Module 5: Lesson 3 - Communication activities

Question 1

Explain information gap activities.

Answer 1

When students don’t have all the information they need to complete a task or activity.

Information gap activities require students to speak and to practice teamwork, working with their classmates to acquire the missing information.

Once they’ve learned the information from their classmates, they can fill the “gap” and complete the task or activity.

Question 2

Name 3 examples of information gap activities.

Answer 2

Communication crossword: 1 student has some words, 1 student has the others, they have to communicate to complete the crossword. Can be used to consolidate vocabulary at the end of a lesson.

Picture differences: lower-level students, one has an empty room, the other has all the furniture. They have to communicate about where to place the furniture.

Use a text: newspaper or article with missing text, students need to communicate to find missing information through asking questions.

Question 3

Explain role plays.

Answer 3

They allow students to demonstrate how they can use English in real-life situations. They allow them to focus more on fluency than on accuracy.

Question 4

What are 6 benefits of role plays?

Answer 4

• They change the pace of the lesson.
• Increase overall language production.
• Make the class more enjoyable.
• Get students up and out of their seats.
• Help with real-life language situations.
• Build learners’ confidence.

Question 5

Name 3 role play scenarios you can give to students.

Answer 5

At the Airport:
Passenger and Check-In Assistant

In the Restaurant:
Waiters and Customers

At the Bus Station:
Ticket Agent and Customer

Question 6

Name and describe 3 communication activities you can prepare for elementary learners.

Answer 6

• Role play in cafe:
  Ask for a drink - only need a few key phrases.
• Mingling task:
  Find someone who… - need only a few questions to ask, reinforces language.
• Describing pictures:
  Name the colors, people, object - adjective to describe picture and feelings it elicits.

Question 7

Name and describe 3 communication activities you can prepare for intermediate learners.

Answer 7

• Completing sentences:
  Model example and let learners practice - conditionals are good for this.
• Hypothesizing about images
  Use expressions of hypothesis and modal verbs to debate what you think is happening or might happen in an image.
• Speed dating
  Two rows of students facing each other, prepare questions (or not), and let them get to know each other. Afterwards, let them report back on what they learned.

Question 8

Name and describe 3 communication activities you can prepare for advanced learners.

Answer 8

• Simulations:
  Set the scene, give learners a role, and brainstorm useful vocab before. Good opportunity to practice all language skills.
• Come dine with me
  One student hosts, and other learners are guests, it challenges them to be creative and to use language they wouldn’t normally.
• Would I lie to you?
  Learner tells a story, lie or truth. Other learners decide if it’s true or not. They have to be quite confident. Can be prepared in advance.

Question 9

Explain discourse markers.

Answer 9

Words or expressions that we use to signal what is coming next.

They can be used in spoken or written communication.

They can be formal or informal.

They can be used to provide contrast, to add information, to provide order to a series of thoughts, to indicate a beginning or a conclusion, to change topic, and so on.

Examples:
However, meanwhile, moreover, fine, firstly, uh-huh, nevertheless, anyway, whereas, on the other hand.