Oxford House College Overseas Teachers Speaking Small & Big task design Task ideas What’s a good Task Creative Methodology 2 Speaking

Small speaking task - stages Introduce the topic Give an example Get an example Pairs – monitor Feedback

Who had the strictest parents? In your groups, discuss the questions below and decide who had the strictest parents. When you were a child: Do you think your parents were strict or easy-going? Did you sometimes have to eat things you didn’t like? Did you always have to do your homework? What jobs did they make you do? ___________________________?

would you rather stay in? Which of these hotels would you rather stay in?

Small speaking - ideas Slip it in/circles Games (e.g. Yes/no) Lying Interrupting questions Mingles Picture dictation Sentences in the hat

Big speaking - ideas Role plays Information gaps Group decisions Debates Questionnaires Interviews Anecdotes

Bring your musical to London You have a successful musical from another country and you want to bring it to London Name? Story? Music? How can you sell your ideas to the theatres in London? How did we do this? What was the staging? What was the interaction pattern? What was the outcome of the task?

Students prepare in their teams 1234 abcd Ss do the task – changing partners several times 1a 2b 3c 4d 1b 2c 3d 4a Do Feedback on content Feedback on form Feedback

Alibi There’s been a robbery Separate detectives and suspects Detectives prepare questions Suspects prepare alibis Interviews Trail Feedback

Alibi - Detective There’s been a robbery… You are a Detective. You will interview the suspects and ask questions about their alibi - that they had lunch together. Work with the others to prepare your questions. Think about: Where they had lunch? What they had? How much they paid? What the restaurant was like? Etc… Useful Language What time did you… While you were eating, what did you talk about… How long were you… Do you remember if…

Alibi - Suspect There’s been a robbery… You are a suspect. Your alibi is that you had lunch together. Work with the others to prepare your story. Think about: Where you had lunch? What you had? How much you paid? What the restaurant was like? Etc… Useful Language We met at… While we were eating, we talked about… I think that… If I remember rightly…

Focus on meaning Grammar & lexis It wasn’t me. It’s impossible. I was with friend. I have an alibi; I was with (a) friend(s). Your story have the gap, the problem, because you say me that… There are a few holes in your story. You told me that… What are they trying to say? Focus on meaning Grammar & lexis

What are they trying to say? I lost my train I made my homework She gave me some advices I am agree You can’t have your barrel full of wine and your wife drunk If I am to win the lottery…

Big speaking - ideas Role plays Information gaps Group decisions Debates Questionnaires Interviews Anecdotes

Excellent Speaking Skill Resources A-Z Discussions - Wallwork Taboos & Issues - Macandrew & Martinez Instant Discussions - Macandrew & Martinez Discussions that Work – Penny Ur Speaking Extra – Gammidge Communication Games - Hadfield Keep Talking – Klippel onestopenglish.com eslcafe.com

Features of a good speaking task learners talk a lot! engaging & purposeful task based or topic based? personalised Inclusive & appropriate have thinking time and contexts should be monitored have feedback (on language and content) have a language focus

The End