Chit Chat
Chit Chat
Chit-chat
1. Instructions for the teacher: Type of Activity: Speaking (can be divided into two different speaking activities if needed). Level: B1 to C2. Objective: Get students to expand their vocabulary about certain daily life subjects and to find out more about their partners lives, likes and dislikes. Time: Flexible. Number of students: Flexible, (teacher can participate if one -to-one lesson/vocabulary section can be worked on in teams). Material: Chart A (Subject cards)/Worksheet #1 (vocabulary chart)/Example chart/Teachers timer (watch/clock or anything that allows you to track time).
A)
Before class, print and cut out the subject questions you will find in Chart A. Place them on the table so that each student (or member of a team) can take one when their turn comes. Tell your students you will be discussing daily life issues and competing to see who knows more words about specific daily-life subjects (for more advanced students, the competition will revolve around who comes up with more complicated/academic terms). Hand out a copy of Worksheet #1. Explain instructions to your students: one of them (one member of a team) will draw a subject card, (Cinema, for example). They will have one minute to write as much vocabulary related to the subject in the appropriate columnsyou can see sample answers in the Example Chart . When time is over, you will compare all your answers. Students will have to justify why they chose certain terms. Make sure everyone fills in their charts with different words their partners mentioned and that everyone understands meaning and usage. (You can reproduce the different columns in the board so that students can see what vocabulary they need to copy and work on). Once the vocabulary part of the exercise is over, the student who drew the card will use the question prompts to engage others in conversation. Students should try to use the vocabulary they have just discussed in their answers. Answers must be long and coherent. If a student feels that questions are not sufficient, they will be given the chance to come up with their own ideas. The main objective of the exercise is to make them speak. Teacher will check grammar and expression and help students when needed.
B)
C) D)
E)
F)
G)
SPEAKING PRACTICE
Chit-chat
Personality: Do you consider yourself to be shy or extrovert? How would your friends describe you? Do you know anyone who is a complete pessimist? What animal do you identify with?
School: What was your first school like? Did/Do you like going to school? What is the most horrible thing that happened to you at school? What is the most terrific thing that happened to you at school? Health and Diet: Do you think slim people are happier or more miserable? Is it more important to be attractive or to be intelligent? What does healthy mean, in your opinion? What do you need to do in order to have a healthy lifestyle? Transport: Whats the best way to move around in your city? How do you get to work/ school? Whats your favourite means of transport? How long does it take you to get to your English class?
Holidays: Have you ever been abroad? Where? If you won the lottery and money were not a problem anymore, would go on permanent holidays? What would you rather do if you could go on holiday right now? Do you think that it is necessary for people to have holidays? Cities and housing: Do you live in a house or in a flat? What is your favourite room at home? Where would you like to live in the future? Have you ever moved house?
Youth: How have you changed in the last five years? What did you use to do when you were younger that you dont do any more? What do young people usually do in their free time? Is it true that youngsters do not respect old age? 2
SPEAKING PRACTICE
People
Actions
Phrasal Verbs
Objects/Places
Music:
Clothes:
Personality:
School:
Sports:
SPEAKING PRACTICE
People
Actions
Phrasal Verbs
Objects/Places
Health/Diet:
Cinema:
Cities/ Housing:
Transport:
Youth:
SPEAKING PRACTICE
Chit-chat
People
Father-in-law Sister Son-in-law Widow... Musician Pianist Composer Band Singer
Actions
Get married Get divorced Argue Give birth Compose Write (music) Play Listen/Hear
Phrasal Verbs
Take after Look up to Bring up Split up Turn up (volume) Turn down (volume) Switch on (radio/ mp3) Switch off (radio/ mp3) Dress up Take off Put on Dress down
Objects/Places
Wedding ring Household Honeymoon Hometown Concert hall Music room Music school Radio station
Music:
Clothes:
Personality: