User:Individual English Training

POOLING IDEAS FOR THE CLASSROOM

Using Pictures in the classroom - tips and ideas

1. Practice of linkers and connectors e.g. A picture showing a happy couple sitting at a table, in a restaurant enjoying a glass of wine. Learner A takes a linker card ('As') and says: As he doesn't like meat, he ordered some pasta. Learner B takes a linker card ('Whereas') and continues by saying: 'Whereas' she ordered a juicy steak. Learner A ('Provided'): Provided he doesn't have to wait too long for his food, he won't complain this time. etc. etc

OR e.g. Just showing an information-rich picture, and then see how many linkers can be brought in to describe and/or expand on the 'scene'

2. Present continuous/progressive e.g. various pictures of people doing things. Ask the learners: "What are they doing?" Learner: "He's waiting for the bus", "She's drinking wine" etc

3. Present Perfect for recent events e.g. Picture of an extremely happy girl in school uniform, jumping in the air. "She's just finished her exams" e.g. Picture of two men having an argument/fight. "He's just said something bad about the other guy's wife"

4. General Fluency and Speaking practice e.g. Using 'dream cards' Learner selects 3 dream cards at random and has to link them no matter how bizare it might sound Learner starts with the following: "I had a strange dream last night ......."

Teaching Fluency

1. Interrupting and Checking Information 'Stopping the teacher from getting to school' - In this activity the teacher would explain his/her journey to the school  or the learner's company - e.g. Got up at 7am, had breakfast, cycled to the underground station, went to catch the underground, and then walked until reaching learner's office. As the teacher tells the 'story', learners are encouraged to interrupt the teacher as much as   possible in order to find out more and more detail, and in doing so 'prevent' the teacher as much as    possible from finishing the story. Possible target language: Sorry, could you explain that in more detail? Sorry, does that mean...? What exactly did you .....? How long did .... take? etc. etc i.e. Language for interrupting, checking & question formulation.