Activities to get pupils talking

I have just come across a document called 'Checklist of activities to get pupils talking' downloadable here on my Google Drive.  

I prepared it for a training session for student teachers.  There are loads and loads of ways to get pupils talking in a lesson, but this list may be of use to someone!

Thanks to the many teachers who have shared their ideas with me over my 4 decades of teaching.  Core books I have to had which will have informed some of these ideas are:

• Routledge Teaching Guide - A practical guide to teaching foreign languages in the secondary school
• Routledge - Learning to teach foreign languages in the secondary school
• CILT: Something to say? Vee Harris, James Burch, Barry Jones, Jane Darcy

I compiled this before acquiring the ALL publication 'It's good to talk' [link here]  and look forward to learning even more strategies.  You never ever stop learning.!

Checklist of activities to get pupils talking!

Most can be modelled by teacher  - whole class repetition – then led by pupils as ‘teacher clones’ in pair / group work. ‘Teacher clone effect!’

Ranked roughly in order of stage: predictable/supported -  Unpredictable/unsupported

Contents

1. READ ALOUD
2. INTERACTIVE READ ALOUD
3. COMPREHENSION
4. RANDOMISE
5. DISGUISE THE TEXT
6. MIME
7. CARD GAMES
8. PICTURE GAMES
9. SONG AND RAP
10. GAMES (non-card!)
11. INFORMATION GAP
12. OPEN DISCUSSIONS
13. GROUP CHALLENGES

