booklet, brainstorming, playing some of the games
