GRUNDTVIG PROJECT ENGLISH COMMUNICATIVE ACTIVITIES

GETTING TO KNOW EACH OTHER

Identity card The aim of this activity is to introduce someone else to a group and to get to know each other. Each student is given a blank identity card (prepared in advance) with different topics (for example: name, family, hobbies, something I’d like to do, three things I like, three things I don’t like….). The students work in pairs and ask each other questions to fill in the identity card. After this, each student introduces his partner to the group using the identity card. The other students of the group can ask further questions to get more information about any student in the group. The same activity can be done without identity cards with upper level students.

Three adjectives The aim of this activity is to make conjectures, to agree, disagree, give reasons and to get to know each other better. On a piece of paper, each student writes down three adjectives which he thinks describe himself. The papers are collected. The teacher reads out the papers and the students must try to guess who wrote each paper. When a student is identified, he must explain why he chose the three adjectives. Of course, the other students must feel free to ask further questions to each other.

Stem sentences The aim of this activity is to get to know each other better. Each student receives a copy of a handout (see lower) he has to fill in. Students then ask the other students to read out one sentence and a discussion about the sentence can follow.

Example of handout (can be adapted)

STEM SENTENCES Finish the sentences. My favourite animals are……………………………………………………… I like people who…………………………………………………………………. Could not live without………………………………………………………… I have never…………………………………………………………………………. If I had €100,000 I would……………………………………………………… I am frightened of………………………………………………………………… …………………………………………………………….makes me feel good. Everybody should………………………………………………………………… The last time I laughed a lot was…………………………………………. I’d like to have……………………………………………………………………..

Choosing objects The aim of this activity is to introduce oneself and get to know each other better. Each student brings various objects which he thinks represent himself. He introduces himself using these objects. The other students can ask further questions to have more details.

Similar and different The aim of this activity is to express one’s opinion, to agree, to disagree and to get to know someone else better. The students work in pairs. Each student writes down three ways in which he thinks that he and his partner are similar and three ways in which he thinks they are different. He does not show his partner what he has written. Both students tell each other about the similarities and the differences and discuss about them.

Self directed interview The aim of this activity is to get to know each other and each other’s points of view. Each student writes down 5 to 10 questions that he would like to be asked. The question s can be about any topic.

The students choose a partner and exchange question sheets and interview one another using these questions. Conversations will follow.

Group interview The aim of this activity is to ask, give information and to get to know each other better. Make groups of 5 or 6 students. In each group, one student is questioned by all the other students of the group. The questions can be about anything and conversations will follow between the members of the group.

Go and find out The aim of this activity is to ask, give information and get to know each other better. Each student receives a copy of the handout (see below) and questions everybody else in the class to “find out who….”. Conversations can follow the questions. Example of handout (can be adapted)

GO AND FIND OUT Find out who likes spiders, frogs and beetles. Find out who has tea for breakfast. Find out who knows the capitals of Australia, New Zealand. Find out who can knit. Find out who does not watch TV more than 2 hours a week. Find out who has been to London. Find out who belongs to a club. Find out who sings in the bath. Find out who works for a charity. Find out who likes spinach. Find out who likes to get up early. Find out who likes classical music. Find out who has an unusual hobby. Find out who keeps a diary. Find out who has had a holiday job. Find out who can dance the tango. Find out who can cook a really good meal. Find out who reads a daily paper. Find out who has more than one first name. Find out who collects something unusual. …..

Find someone who The aim of this activity is to get to know each other better. Each student receives a copy of the handout (see below). Everyone walks around the room and questions other people about things on the handout. The goal is to find people who answer “yes” to one or more of the questions. Conversations can follow the questions. Example of handout (can be adapted)

FIND SOMEONE WHO……. Chews chewing gum…………………… Likes to have very hot baths……………………… Reads more than one book a week……………………….. Has been to Scotland……………………… Can recite the alphabet in less than 10 seconds………………………….. Owns a pet with 4 legs…………………….. Has got more than 3 brothers or sisters……………………….. Is wearing something purple………………….. Has got a driving licence……………………….. Likes liquorice………………………… Wears socks in bed…………………… Collects something……………………………. Rolls their own cigarettes…………………… Has got a three-speed bicycle…………………… Likes working in the garden…………………………… Goes jogging…………………… ……..

