Speaking activities 1 Example of language practice activity 1.

a Guess the questions

2) Revision questions Give out a sheet to each student or one per pair Tell students they have five minutes in pairs to decide what the missing words are for each questions. They MUST NOT write the missing words in. Check answers

Your home 1 Where do you live? 2 How long have you lived there? 3 Who do you live with? 4 Do you get on well with each other? 5 What do you argue about? Getting around 1 How do you get to work or school? 2 How long does it take? 3 What ear do you have/have you got? 4 Are you happy with it? 5 What 's your favorite form of transport? Why? Free time 1 What do you enjoy doing in your free time? 2 What kind of music do you like? 3 How often do you go out during the week? Lifestyle 1 Do you smoke? 2 How much coffee do you drink a day? 3 How many hours do you sleep? 4 What sport or exercise do you do? Travel 1 Have you ever been to Britain or Ameriea? 2 Where did you stay? 3 Who did you go with? 4 Did you enjoy/like it? Why (not)? Childhood and school 1 Where were you born? 2 Which primary school did you go to? 3 Did you have to wear a uniform? 4 What was your best/worst subject? A female relative 1 What's her name? 2 How old is she? 3 What does she do? 4 What does she look like? 5 Whats she like? In pairs, SS choose topics and interview each other, completing the questions from memory. Encourage them to ask for more information where appropriate. Get feedback from a few pairs.

Speaking activity 2 Controversial statements

Controversial statements Students discuss in groups or pairs the following statements

1. 2. 3. 4.

A country gets the government it deserves. Murderers should be executed. Soft drugs like marijuana should be legalized. Beauty is only a matter of taste. 5. People work better if they are paid more.
6. Committing suicide should be made legal

Speaking activity 3 The court room play The courtroom role play Divide the class into groups of three or four. Give each group one case and allow them 10 minutes to reach a verdict and pass sentence. Give each group a copy of possible sentences. Tell them to follow this range in passing sentences. When the groups have reached their decisions, let a student be appointed in each group to read out the verdict, which you should write on the board. Make sure that reasons are given for the decisions. Finish off by inviting an open discussion of the various groups or verdicts. Case 1 A man of 50 comes before you, accused of breaking into a hardware store and stealing woodworking tools worth $150. He pleads guilty. Points to consider 1. He was a carpenter for 30 years with one company and was recently laid off. 2. He has been unemployed for six months. 3. He says that his only hope of finding work is to have his own set of tools. 4. It is his first offence Case 2 A woman comes before you accused of shoplifting from Sears'. The police say she took two tea towels and six glasses (total value $6.50.) She pleads not guilty. Points to consider: 1. It is her first offense. 2. Her husband has been unemployed for one year. I 3. She has six children. 3. She has lived in America for two years but she cant speak English. She says (through an interpreter) that she did not know that she had to pay, as the system is different in her country.

Case 3 A boy of 14 comes before you accused of setting his school on fire. This caused $5000 worth of damage. He pleads guilty. Points to consider 1. He lives with his mother and four younger brothers and sisters. 2. His father died two years ago. 3. His mother works in a store during the day and in a bar in the evening to get enough money. 4. His school grades are terrible and he is constantly in trouble for playing hooky, fighting and breaking rules. 5. It is not his first offense. A year ago he was accused of stealing $25 from the drugstore where he had a Saturday job. He was let go with a warning.

Possible Sentences, Cases 1, 2, 3 Fine ($1000 maximum) Imprisonment (six months maximum) Community service Placement in a foster home (persons under age 16) Placement in a reform school or similar facility persons under 16) Probation Acquittal

Speaking activity 4 Role-play: How should we spent $100.000 1. Tell the students to form groups of 5-7. 2. Give each student a role card, and explain that they are a family who have just won $100,000 on the lottery. 3. Ask them to study their cards for a minute or two and prepare themselves for the argument. 4. Make sure everybody knows who's who in the family. 5. Ask the father to open the family discussion. 6. The activity ends when they've come to a conclusion how to spend the money. 7. You can ask the students to read out their cards at the end and compare how much of their goals they were able to reach.

The father You want to buy a car - and perhaps some new garden tools, because you like gardening. You cant stand travelling, but the house could be renovated, too.

The mother Heres the chance to travel round the world with the whole family! And, perhaps, to buy some new clothes, too. You are not against gardening. The old family car is in perfect condition - why waste money on a new one? The 17-year-old son Youve been wanting a drum equipment for years. You also like travelling, and would like to get your hands on the old family car, too. Unfortunately, you hate gardening - your father always makes you help him The 19-year-old daughter If you built an addition to the house, you could have a separate part of it for yourself, and perhaps for your boyfriend, too.

The 14-year-old daughter Clothes, clothes, clothes! And if you had an addition to the house, you could have your own room at last.

The neighbour You like borrowing your neighbours garden tools - but you hate noise.

The 19-year-old daughter If you built an addition to the house, you could have a separate part of it for yourself, and perhaps for your boyfriend, too.

Speaking activity 5 Keep the conversation going Work in pairs. Student A asks one of the following questions. Student B answers it, at the same ime prompting A to go on talking. Then change roles. Try to carry on your conversation for at least one minute". 1. Do you like reading? 2. Are you thirsty? 3. Did you come back by bus? 4. Could you buy me a magazine? 5. Can you ski?