SPEAKING PRACTICE

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

Chart A: Subject Cards

Family: Who is the oldest member of your family? Have you ever had a big fight with someone in your family? Does anyone in your family have a peculiar job? Who do you take after? Music: What is your favourite type of music? What type of music cannot you stand? What is the most extraordinary song youve ever listened to? What type of music inspires you when you are studying/working? Clothes: Do you think the clothes you wear can change peoples opinion about you? What clothes do you feel most comfortable in? What would you wear to your best friends wedding? Is it true that you have to spend a lot of money on clothes to look smart? Sports: What sport would you never like to practice? What is the most boring sport youve ever heard of? Who is the most important sportsperson in your country? What type of equipment do you need to play your favourite sport? Cinema: How often do you go to the cinema? What would happen if all cinemas disappeared? Do you think it is important to take children to the cinema? From your point of view, is it better to watch a movie or to read a book?

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

Chit-chat Worksheet #1: Vocabulary. (2 pages)

Topics
Family:

People

Actions

Phrasal Verbs

Objects/Places

Music:

Clothes:

Personality:

School:

Sports:

SPEAKING PRACTICE

Chit-chat Worksheet #1: Vocabulary.

Topic
Holidays:

People

Actions

Phrasal Verbs

Objects/Places

Health/Diet:

Cinema:

Cities/ Housing:

Transport:

Youth:

SPEAKING PRACTICE

Chit-chat

Example Chart: (Teachers only)

Topics
Family:

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:

Designer Seamstress Tailor Shop-assistant Wearer

Get dressed Get undressed Wear

Scissors Needle Fashion show Thread

Personality:

Open-minded A pessimist An optimist Narrow-minded

Relate Make friends Meet people

Come across as Fall out Get along Get on

Indoors Outdoors Inside Outside