Unfinished sentences The aim of this activity is to express oneself and to get to know each other. Each student receives a copy of the handout (see below). In pairs, students finish the sentences on the handout and discuss about them.

Example of handout (can be adapted)

UNFINISHED SENTENCES The funniest thing I ever saw was……………………….. If I had 24 hours to live………………………………. On Saturdays I usually……………………………… I feel best when people………………………………. I’d like to spend a long holiday in………………………………. I have never……………………………… Parents should always…………………………….. My children will………………………………… This world would be a better place if………………………………. The thing that worries me most is…………………………………. I never worry about……………………………. Some day I am going to……………………………… I like people who………………………………. I get very angry if…………………………….. I find it difficult to…………………………….. I am not interested in……………………………….. …..

FOOD

Opinion poll The aim of this activity is to talk about food habits. Each student receives a copy of the handout (see below). Everyone walks around in the class and asks questions to fill in the handout. Conversations will follow the questions. Example of handout (can be adapted)

OPINION POLL Breakfast You have to find out what the other people in your class have for breakfast. Name…………………… Food………………………… Drink………………………… Eating out You have to find out whether the other people in your class ever eat out, and if so where they go. Name…………………………… Eats out........................... Where.................................... Food hates You have to find out which meals or kind of food the other people in your class dislike. Name……………………………… Food hates………………………….. Cooking You have to find out which meals or drinks the other people in your class can prepare themselves. Name……………………………….. Can prepare/make…………………………………. Drinks You have to find out which drinks the people in your class like and dislike. Name……………………… Likes………………………………. Dislikes…………………………. Favourite meals

You have to find out the favourite meals of the other people in your class. Name……………………………. Favourite main course………………………… Favourite dessert……………………………….. Weight-watching You have to find out if the other people in your class think they are too fat, just right or too thin. Name……………………………………….. Too fat…………………………………. Just right…………………………………. Too thin……………………………………

IMPROVISING / DRAMA

Telephoning The aim of this activity is to improvise. Each student receives a copy of the handout (see below). In pairs, students ( one is A, the other is B) improvise the telephone conversation. Example of handout

TELEPHONING You are Robin A / You are in a hurry because you are going out in half an hour and want to wash and dry your hair beforehand. Your phone rings. You are Frances B / You and your boyfriend have just split up and you desperately need someone to talk to. You ring up your friend Robin.

You are Gene A / You are studying for an important exam next week and are just struggling with a difficult book. When you think that you have just worked out what one chapter means the phone rings. You know you have to go back to your book quickly so as not to forget what you worked out. You are Nick B / You have just come home from the most fantastic weekend trip you have ever had. You went to a log cabin on a lonely lake with some friends. There you did your own cooking, lots of sports and had a party every night. You are really eager to tell your friend all about it so you ring him up.

You are Ricky A / You are in the kitchen baking a cake as a surprise for your parents. Your parents will be home in two hours. The phone rings. You are Mrs Fletcher B / You are 75 years old and have sprained your ankle. It is very difficult for you to walk. You need someone to do some shopping for you. And you really would like to tell the young person who lives on the top floor in your building all about your fall. You ring him.

TV interview The aim of this activity is to improvise. In a group of 5 or 6 students, one has to prepare the role of the interviewer to ask the other students of the group about the “ideal family”. The topic can be changed, for example the “perfect holyday”…….

Talk show The aim of this activity is to improvise, introduce someone, ask questions. Each student chooses to be one famous person (he/she has to get as much information as possible about this person). The students will interview each other asking as many questions as possible to the “famous person”.