Activity ‘name’ (helps to make memorable for pupils .. don’t need to explain every time!)	Notes
READ ALOUD	Full text Could be models dialogue, conversation, presentation, substitution table.
Choral repetition	Imitative – all involved but narrow
Choral performance	Read with different characteristics of performance: ‘Conduct’ / click  - get rhythm going (but insist only T clicks!) To the beat of  a metronome / drums / clicking Vary way it is said (volume, emotion,, speed)
Read aloud text	Variations: Teacher / pupils alternate Switch when you have had enough! Rewards for good performance Memorise
Reading auditions	As above in pairs With expression . body language. Facial expression
Puppet show	Read aloud as a puppet (create a theatre?!)
CTBG - Open pairs performance	Pair read in front of others.  Class gives feedback on appropriate criteria. ‘CTBG’ - catch them being good!
Memorisation	Memorise text gradually. Gradually hide words / letters Substitution tables gradually withdrawn
Against the clock	Time how long it takes to say the text x times
Recording studio	‘Final product’ encourages rehearsal
Act up!	Add own words to drama Emotional roles Resolving a dispute Planning a party Adding extra to the dialogue drawing on known – ideas,. Justifications With props – restaurant Add extra dimensions – emotions, problems
INTERACTIVE READ ALOUD
Hot Potato reading	Pupil reads and passes to another by saying their name when not expecting it
Closed pairs practice	Pairs practise to rehearse for performance.
Marathon	Read aloud until mistake spotted!
Pass the parcel	When music stop, pupil holding parcel reads the next bit
Musical pass the mobile phone	Pupil has back to class. Class pass the old phone while music playing. Music stops. Pupil with phone says next phrase (can disguise voice) . Pupil has to guess the person.
Human punctuation	Switch at punctuation mark
On the ball (for real!)	Teacher throw squeeze to pupils at random with text, they throw back with next section
On the ball	Teacher read – stop – challenge: next word?
COMPREHENSION
Q/A work – pointed questions	Pattern practice: Closed / alternatives / open Teacher / Pupil / Teaching Assistant / Native speakers NB  Guidance needed (can be daunting / demotivating if not done well – lamentable!)
True or false chanting	Repeat if true, silent if false
RANDOMISE
Reverse read aloud	Say word Pupil say sentence containing the word
Random reading	Read sentence at random. Stop. Pupils supply next sentence.
Hangman	Give letters
Audio Hangman	Talk about letters it begins with  / finishes with   It’s a phrase to say when you leave ..
DISGUISE THE TEXT
Beat the pen	Start to write the text  / hide – guess or ask to continue
Sound then rhythm	Sound first syllable and clap the rest. Pupils supply full sentence.
Closed mouth speaking (Mouth full speaking?)   Humming	Say with mouth closed and work out phrase form rhythm and intonation
Heads and tails	Display just the top / bottom
Topsy turvey	Display text upside down
Chinese whispers	Start each row with a phrase to be ‘passed along’ through whispering.  Winner raises hand and says aloud phrase correctly.
Translation challenge	Gradually reveal En/TL from fixed dialogue Live challenge with substitution tables
MIME	Mime words / sentences within the text
Sign language	Work out the phrase from the sign language
Lip reading	Mouth the word  / phrase – pupil says the word/phrase
Trace in the sky	Trace in the air the word  / phrase – pupil says the word/phrase
Trace on your back	Trace on back the word  / phrase – pupil says the word/phrase
Special envoy	One pupil sent out of class.  Class decide on phrase to be mimed. Pupil returns and has to guess.
Class knock-down	Teams take it in turn to send out fellow team member. Decide on who mimes what. Team member returns.  Each mimes. When they com in they are timed in guessing the mimes. Shortest time wins.
Make the teacher mime	Pupil says word / sentence. If correct,  T mimes.
Charades	T/P mimes. Class interprets. Class says phrase / word
Team charades	Two teams A and B compete to guess sentences mimed by volunteer from their team quicker than the other team. After each mime, volunteer selects person to guess. Scores point if correct.  Then  moves to next card.
CARD GAMES
Fill the gaps	In pairs – each has the info the other one needs.
Secret choice	Teacher guesses pupil’s secret choice all class knows choice) for one round (10?).  Pupil gets points for each incorrect guesses. Pupils take it in turns to guess Teacher’s secret choice. Same scoring. Winner = most points (i.e. most incorrect guesses from opponent).
Pelmanism	Uncover matching pairs  /groups of cards.
Ask/hide/find the card	Pupils request card and keep. When all distributed, pupils have to recall who had which card and request it.
Slow reveal	gradually reveal a card – first to say phrase.
Quick flash	Show card very quickly – can they say it?
Noughts and crosses	Translate / Give  the phrase represented in the square to gain the square (or it goes to other team)
Happy Families	Pupils guess who has which card and requests it in TL. Supply phrases to play game
PICTURE GAMES
Pictionary	Teams draw word / phrase to illustrate. Teams members guess within a time limit.
Taboo	Team member draws word / phrase to define in TL without using specific words. Team members guess word,
Generation game conveyor belt	Words shown as on a conveyor belt. Memorise words. Recall – point per item recalled.
Kim’s game	Show words. Then hide all Memorise words Recall – point per item recalled.
Through the keyhole	Guess 8 images Call out words seen (Can be done with paper an dcut out keyhole!)
Beat the blur?	Call out word before unblurred
SONG AND RAP
Singalong song	Memorable.  Could focus on one part (chorus?)
‘Pick up a song’ ‘On connaît la chanson’	Fade out – are they still in time when you come in again?
Raps	Could create their own
Chanting	Rhythmic chanting of elements
GAMES (non-card!)
Chain game	‘I went to market and I bought A’ ‘I went to market and I bought B and A’ ‘I went to market and I bought C and B and A
Bingo	Pupils create 3x3 grid filled with 9 of the 20 words / [phrases available. (Or teacher creates in adavcen).  Teacher ‘calls; for whole class. Then Pupil ‘calls’ for whole class. Then group games where one is caller.
Noughts and crosses	Translate / Give  the phrase represented in the square to gain the square (or it goes to other team)
Battleships	Plot location of ships (say, 10 within a grid of 8x8) Pupil uses phrases to target grid reference. If square has a ship, they win a point (or the number of points in the grid). Can be with or without support of text.
Trapdoor	Each pair makes random choice of 3 to complete each of say 5 phrases. Take it in turns to guess the other’s  choice.  If incorrect, play passes to opponent.
Mastermind	As trapdoor, but no phrases in between.
Give us a clue	Listening charades
20 questions game	Discover word / phrase by asking questions (animal, vegetable, mineral ? Yes/No only answers allowed.
Blockbusters	Select hexagon. Answer challenge aloud to claim the hexagon. Winner crosses the board before the other team.
Millionaire	Quizmaster: teacher or pupil. Pupil representing team answers. Can call on rest of team (ask th e audience) phone a friend (in team) or 50:50. Can be built into a big TV show!
Flippity randomiser translations	Make a sentence from the randomiser (roulette? Fruit machine?)
Scruples	Anticipate what someone would do … (High prep, but worth it!)
Monopoly	Play and interact in TL.
Scrabble	Play and interact in TL
Pictionary	Play and interact in TL
Logic games	Discuss reasoning for choices e.g. match apartment to family e.g. planning a party for fussy guests e.g. placing animals in a zoo
INFORMATION GAP	Partner A / Partner B given info the other needs.
Fill the gaps	In pairs – each has the info the other one needs.
OPEN DISCUSSIONS
Surveys	Carry out surveys for a graph / feedback.
Find someone who /..	Info hunt to fill in grid
Group Talk!	Prompt: several images to discuss / give opinions and justifications Train in key phrases to question / react / give opinion See slides and Greg Horton talk
Diamond ranking	Groups discuss relative importance etc of cards / statements and rank  in order of importance.
Celebrity interviews	Wear masks and ask / answer questions.
Picture mystery (guess who owns house etc.)	Ask questions to match owner with house.
GROUP CHALLENGES
Quest in a 3D world!	Explore a 3D world with partner school.
Escape Room games	Play with a group and discuss in TL!
Practical Projects	Make chatterbox game – then play! Design ideal house