Posted on by karolasenglishblog

FutureMe 

This is a board game activity to talk about Future You and to revise future tenses.

Level: A2+

Objectives:

  1. To practise and/or review the use of future tenses
  2. To review different ways to talk about the future
  3. To help students choose the most appropriate future tense
  4. To develop speaking skills

Materials (Click on the worksheet below to download the PDF file):

futuremeDownload

Procedure:

  1. Write the word EXERCISE on the board and ask students to try and predict what exercise goals you have set for the nearest future. After a few minutes ask them to share their ideas and then write both your own answers on the board as well as your students’. Compare both sets and go through the tenses the students used to talk about your future exercise plans. The examples below are true and I am trying my best to stick to my guns 😉

I am going for a run tomorrow ( Present Continuous for future plans).

I am going to join a running club next week (Going to for something decided in advance).

I think I will go for a run early in the morning tomorrow ( Future Simple for things we believe will happen in the future).

I will be running by the lake at this time tomorrow ( Future Continuous for temporary actions that will be in progress at a certain time in the future).

I will have completed a 10km race by the end of April (Future Perfect for actions that will be completed by a certain time in the future).

  1. Display FutureMe board game on the screen.
  2. In pairs or small groups, one of the students throws the dice twice – the first throw indicates which column they should use, and the second throw indicates which row, to obtain the topic.
  3. All the player (s) write down at least 3 examples related to the topic they have landed on (e.g. Exercise) and using at least 3 different ways to express future plans ( e.g. Going to, Future Simple and Future Perfect). 
  4. The students then share what they have come up with and discuss it in more detail.
  5. Encourage students to ask each other additional questions and give examples and don’t forget to correct and/ or find opportunities to help students express themselves more precisely and accurately throughout the activity.
  6. At the end, ask students to share which of their classmates’ answers inspired, surprised or encouraged them to set new goals for themselves.

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Posted on by karolasenglishblog

Up to 50% off

Introduction:

These are two board game activities to talk about shopping. I live in Spain where the winter sales usually start around the 7th although certain cities like Madrid bring them forward to 1 January. For that reason I thought it was just the right time to talk about shopping and reflect on our spending habits, on how much we consume and how much of it is done on impulse rather than consciously and intentionally.

Both games are about shopping and spending but I would suggest Shop till you drop for younger learners and adults with an intermediate level of English. Add to cart, on the other hand, is more suitable for advanced or proficient learners and ones that are quite talkative and love debating challenging topics.

Do not forget to feed students new vocabulary throughout the activity and obviously do not forget about correction.  You could also prepare a thematic vocabulary list and send it to your students before the class or ask them to research the topic themselves and then teach others new words they have learnt.

As always encourage students to ask each other questions and comment on each other’s responses. 

Level: A2, B1, B2 (Shop till you drop)

Level: C1, C2 (Add to cart)

Objectives:

  1. To practise speaking about shopping habits

Materials (Click on the worksheets below to download the PDF files):

shop-till-you-dropDownload
add-to-cartDownload

A die (use an online dice roller) 

Procedure:

  1. Give students a copy of one of the board games or display it on the screen.
  2. The teacher (or students if they are working in small groups or pairs) throws the dice twice – the first throw indicates which column they should use, and the second throw indicates which row, to obtain the question.
  3. The players then answer the question in small groups or pairs and in as much depth as possible. Encourage students to ask additional questions and ask for clarification and further explanation. At the end, ask students to tell you which questions or comments made by their classmates made them rethink their spending habits.

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Posted on by karolasenglishblog

Turn over a new leaf

Property of Natalia Wyrzykowska

Introduction:

This is a board game activity to talk about New Year’s Resolutions. It is a great way to help students practise speaking skills as well as reflect on their goals and plans for the following year. This activity is also a great opportunity to review future tenses if you think your students might benefit from it or need it.

Don’t forget to feed students new vocabulary throughout the activity, correct and/ or find opportunities to help them express themselves more precisely and accurately. 

Level: B1+

Objectives:

  1. To write new year resolutions
  2. To practise speaking skills
  3. To increase fluency and confidence

Materials:

turn-over-a-new-leafDownload

A die (or an online dice roller) 

Procedure:

  1. Write the words New Year’s Resolutions on the board and check that all students understand the meaning and/or concept of it.
  2. Give students examples of some resolutions you have made in the past e.g. to go for a run three times a week, to move house, to go to the beach more often, to eat less pasta, to refine your style etc. and ask them to guess which ones you managed to stick to and which ones you didn’t manage to keep.
  3. Put students in pairs or small groups and ask them to choose 5 resolutions for the coming year that they plan to keep and discuss them with their partner(s).
  4. Display Turn over a new leaf on the screen.
  5. In pairs or small groups, one of the students throws the dice twice – the first throw indicates which column they should use, and the second throw indicates which row, to obtain the topic.
  6. The player (s) discuss the resolution they have landed on. I have given you a list of questions the students can answer to help them out if the conversation runs dry: 1. Does it match any of the resolutions you wrote down in the previous activity? 2. Have you ever made a similar resolution? 3. Would you be happy to add it to your list? 4. If you have made a similar resolution before, were you successful in sticking to it? 5. If you have tried to do it before, what advice would you give to your classmates?
  7. Encourage students to ask additional questions and ask for clarification and details. 
  8. At the end, ask students to review their initial lists to see if they want to add any new ideas to them. Also ask students to put their resolutions in order of difficulty and give reasons why.

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P.S. Happy New Year